Whats the big deal about having your curtains open/shut?

This_Year

I feel this should be on the Sloblady thread on OS now...

My lounge curtains haven't been closed for months it's because they need the hems taking up and I haven't done that yet plus we only really use that room during the day. In the evening we're usually doing stuff around the house or sitting in the dining room.

Bedroom curtains are closed at dusk though and opened once I'm up - nothing makes OH get out of bed quicker than bright daylight!

starrystarry

I don't even close the curtains in the bedroom at night, let alone during the day. I love being able to look at the sky/trees/stars when I'm lying in bed.

Slinky

ilnf wrote: »

I was told (wrongly or rightly) that houses with closed curtains are a target for burglars. Apparently, American families near mine (US RAF Base nearby) were in the habit of closing curtains during the day to keep their houses cool from the hot daytime sun. If they were at home they would keep curtains open to benefit from the natural light.

Closed curtain during summer day equals no one at home. After it was realised how homes were being targeted, advice was given to leave curtains open during the day.

How true this is I've no idea but sounds plausible?

I've seen advice from the Police saying that curtains closed during the day looks like the homeowner left the house in the dark and makes it look unoccupied during the daytime.

They also say don't leave expensive stuff in full view of the windows, or put up net curtains.

jellyhead

starrystarry wrote: »

I don't even close the curtains in the bedroom at night, let alone during the day. I love being able to look at the sky/trees/stars when I'm lying in bed.

My husband doesn't like the streetlight outside our house, so he likes blackout curtains. Plus, we get dressed and undressed in our bedroom, and anyone walking past can see :eek:

Lagoon

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Blinds, shutters or plain floaty muslin curtains do the trick too, for anyone who dislikes net curtains.

I know nets are cheap, but Ikea sell white sheer muslin curtains for something like £15/pair, which look much more modern and less fussy than net curtains.

Thank you for the Ikea suggestion. I had a look after you suggested them. Couldn't get their curtains as they don't deliver, but did see the voile style curtains and I've now ordered some from eBay. They'll make my office look much nicer when they replace the net curtains!

starrystarry

jellyhead wrote: »

My husband doesn't like the streetlight outside our house, so he likes blackout curtains. Plus, we get dressed and undressed in our bedroom, and anyone walking past can see :eek:

My OH won't sleep with the curtains open either but he works nights so when he's not here I leave them open. Our bedroom is at the back of the house and not overlooked. We live on quite a steep hill and the nearest house at the back is about 50 yards down the hill. Even if they stood on the roof they wouldn't be able to see in. There are no streetlights at the back. Apart from the ones twinkling in the distance. I'm a bit in love with the view from our bedroom at night, hence I don't want to close the curtains.

Sneezy

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

My grandmother used to go ballistic if we had the curtains shut during the day. She said that people only close their curtains during the day if they have had a bereavement, so closing your curtains was announcing that someone had died

This is my Nanas reasons - I didn't know that it was associated with someone dying until February when my Grandad died and the day of the funeral her curtains at the front of the were shut.

All curtains in our house are kept open during the day.

sweaty_betty

Slinky wrote: »

I've seen advice from the Police saying that curtains closed during the day looks like the homeowner left the house in the dark and makes it look unoccupied during the daytime.

They also say don't leave expensive stuff in full view of the windows, or put up net curtains.

Doesn't leave that many options does it? We only close curtains during the day if we're trying to watch TV and the light is reflecting on the screen

bigmomma051204

Have to just say - I HATE closed curtains! I am a family support worker and I support a LOT of young (under 25yrs) mums (not often dads but them too on occasion!) - I would say 90% of them always keep all downstairs curtains closed. And it is really odd!!! I have asked loads of them why they do it and they cite not liking being "watched" or just "cant be bothered to open them"... but it is HORRID for the kids who basically spend the formative years of their life sitting in a gloomy house and listening to the screams of Jeremy Kyle guests. That is also my other bugbear - not actually Jezza (tho he is a bit vile!) - when I go round to see the families who (if i do say so!) usually get a LOT of support and assistance from my involvement and they are friendly enough but have the telly BLARING and i mean BLARING!! And to try and compete with the people on Jezza is nigh on impossible! It always seems a bit rude to say "please turn ya telly down!" but they never seem to get that we are struggling to hold a decent conversation over the noise!
Funnily enough, last week i was at a visit and this teenage mum of a 6 month old baby was telling me she has broken up with her baby's dad as she didnt want her child to be affected by all the arguments and screaming. She told me this very loudly over the screams of a woman and man on Jezza who were fighting over some DNA results. The irony wasn't lost on me :cool:


Edit: Just wanted to add that it certainly isnt ONLY younger mums who do the closed curtain thing, they are just the main "culprits" .... I would get it if they couldnt see the telly or the sun was blinding them etc etc but it is certainly not weather dependant! Oh and to the person who said it means people are having sex in there - *shudder* you are probably right some of the time!! But they certainly dont then open the curtains when I go in... and I havent "joined in" anything untoward

ruby-roo_2

starrystarry wrote: »

I don't even close the curtains in the bedroom at night, let alone during the day. I love being able to look at the sky/trees/stars when I'm lying in bed.

I agree with you. We are not overlooked so we keep the curtains open.