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

chocdonuty

For those of you who keep your curtains closed, do you open your windows? Just a thought as if you have heavy curtains you're not going to get much fresh air in anyway!
It's lovely in the morning to open your curtains and fling open the windows Yeah my views not great but the fresh air is far more important, i usually sleep with the window open and only generally shut them when it gets to minus figures.
I definatly get the bright light thing though, love the sun but when it blinds you (and highlights the dust lol) its not so great

marisco_2

chocdonuty wrote: »

it blinds you (and highlights the dust lol) its not so great

My kids love writing their names in the sun highlighted dust. As a positive it was a good way to get them to practice their writing. They can do cursive beautifully now. Always look on the bright side of life

Taadaa

DH took the blinds down in the living room so now when the sun shines he pulls the curtains. Drives me nuts. I want to see a bit of daylight!

balletshoes

chocdonuty wrote: »

For those of you who keep your curtains closed, do you open your windows? Just a thought as if you have heavy curtains you're not going to get much fresh air in anyway!
It's lovely in the morning to open your curtains and fling open the windows Yeah my views not great but the fresh air is far more important, i usually sleep with the window open and only generally shut them when it gets to minus figures.
I definatly get the bright light thing though, love the sun but when it blinds you (and highlights the dust lol) its not so great

when my living room windows are closed because of the bright sunshine, my patio door is open at the other side of the room . I don't have heavy curtains, and theres no need for indoor lights with the curtains closed and the sun shining.

Mrs_Bones

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I think a house that has it's curtains closed all day everyday looks sad and unloved, as if the person in the house can't be bothered to let the air and light in

Most house though are three dimensional. Just because the front curtains are closed doesn't mean they all are and there is no light in the house.

I frequently draw the front curtains if I'm working on the pc because of the sun on the screen plus being close to the road I find it a distraction. Doesn't mean my room is dark or that I need the lights on unless it's a dark day in winter. The windows at the opposite end of the room let plenty of light in and in the summer the patio doors are open for the dogs to run in and out as they please while I'm busy.

Upstairs one of the bedroom has almost permanently closed curtains but they are light material and the light still gets through them it just ensures privacy. In another upstairs room that isn't used as a bedroom the curtains are almost permanently open.

I really don't see why what other people do with their curtains should concern anyone else. I have no set time for opening and closing curtains, they hardly register on my radar in terms of importance, I just adjust them to my personal taste as I feel the need.

elsien

That's one of the things that always strikes me about the Grand Designs programmes where they're building houses that are more glass than anything else.
Even if they're not overlooked, in the depths of winter when it's piddling it down, grey and overcast, or with howling gales outside, I'd want to light the fire of an evening, close the curtains/blinds, shut the world out, and cocoon myself in my own little world. But they never seem to have anything - no curtains, blinds, nothing. Or am I missing something.
(And on a slightly off topic note, how do they reach the cobwebs on the double or triple height ceilings?)

meritaten

I am one of those who was brought up on the idea that front window curtains closed meant one of three things
A death in the family
Night shift worker sleeping
A lazy bu99er having a lie-in
now I live in a house where the afternoon sun shines straight through the patio doors and if you want to see the TV you HAVE to close the curtains! which I hate doing - the sight of the sun is so rare that I hate shutting it out.

Robisere

I am 68 now, but back when I was a toddler, my mother would bath me in our huge sink at the front window, with the curtains open. Our NCB house was a total of 9 steps up from the street and there was a clothing factory up the road, also many clothing and hosiery workers walked home, past our house after leaving the bus from factories in 2 local towns. All of these workers were female and apparently they would expect to see this happening when they walked past. I only know this because my 2 brothers, 15 & 17 years my senior, told me once, with obvious enjoyment and relish.

The biggest wonder is that I did NOT grow up to be a wild exhibitionist.

Back on track: I live now in a small Sheltered Housing complex, an oval Close of 15 bungalows, with 8 more to the rear, gardens backing on to ours. Our large Lounge window faces Southwest, which means that the sun is on that window all day. We leave our curtains open until the sun has almost gone, often after that. The heat produced keeps the whole house warm (it's not very big) and does save energy, so we also keep all doors open to spread the warmth. I could not care less who is looking in, in fact we love that and like to wave to village friends and neighbours when they walk past. In addition, we can keep an eye on 'unknown' people and vehicles - I quite often take down details of these, which actually helped catch burglars some years ago.

We keep our rear blinds open in the same way, because to our rear are 2 frail, very elderly ladies and we like to wave to them and give/receive a 'thumbs up' to show they are OK.

We couldn't care less who looks into our house, I live in a village community whose inhabitants care about each other and will act if they think someone is ill or having problems. That may be regarded as "nosy" by some I suppose, but to us it is community spirit, long may it continue.

julie2710

Curtains in my lounge, dinning room, kitchen bathroom and hall never get shut. I live in a bungalow which is really light and airy and I love the daylight coming in. No one can really see in those windows so I don't bother !!!!!!!! them at night. It makes me feel a bit claustrophobic.

Bedroom curtains get shut just before getting undressed for bed and are open as soon as I'm up and dressed in the morning!

Lagoon

catkins wrote: »

Do you not have net curtains? I don't particularly like them but I don't want people to see in. You can't see much through nets unless you have a light on.

We do (and I think they're disgusting), but I don't trust them. I suppose it's because I've never viewed my house from the house of the family across the road. I just can't picture them being unable to see in, when it's so easy to see out.

I know they probably can't, but I'm paranoid about it for some reason! I suppose I don't want to risk people seeing me lying on the sofa like a lazy slob, doing a workout in front of the TV or sitting with my tongue out whilst I'm concentrating on a video game! I can't imagine I ever look good when I'm in my own house, so the fewer people see me the better.