Alternatives to net curtains!

firsttimebuyer2013

My knowledge of interior 'design' if you like is very limited so I'm after a bit of help.

I need something for my front living room window. It's north facing and isn't the brightest room in the world so looking for something that allows lots of light in. Currently I have the previous owners old net curtain which is a state and needs replacing, but it does restrict the light coming in.

I want something that's going to let as much light in as possible, but at the same time offers some privacy. I do plan to put curtains up. But what can I have over the window? :undecided

Thanks in advance

VoucherMan

Vertical blinds?


I got some from Argos http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/q/VERTICAL%2BBLINDS.htm. Quite easy to put up. Took a while to cut to size though.

I_have_spoken

Stick on frosted film, could be patterned

A.Penny.Saved

There is net curtain with a more open weave so they let more light in than the fine traditional net curtains. They often look better as well because they have more of a pattern than the plain net. It works fairly well for me and my front lounge and kitchen are only about 5 metres from a footpath.

saxonrosecliff

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

There is net curtain with a more open weave so they let more light in than the fine traditional net curtains. They often look better as well because they have more of a pattern than the plain net. It works fairly well for me and my front lounge and kitchen are only about 5 metres from a footpath.

I changed the old nets for this and its great. It looks more lacy than standard nets if you know what I mean - my front room is around 3 feet from the footpath and the only time you can see anything from outside is when the person inside is standing by the window. They also let lots of light in.

flimf

I'm putting venetian blinds up at our new place easy to tilt and let light in, tilt back for blocking the light.

You could try a voile curtain, like a very sheer fabric. That can snag easily though [the dogs went to town on mine]

DRP

We have half height nets. They stop people seeing in but also let a lot of light, you can see the sky and view, simple to put up, easy to clean, no dusting of blinds etc etc

E.g.
http://www.changingcurtains.co.uk/images/curtains/curtains%20on%20tracks/Faux%20silk%20on%20ceiling%20track%20L.jpg

Nikkisun

We have voiles - plenty of light but not as 'old-fashioned' looking as nets.

pimento

Voile roller blind?

teddysmum

This company has some excellent prices for quality nets and voiles, by the metre or ready made, and will send you several samples. They often have promotions, too (One on at the moment).


http://www.woodyattcurtains.com/

[Deleted User]

If you can work with just having half (or even 2/3) the window obscured (e.g. to stop people looking in but still being able to see the sky) it will let in far more light than the whole window - particularly helpful for a north facing window, I've found. The other thing to consider is that you can get blinds that are fitted to the bottom of your window frame and pull UP (rather than down). which again allows both a degree of privacy and more light (and it will give you the flexibility re how far you need to pull it up).

One thing we found useful for north facing windows was to paint around the window, inside and out in white paint. That really helped increase light levels.

Hope some of this is useful.