Net curtains...Why?

Pulsedriver · 23 May 2016 at 10:25

Is it just me, or do net curtains just look absolutely awful? We bought our first home a few months ago, but the road, and indeed a lot of the estate area, that we live on, seems to be 'net-curtain central'. I guess I can understand the elderly folks who have them, but it's not just them, as I have seen plenty of younger families around with them too. One of the first things to do for us when decorating was get rid of them and put some decent wooden blinds in.

Between those, and vertical blinds**, net curtains shade it for being truly awful, has anyone here PURPOSELY put net curtains up in their house?! I have seen a few houses with verticals all round as well, very office-esque!

**Unfortunately I do have a set of vertical blinds, but in my defence, they are for a sliding patio door, so I didn't have much choice of what to use!

Akagi · 23 May 2016 at 10:32

They stop people outside from getting a clear view into the house, and it means you don't need to worry about closing curtains and blinds when you go out. We have them on front windows for privacy, but not on back or side windows.

pepp77 · 23 May 2016 at 10:39

Have them in bedrooms and the living room, so that when the curtains are open the view in is minimised, but the room still gets light.

Andre · 23 May 2016 at 10:40

Acme said:
They stop people outside from getting a clear view into the house, and it means you don't need to worry about closing curtains and blinds when you go out. We have them on front windows for privacy, but not on back or side windows.

ditto - very nosy neigbourhood, and we are the "mysterious couple" on the block, so eejits always trying to neb

SPG · 23 May 2016 at 11:16

I took them all down, horrible disgusting things.

If someone wants to look & stare through my front window while I pick my nose more fool them.

pedromaltez · 23 May 2016 at 11:24

We have them because we rent and cba to take them down only to have to put them back up again in a couple of years when we move again.

But yes I hate them too. Wouldn't purposely put them up.

Russinating · 23 May 2016 at 11:25

They're horrible, horrible things. I would massively recommend bottom up blinds.

It appears John Lewis don't sell them anymore but we've got two in both our front windows and they look great, plus the added benefit of adjusting what's blocked. For example we have the top down about a third on both our windows so it still lets in plenty of light above head height.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bottom+up+blinds

Puzzled · 23 May 2016 at 11:37

Privacy mainly, big windows here so feels very open and on-show without them. Plus elderly neighbourhood so always some old biddy looking out the window.

What I find weird is people who don't use curtains, house near us has none and you can't help but see everything inside. Try not to look but I worry one day I may see something that can't easily be forgotten.

andicole0 · 23 May 2016 at 11:47

They are used so that when they get dirty you can wash them and stand back in awe at how clean they have become. Or for privacy without reducing light so much. We have used stick on one way plastic (as you can use on car windows) in the past in p-lace of nets, much easier to keep clean.
Andi.

Jamesyboyjim · 23 May 2016 at 12:13

We have them in the bedrooms and on the landing as that has a rather large window looking into the street.

I like to prance about naked, so for me, they serve a purpose. I'm certainly no fan though.

cadmunkey · 23 May 2016 at 12:16

MonkeyMan said:
What I find weird is people who don't use curtains, house near us has none and you can't help but see everything inside. Try not to look but I worry one day I may see something that can't easily be forgotten.

Same here, in my culdesac no one uses curtains. I feel weird for having them - get sick of catching sight of all my neighbours spooning each other on the sofa watching TV as I close mine! Weirdos the lot of them

Threepwood · 23 May 2016 at 12:18

Why?

Because it is a cheap and relatively innocuous means of maintaining privacy.

Russinating · 23 May 2016 at 12:20

Seriously guys... bottom up blinds!

pedromaltez · 23 May 2016 at 13:09

Jamesyboyjim said:
I like to prance about naked

Kiyoshi · 23 May 2016 at 13:20

I like vertical blinds and dislike wooden blinds or any type of venetian blind which quickly collect dust and look dirty. I don't know I'd go as far as describing any as 'truly awful' though, it's personal taste and everybody has their own.

Schizo · 23 May 2016 at 13:23

Have just ordered some Venetian blinds for the front of my flat,i live upstairs so its not a problem for nosy people,had them made due to the size of my windows.

GSXRMovistar · 23 May 2016 at 13:59

Kiyoshi said:
I like vertical blinds and dislike wooden blinds or any type of venetian blind which quickly collect dust and look dirty.

Same here, venetian blinds are a dust magnet and nightmare to clean. Vertical binds come in so many colours/textures I don't think you have to worry about a house looking like an office.

Skully · 23 May 2016 at 14:16

I don't want people to see me naked unless I want them to.

Although my girlfriend seems to think that if she turns the light on and walks about with no clothes on no one can see her, because net curtains.

ttaskmaster · 23 May 2016 at 14:24

Skully said:
Although my girlfriend seems to think that if she turns the light on and walks about with no clothes on no one can see her, because net curtains.

Where do you live, again?

Pulsedriver said:
Is it just me, or do net curtains just look absolutely awful?

Depends on the style of house and type of windows.
Big, single-glazed ones look appropriate, whereas modern plastic-framed double glazing makes them look weird.

Mostly just the 'done thing' really... like counterpanes and doilies!

Kuros · 23 May 2016 at 14:32

I personally prefer blinds myself, but I can see the appeal of net curtains.

I like my house to be quite bright whilst still having some privacy, so net curtains would be good for me out of pure laziness.

Also, the number of times I've got out the bath to see I've left the bedroom blinds up.. means you need to do the crouch down walk jobbie to close them.