Window privacy

Russinating · 9 Dec 2014 at 12:54

I'm looking to add something for privacy on our street-facing ground and first floor windows that measure 90x100cm (ignoring the top opening). I've looked at frosted window film - www.purlfrost.com - but unsure if it'll look rubbish or like an office. You can also get this patterned but the ones with big holes kind of defeat the purpose for the ground floor window which sits on the street with no front garden. But perhaps this and a venetian blind would work?

Anyone got any ideas or examples of what they've done?

Tinders · 9 Dec 2014 at 13:02

Good old fashioned net curtain would be perfect

Russinating · 9 Dec 2014 at 13:39

That's what we've got at the moment and it looks awful

syn3rgy · 9 Dec 2014 at 13:48

May not be helpfull but what about something like this

Russinating · 9 Dec 2014 at 14:29

That would be fine but our window is on the street (unlike there where it's set back and there's also bushes in between). I'm more concerned about security during the day - we currently have to close the curtains during the day and every time we pop out because there's a big TV, amp, laptop, games console etc all next to it.

And even when we're in we wouldn't want people looking in anyway hence happy for a 'permanent' solution.

Maccapacca · 9 Dec 2014 at 15:40

Mirrored?

What's wrong with curtains?

Cosimo · 9 Dec 2014 at 15:56

Russinating said:
That's what we've got at the moment and it looks awful

Then buy some new plain ones.

Kimi · 9 Dec 2014 at 15:58

curtains of blinds

With blinds you could half shut them, or twist them so they are facing up.

pitchfork · 9 Dec 2014 at 16:01

Net curtain/ blinds/ stop ******* in the front room.

WillyNelson · 9 Dec 2014 at 16:50

Venetian blinds work well as you can angle them to let in light but block casual glances from passers by. If you're going to go for frosted I'd suggest getting them professionally done (either film or etched) but leave some sort of clear border or detail to add interest.

kaptainmarc · 9 Dec 2014 at 17:28

I had this problem in my flat. Sticky back plastic easy to put on looks like frosted windows, just peal it off if you don't like it, and its cheap

I shall see if I can a picture of it

Russinating · 9 Dec 2014 at 18:34

maccapacca said:
Mirrored?

What's wrong with curtains?

Curtains are pitch black. And mirrored makes it look like a drug den.

WillyNelson said:
Venetian blinds work well as you can angle them to let in light but block casual glances from passers by. If you're going to go for frosted I'd suggest getting them professionally done (either film or etched) but leave some sort of clear border or detail to add interest.

Any reason? I've applied some film at work and vinyls on cars and never had any problems.

R B Customs · 9 Dec 2014 at 19:20

this one's a bit 'out there' but have a look at 'bottom up' blinds - they are akin to roller blinds, but upside down. they allow privacy / security without loss of light.

personally I like verticle blinds and got an absolute bargain from web blinds (which are hilarys blinds but at a fraction of the cost and not installed by morons (you install them yourself))

Russinating · 9 Dec 2014 at 20:17

Interesting. How much were yours? Initial investigation is a little pricey.

Edit: Actually just seen this - http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-bottom-up-blind-white/p1331570 - which is only £40 for the size we'd need. Hmmm!

LeeUK · 9 Dec 2014 at 21:12

Plain nets, quadruple the width of the window for a fuller no-nosey-neighbour gather to them.

Plenty of sellers on ebay sell them all pre-cut to your size.

R B Customs · 9 Dec 2014 at 21:38

Russinating said:
Interesting. How much were yours? Initial investigation is a little pricey.

Edit: Actually just seen this - http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-bottom-up-blind-white/p1331570 - which is only £40 for the size we'd need. Hmmm!

sorry if I made it sound like I had them - I only have vertical blinds as that's my preference, but they were an absolute no brainer, cost wise.
http://www.web-blinds.com/milano-white-vertical-blind/

£200 for 3 blinds (280x150, 236x150, 236x120) delivered. the 280cm one is a beast. respecive prices for each was £68, £70, £60 ish)
had loads of samples from them and that material was the best despite its price.

tom_nieto · 10 Dec 2014 at 09:36

Venetian blinds definitely. Dunelm mill do made to measure blinds which are decent quality and good value compared to Laura Ashley and John Lewis.

WillyNelson · 10 Dec 2014 at 10:43

Russinating said:
Any reason? I've applied some film at work and vinyls on cars and never had any problems.

Fair enough then. I only mentioned that because the stuff we put on the front door of our old flat was a bit thick and it was tricky to get the edges to stick down properly. I thought pro stuff may be thinner, so would give a better finish but be more difficult to apply.

Arcane · 11 Dec 2014 at 16:06

syn3rgy said:
May not be helpfull but what about something like this

I've got these and they are excellent, you can adjust them to face down so that there's still light getting through but no one can see in. Not cheap though.

a1ex2001 · 12 Dec 2014 at 02:19

Do you live in the Gehto? Most houses on the street will have a big tv burglars don't need to see them through the window these days! I've also never understood why people mind the odd pedestrian seeing the watching TV I'd much rather that than the loss of natural light!

Window privacy

Tea Drinker