Window Dressings That Preserve Your Privacy... and Natural Light
Say goodbye to those dated net curtains and hello to a host of stylish window coverings that let light – not views – in
Lucy Searle
10 March 2019
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist, web and copywriter. I was Editor of the hugely successful www.channel4.com/4homes, taking it from a small site to a leading brand. I was also founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home and have written for MSN, Huffington Post, Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Beautiful Kitchens, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. I founded www.tailoredcontent.co.uk with a fellow journalist and together we blog, write web content and run social media accounts for (mostly) interiors companies. As a general rule, I write about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening but have tackled travel and family...
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist,... More
No-one could accuse net curtains of not doing their job: to keep out prying eyes. But the traditional designs can be a let down in the style stakes, gather dust and look pretty dated. The good news is there are masses of great – and affordable – ways to replace them with something much more practical (and better-looking). Try these stylish window dressing ideas.
Fall for film…
If your room overlooks a street or a neighbour’s home, whole-window coverage might be your best option.
Window film will typically create a sand-blasted look, and you can choose a pattern to suit your scheme.
Once fixed, it’s wipeable and can be teamed with blinds or curtains to make night-time private, too.
If your room overlooks a street or a neighbour’s home, whole-window coverage might be your best option.
Window film will typically create a sand-blasted look, and you can choose a pattern to suit your scheme.
Once fixed, it’s wipeable and can be teamed with blinds or curtains to make night-time private, too.
…or go for a half measure
Back to window film for a moment (because it’s a super-affordable option that’s easy to clean). Why not limit it to the lower half of your windows?
This is a good plan if you have curtains for the evenings or are happy to pull blinds down over the top half of your windows during the day.
Find a pretty design to complement your decorative scheme’s motifs.
Back to window film for a moment (because it’s a super-affordable option that’s easy to clean). Why not limit it to the lower half of your windows?
This is a good plan if you have curtains for the evenings or are happy to pull blinds down over the top half of your windows during the day.
Find a pretty design to complement your decorative scheme’s motifs.
Filter the light with shutters
If you’re after kerb appeal at the same time as making your space private, shutters are the way to go.
Larger slats will let in more light and offer more of a view (from inside and out); they also look more contemporary, if that’s what you’re after.
You could even choose a warm colour to bring in sunny daylight, even when the sky is grey.
If you’re after kerb appeal at the same time as making your space private, shutters are the way to go.
Larger slats will let in more light and offer more of a view (from inside and out); they also look more contemporary, if that’s what you’re after.
You could even choose a warm colour to bring in sunny daylight, even when the sky is grey.
Swap for sheers
Net curtains aren’t quite dead – in fact, they’ve been reinvented in the form of sheer, filmy fabric panels.
These are best hung in generous folds and matched with heavier but equally ethereal curtains. Sill-length is not an option for the fashion-conscious – floor-skimming curtains are far more elegant.
Net curtains aren’t quite dead – in fact, they’ve been reinvented in the form of sheer, filmy fabric panels.
These are best hung in generous folds and matched with heavier but equally ethereal curtains. Sill-length is not an option for the fashion-conscious – floor-skimming curtains are far more elegant.
Work vertical blinds
Once consigned to offices, these streamlined blinds are now often seen in contemporary homes – and not just in corporate beige.
Apply them with caution, though: unless your home is truly modern, they’ll risk looking out of place anywhere but a home office or bathroom.
Once consigned to offices, these streamlined blinds are now often seen in contemporary homes – and not just in corporate beige.
Apply them with caution, though: unless your home is truly modern, they’ll risk looking out of place anywhere but a home office or bathroom.
Hang almost-there blinds
Roman blinds that hang across the top of windows have a bit of a reputation for blocking out light.
However, choose them in the sheerest of white fabric and they’ll provide all the privacy you need with none of the daylight theft.
Roman blinds that hang across the top of windows have a bit of a reputation for blocking out light.
However, choose them in the sheerest of white fabric and they’ll provide all the privacy you need with none of the daylight theft.
Find flexible fabric panels
The good thing about fabric panels is that, unlike curtains, they sit flat against the window when drawn and the wall when pulled back, saving space both visually and literally – a real boost in a small room, such as a bedroom.
Let Japanese Shoji Screens Slide In
The good thing about fabric panels is that, unlike curtains, they sit flat against the window when drawn and the wall when pulled back, saving space both visually and literally – a real boost in a small room, such as a bedroom.
Let Japanese Shoji Screens Slide In
Add glamour with beads
Thought bead curtains had been consigned to the annals of history? Nope, they’re still alive, kicking and as groovy as ever.
Choose a white, silver or metallic finish for a window that glimmers rather than glares, and use them sparingly – in one room, tops.
Thought bead curtains had been consigned to the annals of history? Nope, they’re still alive, kicking and as groovy as ever.
Choose a white, silver or metallic finish for a window that glimmers rather than glares, and use them sparingly – in one room, tops.
Invest in authentic stained glass
There are certain windows where this really works: in a hallway, cloakroom, bathroom or kitchen. At a push, it’ll suit a dining space, too.
If light quality is important, choose pale-coloured glass that allows lots of daylight through, and let the leading do the talking design-wise, as seen here.
Browse more welcoming entrances
There are certain windows where this really works: in a hallway, cloakroom, bathroom or kitchen. At a push, it’ll suit a dining space, too.
If light quality is important, choose pale-coloured glass that allows lots of daylight through, and let the leading do the talking design-wise, as seen here.
Browse more welcoming entrances
Screen outdoors, not in
If you’re binning your net curtains in favour of bare windows but still need screening, consider putting it outdoors instead. This could be in the form of hedging out the front or simple structures in the back garden.
The beauty of the ones here is that they frame different views of the garden, rather than blocking them.
Tell us
How do you ensure privacy at home? Share your tips in the Comments section, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Need some customised window dressings to save both your privacy and light? Find a decorator or interior designer near you who can measure up your windows and chat through your options
If you’re binning your net curtains in favour of bare windows but still need screening, consider putting it outdoors instead. This could be in the form of hedging out the front or simple structures in the back garden.
The beauty of the ones here is that they frame different views of the garden, rather than blocking them.
Tell us
How do you ensure privacy at home? Share your tips in the Comments section, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Need some customised window dressings to save both your privacy and light? Find a decorator or interior designer near you who can measure up your windows and chat through your options
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That is great, thank you so much!
For a while I was living in a Californian bungalow style house and near the entry was a small window that was necessary for additional light but meant visitors could peer in. I bought a faux stained glass kit and made up a period style panel that simply adhered to the glass. This was a rental property so the owners could remove it if preferred. They loved it.