Overlooked but Over Net Curtains? Try These Fab Alternatives
If you’ve clung onto your nets for want of a better option, now’s the time to swap them for one of these smart ideas
Lucy Searle
16 June 2018
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 trad 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.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
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.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Fall for film…
If your room overlooks a street or a neighbour’s house, 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 house, 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 window?
This is a good plan if you have curtains for the evenings or are happy to pull blinds on the top half during the day if necessary.
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 window?
This is a good plan if you have curtains for the evenings or are happy to pull blinds on the top half during the day if necessary.
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.
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.
Choose a warm colour to bring in sunny daylight, even when the sky is grey.
Swap for sheers
Nets aren’t quite dead – in fact, they’ve been reinvented in sheer, filmy fabric panels.
They’re best hung in generous folds and matched to equally ethereal (but plentiful) curtains. Sill-length is not an option for the fashion-conscious – floor-skimming are far more elegant.
More: How to Choose the Perfect Curtains
Nets aren’t quite dead – in fact, they’ve been reinvented in sheer, filmy fabric panels.
They’re best hung in generous folds and matched to equally ethereal (but plentiful) curtains. Sill-length is not an option for the fashion-conscious – floor-skimming are far more elegant.
More: How to Choose the Perfect Curtains
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.
Check out the reviews for curtain, blind or shutter supplier or makers local to you
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.
Check out the reviews for curtain, blind or shutter supplier or makers local to you
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.
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.
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 or silvery 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 or silvery 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 here.
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 here.
Screen outdoors not in
If you’re binning your nets in favour of bare windows, but still need screening, consider putting it outdoors instead. This could be in the form of hedging at 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 create privacy at your windows? Share photos or tips in the Comments section.
If you’re binning your nets in favour of bare windows, but still need screening, consider putting it outdoors instead. This could be in the form of hedging at 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 create privacy at your windows? Share photos or tips in the Comments section.
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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.
hey, Thank you for sharing your ideas I was very confused that what kind of windows I should plan for my house. I have seen many either open windows or completely closed windows here and also how can I Protect them like with Double Glazed windows or else Normal Windows. I got some more ideas when I can have privacy as well as get some natural lights with these too.