Why buy a house with huge windows - and then swathe them in blinds?

Our house has very big windows and overlooks fields. We have Venetian blinds because otherwise the glare of the sun at certain times can be unbearable.

To let more light in.

Blinds don't necessarily block light, only in-viewers.

Maybe they didn't realise until they moved in how vulnerable and on display they would feel. My parents lived in a bungalow with picture windows and large glass panes in the front door.
It was fine while my father was alive but when my mother was left she felt vulnerable sitting on her own to the full view of the village.
If you got up in the night you had to scuttle in the dark to the loo. She put up Venetian blinds that could be tilted for sun glare and partly closed on an evening. At the door, she had a roman blind which made it much more private.
Sometimes you have to live somewhere until you are aware of the drawbacks.

My house is glass across the front from the road. I have duaroll blinds so I can see out and let the light in. I have them in different colours and white. Perfect. I dislike curtains. The more glass the better for me.

I can't understand anyone buying a house with lovely views would want to shut them out. If you have people walking past your window, then yes, put blinds up but ones as Josieann describes.

Our new build (bungalow) on the long south side is 80% glazed but the shape of the building provides shade at various time of the day in the open plan living/dining area. The only curtains up will be in the two south facing bedrooms. This is to keep the rooms dark in the mornings. I prefer curtains to blinds. Just choosing some patterned fabric now for the second bedroom.

We are very lucky in that the lane ends with us and our nearest neighbours are 500m away. There're also trees between us and them.

Germanshepherdsmum

Our house has very big windows and overlooks fields. We have Venetian blinds because otherwise the glare of the sun at certain times can be unbearable.

We have the same, most of the time the blinds are up, but in high summer the need to be down with slanted slats. We can still see put, but the light is filtered.
Also in winter they keep more warmth in, despite Argon filled double glazing.

Out* not put!

We have big windows overlooking the view. We never pull the curtains as the only people who would be able to see in are the immediate neighbours (seldom there) or someone with binoculars on the other side of the valley. When the sun shines the whole room is warmed. Very occasionally, if there's a blizzard, we might pull the curtains.

However, when we lived in town and the pavement was only a few feet fron the front windows, we did have nets - in the days before blinds became popular.

Our house has large windows.Our living room has 8 windows on three sides. If we didn’t have blinds to cut out direct sunlight we would never enable to watch television.

We have new Venetian blinds which let us see out and help keep in the heat in the winter. In the summer the room gets very hot and we're hoping that the blinds will make it more comfortable. It's easy enough to pull them up when we want to let in more light - or any sun in the winter, come to that.

I have a beautiful view and rarely close the curtains, except when it is very cold to keep the heat in. My friends down the road have the same view, but theirs is a massive detached house with vast windows. Their problem in the summer is that the sun makes the rooms too hot to live in - they are having sort of shop blinds fitted to make it bearable.

A good few years ago we lived in a new build bungalow overseas. I had huge windows. However the glass was mirrored so that we could see out and people couldn't see in.

No need for blinds of any kind. I can't understand why we don't use this kind of glass more in the UK, especially on houses with floor to ceiling windows. It must be like living in a goldfish bowl at night when the lights are on inside and it's dark inside

An unfortunate side effect was that we had quite a few birds flying into the windows as they partly reflected the sky.

Forgot to say, the windows were triple glazed so the heat was also kept in

The only curtains we ever close are the south facing ones. Partly to keep the sun and heat out in the Summer (with open windows to let the breeze in if there is any), and partly to keep the heat in in the Winter. It's different for people with paths close to windows. I suppose our neighbours out the back could probably see in if they were really inclined but I doubt we are interesting enough for them to watch our day to day activities.

We get lots of birds flying into the windows to, PinkCosmos. It might depend on where the sun is shining. I think they wait till the window cleaner has been then the pigeons fly into them and leave big oily white patches on them. (No injured birds yet, thank goodness).

M0nica maybe they're not used to the big windows and didn't realise how exposed they would feel. I love them but my DM would probably close the curtain (after all, who knows who might be spying on you from miles away ? )

I currently cover my large windows up with blinds and curtains as extra insulation. They will be totally uncovered as weather warmth emerges.

The glare from passing headlights.
Some split-level houses in a nearby village have views over the surrounding fields, but are built right by a busy road, consequently their interior is illuminated by headlights constantly, not noticeable until they have actually moved in. (How often do people view a brand-new empty house in the dark?)

I have heard the same criticism- why pay extra for a view and then put up curtains/blinds?

We have a lovely west facing view, and large living room window. Generally I close the curtains in the evening, or around 3pm in the summer when the sun hits the window, but I tend to leave a gap so we can look out. My curtains are semi-sheer though, so still let in some light and view.

I admit I don't like a large black expanse in the winter; it feels cold (not physically, but visually). and although we are higher up off the street, my chair sits near the window, and I don't like the idea that people can see me from the street.

We do have other friends with similar views that have huge windows and never close their blinds. Each to their own, I guess.

I have a lovely garden to look at , but if the sun is blazing in I have to put out the awning , if it sunny and blowing the awning has to be closed , and the curtains are closed , otherwise the temperature in the living room can get over 27 ! I thought the triple glazing would keep the heat out but it exacerbates it

could it be because they are at work all the time trying to pay for their big house with the big windows and no one is in?

leave in the dark, get back in the dark?

Don't at their valuables on display because of drones etc?

DO NOT WANT THEIR VALUABLES ON DISPLAY
sorry I keep sneezing

There was thread a couple of days ago about people living in two separate places during the week/weekend, you live somewhere quite desirable monica - could it be that?

*CanadianGran there is not a scintilla of criticism in my OP. I am genuinely puzzled by the phenomena. Quite a number of houses do not have their windows all covered up.

This particular estate fascinated me because there is a row of about 10-15 of these houses. They are well back from the road. I understand using curtains/blinds/what you will at night/when the sun is flooding in, but many houses, not just including these, the curtains and heavy nets are never opened and there is often no good reason why the windows should be shrouded.

If people are worried about valuables on display then either put them somewhere else or buy a similar house with smaller windows that doesn't cause this problem.

Yes, JaneJudge I live in a desirable area - because there are so many well paid high tech jobs. Our house has an elevated footpath about 50-60 feet from the house and people walking along it often stand and stare at the row of 4, 13-16th century houses, one of which I occupy.

But the first thing I did when we moved in was remove all the net curtains the previous occupant had fitted and I have never replaced them. Curtains are closed at night, but during the day are pulled right back to let as much light in as possible.

I know from walking past the house on the path that the amount that can be seen inside the house is minimal and if anyone wanted to see whether we had any valuables on display they would have to cme right up to the house and peer through the window is a clearly suspicious way on a busy well-used path.

Monica, sorry, I didn't mean to imply you were criticizing, but I have heard it regarding sections of my town.

I love the light and views, but sun and privacy are concerns.