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Any ideas for a window treatment that I haven't already thought of and already rejected

(99 Posts)
M0nica Wed 27-Aug-25 18:07:16

We have just moved into an old, new home, it is right in the town centre - and like many town centre houses, it doesn't have any front garden.

Sometime in the 18th century the then owner decided to do up his rather old house by making it look modern with big beautiful sash windows, one each side of the front door.

The problem is the windows measure roughly 4 foot by 5 foot and these windows come with beautiful internal shutters, so I decided instead of having curtains at the front to use the shutters instead, but this makes it very difficult to find a way of stopping everyone walking past the house looking in the window and seeing us going about our daily lives.

Originally I planned to have a couple of model ships DH has, one on each window sill, but cannot do this if I use the shutters. Plantation shutters are out because they would stop me shutting the Georgian shutters, I have thought about net cutains, but I really, really really, hate net curtains. I have also considered obscured film stuck on the window panes, but feel that would make the windows look like office windows.

the only alternative I can think of is a roller blind made from a very fine butter muslin, actually attached to the top of the sliding sash window itself, which I could pull down or let up depending on the circumstances

But has anyone else any ideas about what I could do? Remember Georgian shutters that go from window sill to ceiling, so nothing on window cill and nothing on the window that would stop the shutters closing.

Squiffy Fri 29-Aug-25 15:45:53

The particular window film that I suggested is completely invisible from both the outside and inside. You’d never know that it was there!

M0nica Fri 29-Aug-25 15:08:16

Whethertomorrow

I would strongly suggest window film. I’ve had various sorts over the years from a cloudy one that makes rainbows when the sun shines through to stained glass effect which looks incredibly real to a deep border of colourful wildflowers. They are easy to put up and can be removed with no damage to the windows.

I have thought about film, but I just think it looks deeply inappropriate on the windows of historic period properties.

Whethertomorrow Fri 29-Aug-25 14:31:04

I would strongly suggest window film. I’ve had various sorts over the years from a cloudy one that makes rainbows when the sun shines through to stained glass effect which looks incredibly real to a deep border of colourful wildflowers. They are easy to put up and can be removed with no damage to the windows.

NotSpaghetti Fri 29-Aug-25 11:11:01

No. My shuttered windows had no ledges either Aldom

Aldom Fri 29-Aug-25 10:40:52

My former home with shutters didn't have window sills, so nothing could sit in the window. I think NS idea of window boxes, something tall growing in them, is good. As the evenings draw in you will be closing the shutters quite early, so not a problem with the lights on.

NotSpaghetti Fri 29-Aug-25 09:48:41

something in the window isn't a good idea if you want to actually use the shutters - which is why I suggested a window box outside.

Lathyrus3 Fri 29-Aug-25 09:31:10

Whitewavemark2

Mind you, nothing gives me more enjoyment on a December afternoon walking past windows with the lights on and tree and decorations up with fire etc. just love looking at the coziness of it all.

Favourite activity of mine I’m afraid😳

Whitewavemark2 Fri 29-Aug-25 07:52:52

Mind you, nothing gives me more enjoyment on a December afternoon walking past windows with the lights on and tree and decorations up with fire etc. just love looking at the coziness of it all.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 29-Aug-25 07:49:25

Yes, our previous house had shutters. They are good as they provide a level of heat and noise insulation.

We’ve been toying with the idea of plantation shutters as they would serve the same purpose if we so wished by folding back completely.

For my pennyworth - I think the idea of something in the window the best idea. Pottering through our children’s villages and indeed roads near us, where people have nothing in their windows, you would be really hard pushed unless you actually stopped and stared😄 to see very much at all. Indeed if I am walking past and notice someone in a room, I pointedly do not look in.

NotSpaghetti Fri 29-Aug-25 06:48:06

But presumably you couldn't have a Roman blind and still use the shutters?

4allweknow Thu 28-Aug-25 23:37:21

Flat son was in when at Uni had similar problem. I made a Roman blind out of muslin. Worked a treat.

NotSpaghetti Thu 28-Aug-25 17:37:56

Aldom we had the original hand floated Georgian glass too! 🥰

Our newer home had still got a lot of Victorian glass in the huge sashes. Really love how the outside world moves a little as you look through.
Hand made glass is truly living!

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 28-Aug-25 17:37:56

Oh, and your house sounds lovely M0nica .

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 28-Aug-25 17:36:43

How about a folding screen in front of the window? I had a wooden Indian style screen with an intricate cut out design, in a bedroom. It folded back at night.

NotSpaghetti Thu 28-Aug-25 17:32:54

We used our shutters if it was cold or windy - so all winter at the very least, ReadyMeals.
They just felt right.

SpringsEternal Thu 28-Aug-25 17:30:06

This is a brilliant thread, thank you Monica. I have shutter envy. I live in a flat in a 1900 house, so there are large sash windows. My work room is at the front, so although it's set back from the (quiet) road, I do need privacy. I'll re-read all the replies, and thank you all. Looks like I might have to save up...

Baggs Thu 28-Aug-25 16:49:56

Just popped onto this thread to find out the meaning of "window treatment".

Oh.

Living off road up a hill has its advantages 😂

Emelie321 Thu 28-Aug-25 16:42:43

Some great ideas here, and when we had a similar problem we went for the solution suggested by Lathyrus3. Have not regretted this.
However, I still sometimes rather wish we had gone with our original idea of commissioning a local stained glass artist to make something of our choice in keeping with our home and its location, which would have given privacy AND made the most of the daylight. Expensive - but would have been beautiful; and if you did this, you could still have a blind if you wanted one....?

Vintagegirl Thu 28-Aug-25 16:26:48

We have mahogony varnished windows and always have plain voile/sheer net curtains. Nothing else looks 'right' with the windows which now have double glazed panes. Other houses have done full replacement and more modern style so have variety of blinds etc. I note how much dirt comes out of nets when they get washed. Nice job to have fresh ones to put up and at least they are easily washed and with weighted bottoms could be done without ironing.

M0nica Thu 28-Aug-25 16:22:30

ReadyMeals

I think most people don't bother operating their Georgian shutters and just keep them for architectural interest. In which case sheer or normal curtains hanging on the face of the wall rather than in the window recess can work with it, especially if they open enough to see part of the shutters.

But we want to use our shutters. they are no more difficult than curtains to open and shut and, without curtains the room is flooded with light.

M0nica Thu 28-Aug-25 16:18:34

Lathyrus3

Feeling a bit envious of Monica’s new old house.

🏡

You haven't seen the amount of work we need to get done.

Mt61 Thu 28-Aug-25 15:43:21

Are they from blinds2go? Pamelaj1

Aldom Thu 28-Aug-25 14:56:23

Readymeals when we had Georgian shutters we always used them. Great in winter for keeping out the cold. Ours was a listed building....no double glazing.

Norah Thu 28-Aug-25 14:26:57

Aldom

Norah

www.directorderblinds.co.uk/the-hive-gratia-collection-perfect-fit-pleated-blinds#136=534&185=1646

Insulate well, allow light.

Some have top up /bottom down features.

I've had these for 14 years.
I love them in my current house.
They are also in the garden room of the house I shall soon be moving to.
I wouldn't consider them for the front windows of an old property though.
I would want to be able to see out. Not to have blinds down permanently.

We've blinds fitted inside window casements. The blinds are lowered down from the top to see out, daily, leaving the bottom of the windows covered. I prefer to see out in the day.

sandye Thu 28-Aug-25 14:19:30

How about the stuff you put over glass so you can see out but no one can see in. Sorry don't know what it's called. It's on a roll and is self adhesive.