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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.

ReadyMeals Thu 28-Aug-25 14:15:03

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.

Mt61 Thu 28-Aug-25 13:45:20

Mt61

I Know the type you mean, full solid door, that fold inwards.
I like those in a period property but not the modern ones so much, on the wrong type of windows

MOnica

Mt61 Thu 28-Aug-25 13:44:52

I Know the type you mean, full solid door, that fold inwards.
I like those in a period property but not the modern ones so much, on the wrong type of windows

Mt61 Thu 28-Aug-25 13:34:33

jusnoneed

How about something like these ?

www.blinds-2go.co.uk/conservatory-blinds or www.blinds-2go.co.uk/stick-on-blinds

Thanks for that idea.. had a look this morning & may order some when I have time to measure up👍🏻

Mt61 Thu 28-Aug-25 13:32:55

Lathyrus3

My daughter has blinds that fit into the window frame itself so they don’t stick out any more than the window, if you see what I mean. It’s a very slender plastic -can’t think of the right word- runnel? at either side that the blind can run up and down.

She keeps them closed all the time and they let plenty of light in whilst giving her privacy at the front.

They are called ‘perfect fit’

Doodledog Thu 28-Aug-25 12:06:39

Ignore my last post, as you wouldn't be able to close the shutters grin

Doodledog Thu 28-Aug-25 12:06:00

A house near me has a window that is on the street. The woman who lives there has a cafe curtain in very heavy cotton lace threaded onto a brass pole about half way up the window, and a plant in a hanging basket above it. The effect is quite boho, which may or may not be your 'thing', M0nica, but I think it suits the age of the house, which is also Georgian.

M0nica Thu 28-Aug-25 11:45:55

Mt61

I don’t think every home suits those shutters, plus they take so much light from a room & expensive. Though they look stunning from the outside. I prefer dress curtains & blinds.

My shutters are Georgian ones, not modern plantation shutters. During the day they fold into the depth of the wall and do not block the window at all. Their advantage is that they let so much light in. they are huge sash windows and we are unlikely to ever open them, because of the proximity to passers b and security issues and because each room has a second casement window that opens wide into the side garden - and those windows will have curtains.

Esmay Thu 28-Aug-25 11:34:56

I know a lady who bought a Victorian cottage without a front garden .
It's near cafes and a huge restaurant and people can't resist staring into her front room.
She regretted buying the cottage and said that she felt that she was living in a goldfish bowl .
She's tried ignoring the passers -by and has actually confronted them.
She's tried window boxes and huge vases of flowers .
Then an old hospital type screen was arranged in front of the window .
Her pets knocked it over .
Finally as the window frames were deteriorated-she's had some expensive stained glass effect windows put in .
They dilute the natural light ,but they do look very nice .
Now she enjoys watching TV with her feet up on an old nightie without people watching her .

Mt61 Thu 28-Aug-25 11:09:44

Some good ideas for the stick on blinds from blinds2go. I need blinds for our conservatory. We had Sanderson pleated blinds, but the downside is, they drill into the beading. We are now left with holes that we need to sand & fill.

Mt61 Thu 28-Aug-25 11:00:02

I don’t think every home suits those shutters, plus they take so much light from a room & expensive. Though they look stunning from the outside. I prefer dress curtains & blinds.

Dee1012 Thu 28-Aug-25 10:56:33

How about something like this;

www.lustalux.co.uk/buy-online/product-category/stained-glass-film/

PamelaJ1 Thu 28-Aug-25 10:47:10

jusnoneed

M0nica

Lathyrus3

jusnoneed

How about something like these ?

www.blinds-2go.co.uk/conservatory-blinds or www.blinds-2go.co.uk/stick-on-blinds

Yes, that’s what I meant think.

yes, something like this is what i have in mind - and thanks for this one it looks excellent.

I have thought of various films on the window and a friend has done htis on a modern house, but our 'new' home is 300-400 years old and I want anything I do to be in keeping with the period of the property. The people we bought from just had venetian blinds - which we are leaving up for present, but looking at the house from outside, they make the house look like a solicitor's office rather thaan a home.

They have a selection of differnet blinds so hopefully you can find something suitable.

My son and also my nephew have bought venetian blinds from this company for their houses this year, and as my nephews wife said "if he can fit them anyone can!"
I am going to get some for some of my windows once we have had the new central heating completed. We are also near a footpath.

We have these stick on blinds on the windows in what is going to be a bed room.
Very easy and effective. They can be opened from the top or/and the bottom so are very versatile. They are blackout but I think they have some that aren’t

jusnoneed Thu 28-Aug-25 10:08:02

different blinds, not differnets lol. Oh for an edit button.

jusnoneed Thu 28-Aug-25 10:05:53

M0nica

Lathyrus3

jusnoneed

How about something like these ?

www.blinds-2go.co.uk/conservatory-blinds or www.blinds-2go.co.uk/stick-on-blinds

Yes, that’s what I meant think.

yes, something like this is what i have in mind - and thanks for this one it looks excellent.

I have thought of various films on the window and a friend has done htis on a modern house, but our 'new' home is 300-400 years old and I want anything I do to be in keeping with the period of the property. The people we bought from just had venetian blinds - which we are leaving up for present, but looking at the house from outside, they make the house look like a solicitor's office rather thaan a home.

They have a selection of differnet blinds so hopefully you can find something suitable.

My son and also my nephew have bought venetian blinds from this company for their houses this year, and as my nephews wife said "if he can fit them anyone can!"
I am going to get some for some of my windows once we have had the new central heating completed. We are also near a footpath.

Lathyrus3 Thu 28-Aug-25 09:35:44

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

🏡

M0nica Thu 28-Aug-25 09:29:39

crazyH

Good luck in your new home 🏠-
You say you have shutters - I don’t know what shutters but I would presume they are like Venetian blinds. Do you think passers-by will be able to see through the slats?

No, the shutters are like large folding doors that fold away each side of the window into the reveal each side during the day. becasue of the way they fold and unforl it is not possible to put anything on the windowsill unless you are prepared to take it off everytime you open and close the shutters.

Doodledog Thu 28-Aug-25 09:26:00

Aldom

Doodledog you're right grin
my post was intended for CrazyH.
She mentioned not knowing what shutters looked like.

grin

I wondered if I had posted something in my sleep!

M0nica Thu 28-Aug-25 09:25:54

NotSpaghetti

Not sure perfect fit will work if it's an old house with wonky window frames - though I know there are different sorts of even those.

The shutters we had were the sort that folded vertically into sort of hollow at either side. I was assuming M0nica had those.
Like this;
www.hillhousevintage.com/2010/09/i-love-georgian-shutters.html

Yes, that is exactly what we have NotSpaghetti. They fold into the reveal each side of the window

M0nica Thu 28-Aug-25 09:19:27

Lathyrus3

jusnoneed

How about something like these ?

www.blinds-2go.co.uk/conservatory-blinds or www.blinds-2go.co.uk/stick-on-blinds

Yes, that’s what I meant think.

yes, something like this is what i have in mind - and thanks for this one it looks excellent.

I have thought of various films on the window and a friend has done htis on a modern house, but our 'new' home is 300-400 years old and I want anything I do to be in keeping with the period of the property. The people we bought from just had venetian blinds - which we are leaving up for present, but looking at the house from outside, they make the house look like a solicitor's office rather thaan a home.

NotSpaghetti Thu 28-Aug-25 09:06:36

Not sure perfect fit will work if it's an old house with wonky window frames - though I know there are different sorts of even those.

The shutters we had were the sort that folded vertically into sort of hollow at either side. I was assuming M0nica had those.
Like this;
www.hillhousevintage.com/2010/09/i-love-georgian-shutters.html

Aldom Thu 28-Aug-25 08:28:20

Doodledog you're right grin
my post was intended for CrazyH.
She mentioned not knowing what shutters looked like.

Doodledog Thu 28-Aug-25 07:38:40

Yes, I can picture them. I’m not sure your post was meant for me?

Oreo Thu 28-Aug-25 07:36:36

Anyone who’s taken down any kind of net curtain from a window will know that suddenly the room is so much lighter and nicer.The other thing is that it’s harder to see into a room from the outside than you think, especially if there’s something of a good size on the windowsill inside.

Aldom Thu 28-Aug-25 07:28:49

Doodledog Monica's shutters are probably similar to the shutters in my former home. They are like tall narrow doors with a locking fitment on the inside.