Privacy Window Treatments

Need ideas on window treatment for privacy.
If you have pictures that would be great.
Thanks.

CC there are several options and have tried them all from vinyl blinds, wooden blinds,and even bamboo shades but have found no mater what they say they will not filter out light totally but will give you privacy. They do make a frosted glass window paint if blinds or shades is not what you are looking for.

Here in "Crowded Korea" all of the windows are frosted. Mine are in a screen-like grid pattern, kind of rough to the touch, but very practical. Do not know where the camera is....darn. If they were not frosted, there would be no privacy at all. Ah Ha! found camera! This is a shot of my kitchen window and in it, you can see how mine is frosted and the neighbor's is frosted green.
I can't wait to move next month to a place with more privacy and Peace!

Well, that didn't show the neighbor's very well since the storm window glass fogged up so fast. But you get the idea; it is a very good thing to do and is very common in the city...

I guess it depends on how private you are wanting and whether you want to actually block sun light or just view.
I put some sheers on my living room windows. Then on a separate heavy rod, I hung heavier curtains that cover the whole window. They have a large hem in the top, so during the day, I just pull them over to the side, and at night I pull them back over the window. Blocks everything. No cords, springs, or awful things to dust. I bought curtains the same color as my wall so they blend in nice and don't make the room seem small. Then I hung them where they pull back off of the window, onto the wall, so that when they are open, you can see the whole window and when they are closed they cover the edges of the window nicely. Then if I just want semi privacy, I pull the sheers over the window.

I don't like curtains or shades. We get away with not having window coverings mostly because neighbors are through the woods. But, for bedroom we needed something. Light blocking was not an issue/consideration, so what we have in front of the one window that poses a problem is a trifold screen. It works well for privacy. The windows start at approximately mid thigh height and continue to well above the head, and so the complete torso is in view and an issue with no window covering. The screen is constructed from three raised panel shutters - wooden - (they are kind of heavy and a similiar but lighter screen could be made from the plastic/composite shutters.) I think there are three hinges - perhaps four between each panel - fastening one shutter to the other. Stands up sturdily - blocks all view yet lets light in over the top. Can be positioned - open more or closed up tighter as needed. To 'beautify' we have draped a pretty flowered shawl over the top and knotted each end.

It would be nice if I could find something that would let me look out but not neighbors looking in.The neighbor(s) across the road(has a bird's eye view of my yard & house & me)& they sit on the porch & watch my house as if it is a tv.

We have neighbors behind us that do the same thing. We planted a hedgerow of buckthorn. I don't recommend it because of their invasiveness and the losing of leaves in winter. However, you might consider plantings as an alternative to, or in conjuction with, window treatments.

I have seen the screens like I have with just a wood frame and fabric stretched between or fabric that is padded stretched between. If your neighbors are not perched on the porch you can close up or move away so that you have the complete window to look out. If I were you I would position myself in front of that window every now and again with binoculars or a video camera and give them something to think about! Or maybe you can just put in a small topper to conceal a shade rolled up above the window ... a valance of material or one of the wooden ones that are painted or padded with fabric ... I am not sure its called -- where you can tuck a pulldown shade underneath (hidden when not in use)

cmtus, my neighbors garage looks right down into my yard and they sit in it alot. I put bamboo shades on porch eve to block my sitting space just for the privacy. Well and also to shade the dog on hot days when I leave her out and gone.

My neighbor across the street from me told me she watches us with her binoculars. That's creepy. Well, plain weird really.
Anyway she's elderly and lives alone, and I guess she just has nothing else to do and has bad eyesight. She said she loves my flowers, so she looks at the gardens alot.

I think she is just bored.

LOL well at least shes honest and not sneaky about it, but I'm with you don't like anyone keeping up with my every move, would be tempted to sit on porch naked one time to stop that lol

LOL I think that would do it here too I am afraid !

I want to be able to see out but for them not to see in.

Two way mirrors?

Christmascactus, I just happened upon this discussion. I don't know where you live so maybe this won't be what you are looking for:

A few years ago, I wanted something for the storm door on the front of the house during summer (in other words, screening). I found some that is like shade cloth - lets air in but keeps much of the sun out. What I discovered is that the screen makes it nearly impossible for anyone to see in although we can see out. I've considered making curtains from this same material for my other windows - not worrying about the screen effect. I don't know whether it is effective at night when the lights are on in the house, though.

The other thing I have done in my front window is to hang plants at staggered heights and also have some of them on small racks on the sill. This helps immensely and also gives the plants sunlight while providing privacy.

The last product I will tell you about is a "self-clinging, removable, reusable, vinyl window tinting". It's similar to what you see on some vehicles but can be used in your home as well. You can cut the material to size. Although I have some, I've yet to use it, so cannot testify to its effectiveness. http://www.solarstat.co.uk/ I found mine in one of the big box stores and think it comes in grey and brown.

Finally, I have a sun room at the back of my house and have dealt with privacy issues in that room by hanging mesh type curtains on the windows but have used that frosted (removable) contact paper on the sliding door.

Hope this will give you some ideas!

One idea is to tape (neatly) kite paper, which is like waxed paper but comes in colors, on the inside of your windows. Or, if you are ambitious, make a frame, staple the paper and put in the window that way. It looks frosted, tho. It is fun because of the colors. It can be stamped on with printing paint or ink. I wonder if you can print on the sticky contact paper? I found out this stuff about the kite paper because I bought a box of it at a garage sale and have been trying to use it in different ways ever since.

mamasita & roybird, what great ideas.

It's amazing what sheers can block out. We once lived in a baement apt. at the front of the building where people were coming and going all the time. Very little could be seen through the sheers and at night we pulled the drapes.

Joan, thanks for suggesting sheers.
I had no idea how much sheers could make such a big difference but it has. I can see out & it has blocked their view from the inside of the house...outside is another thing but I'm working on it.
I still had one window to go but have solved it...my storm door is 2/3s glass & needed something there to block sun but ran out of funds...so I had an idea to use something I already had...a net laundry bag. I put it up using a couple decorative thumb tacks...not only did it provide the shade I needed but gave me the added bonus of the much needed privacy that I wanted. It doesn't look bad either so I may just leave it as is.