"If the tinting takes care of your privacy during the day, you could just open (roll up) the shades during the day and close the room darkening shades at night.

Am I missing something?"

If you are missing something, I am too... as I thought the same thing.
Roll up the shades during the day.

I wanted something where I don't have to constantly roll them up and down every day, something where you can kind of see through during the day with the shades down but at night it would still create privacy inside even with the lights on. Maybe it doesnt exist.

Either way anyone have suggestions on good quality but inexpensive roller shades?

I have seen shades like you are talking about in commercial spaces. I am not sure what happens at night though, looking in from the street into a lit living room.
The shades that i have seen block the su yet you can see the trees outside.

What I did was put up room darkening shades inserted in the window sides, then I got a nice duette blind which I keep down in the daytime. You can see out but they can't see in and I put drapes up also. This gives the allusion that you only have the blinds and no shade hiding behind it. At night I just roll up the duette and pull down the darkening shade. I need the room really dark to sleep. I ordered the duette blinds at Lowes but they have many more types from which to choose.

There are light filter window shades that would work for your purposes. At most, when you are standing close to the window and backlit, people will see dark blobs, but that's about it.

I have these in a bedroom. They work fine, but they are not attractive. I would recommend something that has some texture in the fabric. In a previous house, I had lovely linen-look cellular shades. Much nicer, more $.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blindsgalore basic roller shade

Perhaps you need something like a solar shade for your window. Here is a link for you with more information.

They will also send you samples so you can see them first. There are different amounts openness by the fabric selection. I just received some swatches from them today.

Good Luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Link toSolarScreenShades

There is also a blind made by Hunter Douglas called a Silhouette that is sort of semi-sheer when open (day) and would let light in, but when closed you can't see in. You wouldn't have to roll up, just turn a wand. They are much more expensive than roller shades, but I think there may be less expensive knock offs. Also wooden blinds would operate the same way.

Graywings, I was looking mostly at what you linked. Why are they not attractive? The page says it would be good for a contemporary look, which is what I'm trying to achieve in my home. How was the quality and preciseness of the cuts of what you ordered? Did you install it yourself and did you inside mount it? If so, was it difficult? Also, the one you linked is "room darkening" so does light still pass through it at all? I know this is weird question, but maybe at night you can turn your lights on in the bedroom and go outside and see if you can see anything inside besides just light?

Lizbeth, I've seen what you're talking about, would work perfectly for me but don't love the look. Problem is I have 15 windows I need shades for and I need them to last and look good.

ms222, the fabric on my shades looks plastic-y, although I think it is a stiff polyester. They are well made and well cut, just kind of plain looking. Mounting them was easy - 4 screws in the wood frame. I did an outside mount, but an inside mount would be very similar. I predrilled holes and then used a 1/4 inch rachet-head wrench because my wood frames are old and hard to drill into.

My link above goes to a light filtering shade, which is what I have. From outside at night, you would know a light is on in the room and you might see a dark blob if someone stood near the window, but that's about it. I can take some photos if you want.

graywings thanks for the info. If you don't mind I would like to see some photos from the outside at night, as I would prefer light filtering during the day. I guess I have no choice but to go with the valences since seeing the rollers as is may be unsightly. Unfortunately the valences make each window much more expensive. I have 15 large windows around the house I need to put rollers over, and I am living in an expensive home so I don't want something that looks too cheap, but at the same time I really don't have the discretionary income right now to do anything too expensive.

I will try to take some photos tonight.

I don't think valances are the way to go. Many people like valances but they can looked dated if they don't fit in with the style of the room. It is difficult to find a contemporary looking valance.

The rollers are not unsightly, but they are larger than you think they are going to be. Have you thought about cellular shades? I believe they fit better as an inside mount than roller shades. They are only an inch or two deep.

Another option is an inside mount tension rod and white cotton sheers. It is cheaper than shades. In the last two houses I have lived in, I have put them up as a temporary covering and then left them up for more years than I want to admit to.

Thanks graywings, I'm not sure about the cellular shades but I will give them a look as you are right, they will inside mount better.

The inside mount with a tension rod won't be horrible but not really what I'm looking for. If you can get some photos later that would be great :)