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Window treatments for privacy in bedroom

14 years ago

I can't believe I haven't come up with a solution to this problem but there must be something I'm not thinking of! Some of our bedroom windows face my next-door neighbor's house, which is very close. He is elderly and I'm sure he's not trying to peer in my windows, but who knows who will move in there when he's gone! Currently I have just plain sheers on the windows, which are OK but don't seem quite "private" enough. So I decided I wanted wood blinds. Went to measure the windows and it was then that I remembered why I didn't have shades or blinds already -- there is no space to mount them (inside mount). The interior part where you'd hang a roller shade or blind is not even 1" deep! So I can't mount anything within the window frame, and I really just don't like the look of outside-mount shades or blinds. What else can I do? I have 2 windows side by side on one wall, and 2 windows side by side on another wall, and then another window by itself on the other side of the room. Maybe I just need to add more sheers to what I already have so they're "less sheer" but I'm thinking there may be another solution I'm not thinking of. I used to have regular drapes on clip rings that I just opened and closed each day, but I'm not thrilled with that option either. Any ideas?

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Comments (3)

palimpsest
14 years ago
I ended up doing something rather elaborate for a client who lives on an alley where there are windows about ten feet away and a streetlight within arm's reach of one window. Blackout roller shades for light control at night, Sheers for daytime privacy, and a long panels to both diffuse and light leak around the blind (the streetlight is bright!) and for some interest. I think you may have to resort multiple layers to solve the problem. What about an pleated shade? They would not mount completely within the recess but the mounting wouldnt project Too far out either... not as much as a roller or venetian blind. Then you could still keep the sheers over the top.
parma42
14 years ago

Sue, forgive me for lazing out and just pasting a pic from Photobucket, instead of searching for a more appropriate example. :)

The way most designers are doing these shades and blinds, now, is to have them up to the rods and ignoring the window insets. Take a look (long) at the link in the post about puddling drapes. They give many reasons and examples.

But, heck, if you don't like the look, you certainly don't have to do it.
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To my eyes that blind is very depressing. I would remove it. I prefer rooms that are bright and cheerful. I would use grommet top panels ( white or cream) on a decorative rod. Get enough lined panels so that there is ample fullness when closed. If more light control is needed I would use simple white pleated shades with the panels. White plantation shutters would be nice, too. Window treatments should look nice from the outside as well as the inside. Quite often those shades look like sheets or paper bags from the outside. Your beautiful room deserves better :).
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I'm wondering if there's another idea I'm not considering. Are you open to painting the room (including the ceiling) a dramatic, dark color? In my first house, my husband and I painted our vaulted master bedroom a deep cool green (kept the trim white), and we *loved* it. We were pleasantly surprised at how much it darkened the room at night, something we hadn't even considered, but were thrilled with. I also really like curtains, and if it were me, I'd mount a single rod over the tallest window, extending it 8"-12" past each flanking window. Color would depend on the look you were after. Thoughts? :-)
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No not a basement. Yes the bedding is new from pottery barn. Here is a photo of the window. We are current in a rental so we cannot completely flip everything but I would like to find a way to brighten the space. Or a least have less brown
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I love Roman shades but something to think about in your situation is how much of the window will be blocked when the shades are “up”. It may be as much as half the window. That may or may not matter to you. The first picture below is of Roman shades in my bedroom in the up position, which blocks about half the window. The height of the window from trim to trim is 18”. This isn’t too much of an issue since we don’t spend time in this room during the day. Another option that hasn’t been mentioned are roller shades. The second and third photos are of roller shades in my home office. Note that I intentionally picked material that was light filtering, not light blocking, given the location. They make them in light blocking material as well which would be better for a bedroom. The valence at the top is only 4”; blocking less of the 18” tall window. The roller shades may or may not go well with your decor/home style. We have these in most rooms of our mid-century ranch and they wofk great.
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karinl
14 years ago
The options available really depend on what you've got to hang the hardware on... I agree you can do layers, and there is hardware available to support that, but sometimes the attachment can be tricky. It also depends on whether you want to open this during the day. Maybe it would help to post a photo of your windows and their frames. Are there still some nighttime drapes that go over the sheers?

I have some very shallow windows as well and use a simple spring rod or those drapery cables (or whatever they're called) to hang a fairly straight piece of fabric right at the window - that functions to block the view. Then I found some custom brackets that allow me to hang a nice rod from the top of the window frame that allow me to have the fabric I want showing from inside the room. But I wanted the mouldings around the window to show... you'd have more options if you are prepared to cover those.

KarinL

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