Open or Closed

@carolbee (16230)
United States
February 28, 2008 7:13am CST
If you have blinds or curtains, do you close them just before dark in the evening and open them in the morning when you wake up? I like the blinds closed as soon as it gets dark and keep them closed until morning. Privacy is a good thing. I've seen homes all over our area with the front door open and all blinds open after dark. We are in a safe part of town and haven't had any problems with crime but I feel uncomfortable giving strangers, as they drive up and down the street, or our neighbors the opportunity to peek inside.
6 people like this
20 responses
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
28 Feb 08
In my living room and dining room I have sheers that are drawn all the time. In the kitchen blinds that stay open all the time but all the bedrooms have blinds that stay shut. I like the privacy too. I only open the blinds in the bedrooms when it's very sunny out.
2 people like this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I follow the same pattern. The blinds are all closed at night especially if I'm home alone. Privacy is a good thing. Thanks for responding.
• United States
28 Feb 08
I keep both bedroom blinds closed at night, but since I live in a 2nd story apartment, I feel ok leaving my sliding glass door blinds open... the way that our balcony is angled, you can't see into our apartment from the outside :)
2 people like this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
How cozy and safe. So you can still see the stars on a clear night. Thanks for responding.
@MGjhaud (23069)
• Philippines
28 Feb 08
I have curtains in my room, it's a little thin so it could help me making my room darker on a daytime. but anyway, I like my room in a darker mood. I don't open them ever since. I wanted to wake in the morning with no too much light or rays going through my windows, I just don't like it. I live in an apartment by the way, i'm located at the second floor of the building so there's no porch or something.. just the windows that I could possibly see outside.
2 people like this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
It would be hard for someone to see in your windows and that's a good thing. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I almost always keep my blinds closed because I don't want people to peek in or the sun to boil through the windows. That light kills my eyes. I like to open them in the evening time though when the sun goes down a litlle bit. I can't hardly wait for spring to get here so I can open my blinds and windows up. It really does help if you live in a safe community and if you do not have nosey neighbors also.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I have a real nosey neighbor who lives right across the street from us. She asks such stupid questions..lol I feel all closed up if the blinds aren't open during the day. Thanks for responding.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
Yes she will stick her nose on the window if she comes over here and I don't answer the door. She's about 15 yrs. younger than I am and I would think she would have something better to do. She's always been a little different.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
29 Feb 08
LOL. does she like to nose through your windows when you have the blinds open? I used to have a neighbor who did that. It drove me nuts. she was very nosey.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
28 Feb 08
When we lived in town I always closed the curtains or blinds before it got dark - I was always fearful of others looking in. Now we live in the country and a great distance from the road. My living area faces the back of the house so I leave the blinds open all the time - don't even have anything on the windows in the living room. My son however like to come home after dark and will often come around the back of the house to come in but will pop his face up close to my bedroom window where I'll be watching TV or on the computer. I told him he's going to give me a heart attach doing that but he thinks it's funny to see me jump :(
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I've always lived in a big city and like privacy. I can understand not being concerned while living in the country. Tell your son that you are going to jump in front of him while he's sleeping and scare the bazonkers out of him..lol Thanks for responding.
• United States
28 Feb 08
you had better tell him to quit doing that...he may come around the corner one night when you and the hubby are having some fun and have forgotten to close the blinds hahaha
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
28 Feb 08
LOL would love to pay back son but impossible to scare him. I love being in the country and being able to look outside whenever I want. No husband, nothing going on in my room that would startle anyone.
@whittby (3072)
• United States
28 Feb 08
As soon as it gets dark, the blinds get closed here. I've even noticed from outside that the way I turn the blinds when they are closed, affects how much you can see in. So I make sure they are turned down that way. I walk the dog every night and I'm amazed at how many people around here leave their blinds open. The second floors I can understand, but there they are sitting in their living rooms for all to see. Now when we lived where we had a stockade fenced backyard, we just had a valance on the patio doors. whit
2 people like this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I was surprised to see other neighbors with the doors open. Storm door was closed but still, it's cold here. When we drive by we can see them watching tv. I wouldn't be comfortable doing that at all. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
• India
29 Feb 08
i live in the crowded city and i cannot take the risk own keeping my blinds open..its like i am inviting everybody to peep in..so for all reason like security,to avoid pollution,and to maintain privacy i have to close the blinds!!
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
2 Mar 08
I understand your concerns. I am also in a big city and never leave the blinds open at night. Thanks for responding.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
29 Feb 08
We have plantation shutters and keep them closed when the sun goes down. Well, at least the ones of the rooms we mostly occupy. I guess we do like our privacy.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
2 Mar 08
I'd hate the thought of neighbors or someone driving by the house looking inside. We have nothing to hide but do like the privacy. Thanks for responding.
• Singapore
29 Feb 08
Haha, good thing I saw your discussion first - I was going to post something similar.:P For me, I close my windows at around dinner time each night because otherwise, insects will fly in and I will have to kill them. The blinds are closed then as well. In the morning after I wake, the blinds and windows are all open to let the air circulate.:)
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
2 Mar 08
In the morning it's dark in the house so the first thing I do is open the blinds. Been too cold to open windows but it will happen soon. Sorry I stole your discussion subject..lol Thanks for responding.
@lexus54 (3572)
• Singapore
29 Feb 08
I live in a ninth floor apartment, and the facing and distance from other highrise buildings is such that not many people can look into my place, and infringe on my privacy. I have curtains in my home, in the hall as well as the bedrooms. I normally just part the curtains and use a tieback to keep the two halves apart. That gives me enough privacy even to change in my bedroom without the need to close the curtains, even if I have the lights on. I guess if you live on the ground floor or in a house, you have to be more particular about closing your curtains or blinds to keep the privacy when needed. For me, I don't have to and that's convenient.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
2 Mar 08
I don't blame you for leaving the blinds open. That high up am sure nobody can see inside your apartment. Thanks for responding.
@mishastar (734)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I like to do the same. I keep my blinds open during the day and close them at night. Some time when you keep your curtain open at night, people think that they have the right to peak into your homes.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
It is very tempting to look inside a house with the blinds open at night. I don't walk after dark but when driving by a house with open blinds, I can see right inside. Thanks for responding.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
29 Feb 08
I am like you I hate thinking that someone is watching me from outside. My neighbours on the other hand have nothing on their windows and before we had the balcony thing made I had to use the little balcony / door/ steps to go outside to have a smoke or take the rubish out and I could see everything.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I do feel like I'm being watched at night if the blinds are open. Did you have eye strain after watching your neighbors? lol Thanks for responding.
• Australia
29 Feb 08
good god no. Its hard not to look when my windows face their windows. And when I go out from that side I have to look infront of me in order to open the door. It is anoying thats why I hardy ever use that door.
• Indonesia
29 Feb 08
hello, I always open them when it is morning / daylight (so I won't need any more light from the electricity) and I close them when it gets dark. I just feel uncomfortable if the people outside can peek inside when it gets dark, our home still needs privacy no matter how safe the area is.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I agree. As soon as it's daylight I get the blinds open. Thanks for responding.
@dtroas (479)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I also close curtains before I go off to bed. And open then again in the morning. I do agree with privacy.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
Thanks so much for responding to this discussion.
• United States
29 Feb 08
I like the blinds open during the day especially in the summer time. At night I close the front blinds but the blinds in the kitchen I don't bother closing. They face the back yard and no one can see in. When my husband gets home from work at 11:30 at night that is the first thing he does is close the kitchen blinds.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
29 Feb 08
When it's really hot and sunny here I tend to not open them all the way. I love a nice sunny day when I can open up around here but not when it's 100 degrees. Thanks for responding.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I love to have sunlight during the day, so I will open every blind in the house. If it were up to my husband we would live in a cave! He likes the dark. He especially likes it when he is watching something on tv (it's a projector). He always laughs when he figures out why he is having a hard time seeing anything on the screen. It's because I have light pouring through every window! At light I close everything. If it is dark and I am waiting for my husband to come home, I may open just one of the kitchen blinds so I can see when he is coming. I don't always do this, only every once in awhile.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I'm home alone so much that I close the blinds as soon as the sun goes down. One of the first things I do in the morning is open the blinds so I can see the light. Thanks for responding.
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I leave them open most of the time. I do close them at night or when the sun is coming directly into them and blinding everyone, but other than that, they are open most of the time, especially the ones behind the love seat, because that is where my puppies like to sit and look out so they can see what is going on in the neighborhood and bark at the kids and cars and stuff.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Oh how cute. A place for the puppies to do some people watching. Thanks for responding.
@Gesusdid (1676)
• United States
29 Feb 08
i only open them during the day and only on a sunny day , i dont know how people have their blinds open with no curtains all day long including the night , thats just weird to me
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
2 Mar 08
I agree. We live in a good area but I'd be terribly uncomfortable leaving the blinds open all night. Thanks for responding.
@paid2write (5201)
28 Feb 08
I do close the curtains as it gets dark but at night I sometimes like to look out of my window to see the stars and the moon shining above the rooftops and I can see all the lights of the city. In the distance I can see a tall which is illuminated at night.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Ours are closed as soon as it gets dark. I also like to look out at night but can't see much. No streetlights in our neighborhood. Thanks for responding.
• Singapore
28 Feb 08
i always closed curtains before dark in the evening and open them in the morning when i wake up, because my room need to fresh air circulation in the morning. In the evening, i need to have a quiet sleep and not letting for other people can peek my privacy via closed curtains.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Feb 08
I agree. That's exactly what I do. Thanks for responding.