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Horizontal Ceiling Blinds
Privacy: First, identify the slat’s edge that is closest to you. Angle the slats so that edge is up (but not totally closed). With this technique, someone from the outside can only see up to the ceiling and daylight can enter the room. While not completely private, outsiders can’t look in at you directly.
Further Consideration for Privacy: For ground floor windows, consider the NoHoles™ option on Graber Horizontal Aluminum or Vinyl Blinds. Not only do they add another layer of privacy to your blinds, but they block the light from coming through the rout holes that the blinds’ inner cords travel through. Instead, the lift cord runs along the back of the blinds. And therefore, no holes appear.
Bonus: By tilting the slats up with light-colored, reflective aluminum blinds, the window treatment throws the daylight further into the room. This method is called daylighting. And it helps illuminate your interiors. That improves your home’s energy efficiency but the natural light also provides significant wellness benefits. Like plants, people need the daylight!
Vertical blinds
Privacy: When the vanes of vertical blinds are open 90 degrees, you can see outdoors and the outdoors can see in. For privacy, angle the vanes of these blinds at about 45 degrees or less, so if you are on one side of the blinds, you won’t be seen. But know that when you walk past the window, you are visible to the outside. This allows you a bit more than partial privacy with Graber Vertical Blinds, while also lighting your room.
Shutters
Privacy: Graber Shutters offer split control of the louvers, so you can open the top half of the shutter but leave the bottom closed. As with horizontal blinds, you can angle the louvers so outsiders see your ceiling. Note that if you are close to the blind or shutter, you may be seen from the outside. For best privacy levels, shutters need to be closed and louvers need to be tilted fully up or fully down.
Light Control: When the louvers’ edges are horizontal, you see out and light enters in. Tilt them so the louver edge closest to you is up to let the most light in while still maintaining some privacy. But recognize that, at certain points, when someone walks past the window, they can see in.
More Advice
Roller Shades: Another option is to go for a roller shade in a room-darkening or blackout opacity. When you draw a roller shade to the windowsill, you have the most privacy, especially when you choose an outside mount (when the shade extends beyond the window jams).
Drapery: Mounting the shade “outside” also gives you the best lightblocking capability. Less light leaking into the space means you can sleep in longer or enjoy movie night during the day.
Bonus for Drapery: The average home loses up to 30% of its heating and cooling energy through the window every year.* That’s money out the window! Along with the window treatment, drapery helps insulate, and the added bonus is they provide sound absorption—a great benefit when you have high ceilings and/or hardwood floors.
*According to energy.gov
