How To Choose The Best Window Treatments For Your Privacy Needs

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Window treatments are for more than just decorating a room. They also offer privacy from peering eyes  or neighbors strolling past. They're a great way to create some much-needed cover in places like bathrooms and bedrooms where privacy is paramount, but they can also help you feel more screened-in during the evening in spaces like living rooms and kitchens, when you might feel too exposed with all of the lights on. However, not all window treatments are created equally. Some options create more privacy than others, whether it's because they're more solid or opaque, or because they're less cumbersome and fussy to work with. If you're looking for different levels for different rooms, consider this your guide. 

For instance, if you want complete privacy for places like your bedroom, opt for an option that will completely block out the entire view when closed, like slat blinds. Or, if you like curtains more, consider blackout curtains, which are made with heavy specialty liners that will completely block out the view from the outside. On the other hand, if you want a moderate amount of privacy without needing to obscure your entire view outside, then something like sheer or cafe curtains would be a better fit. Here is a deep dive into common window types, and which one is best for you.

If you're looking for high privacy, you can't do better than roller shades. Whether you want to block nosy passersby from peeking into your living room during their evening strolls or want total privacy in your bedroom, roller shades will give you just that. There are two reasons for this. First, most varieties are completely opaque, so there's no chance of getting a glimpse inside once they're pulled down. (Unlike, say, sheer curtains.) And second, they're unfussy and easy to operate, so you won't feel hesitant about drawing them when the need arises. (Unlike pleated drapes or Roman shades, which often need some arranging if you want them to look aesthetic when drawn back.) 

Specifically, roller shades are a type of pull-down shade that consists of a piece of fabric that rolls up and down by either a cord or a lift system. They're super versatile, as you can source virtually any type of fabric, texture, or color you want for this design, allowing you to find one that perfectly suits your room's aesthetic. Since they're so basic, you can even easily DIY roller shades for any room in your home. However, when it comes to privacy, there are caveats. If you choose a semi-sheer fabric, such as linen or bamboo, you'll achieve medium privacy, as some light will be able to filter through. However, if you opt for something completely opaque, such as linen with a blackout liner or polyester or wool, you will be completely covered.

Similar to roller shades, slat blinds will also give you high privacy. These are great options for rooms in the front of the house, such as living rooms, offices, dining rooms, or second-story bedrooms, which have less privacy since they face the street. If you want to Netflix binge in peace or get deep into a work project without being distracted by what your neighbor is doing on your lawn, then slat shades are a great pick. That's because, when you close them, there is usually zero visibility inside and out. However, the direction of your blinds matters. Tilting the slats up rather than down offers you more privacy since they sit closer together.

There are all sorts of blinds you can invest in, from vinyl to aluminum to wooden ones. All of them are opaque and will block your view when closed. However, similar to roller shades, slat blinds come in a wide range of styles and price points, allowing you to choose one that best suits your aesthetic. For instance, if you have a small budget and don't necessarily want to invest in your blinds (perhaps you're renting for a year or two), you can opt for simple vinyl shades, such as the Cordless Vinyl Blinds from Blinds.com, which only costs $19.99 a pop.

For a more high-end look, consider getting light or dark wood blinds. The texture and natural material will add warmth and dimension to your space, making a statement while also increasing privacy. Such an example is Custom Store's 2" Wood Blinds. They start at $34 a pop but are made of real wood, come in eight different color options, and you can provide your exact measurements to get an exact match for your particular window.

If you're looking for a more high-end window treatment that will make your room look well-designed but offer a serious amount of privacy, then interior shutters are a great choice. They're a timeless window treatment that complements today's home decor trends, such as farmhouse or transitional. These are built-in, offering a more elevated look than simple slat blinds. Just like outdoor shutters, they're attached to the sides of the windows with hinges, allowing you to open and close them like a door. Additionally, you can move the slats up and down to either let the light and view in or shut it out. Since they're permanently attached to the window and are easy to open and close, they offer high privacy. There are also several different styles to choose from, such as plantation shutters, which feature thicker slats; tier-on-tier shutters, which are broken into two separate top and bottom panels, allowing you even more control over privacy; and solid panel shutters, which have full panels rather than slats to completely block out peering eyes.

To get custom interior shutters that will look like they were built with your home, you will need to reach out to a local shutter company. They will typically offer you a free at-home consultation, where they will take your window measurements, offer you different styles to choose from, and then share a quote based on the project scope. However, if you would prefer to take a more budget-friendly route, you can also choose to install less bespoke shutters yourself. For example, Coverly's Painted Wood Plantation Shutters allow you to customize everything from the color to the window size to the sill type, but the installation is left to the consumer, thereby slashing the cost.

If you're looking for a curtain alternative for your privacy needs, then look no further than blackout curtains. These are drapes with a thick, specialty liner sewn to the back of them, which blocks out most sun rays and makes the drapes truly opaque. That means when they're drawn, people from the outside won't be able to see silhouettes or outlines inside the room like they would through sheer or semi-opaque curtains. And since blackout curtains are specifically bought to block out the sun — whether for sleep or protecting the interior from UV rays that could fade colors — they're meant to be drawn and opened. As in, they're not purely decorative, as some drapes are.

Keep in mind that there is a difference between blackout and room-darkening curtains. The latter doesn't use as tight or thick of a weave, so it allows some light to sneak through. This means it won't create a true blackout effect, but for the purpose of privacy, it should provide a similar amount of cover when drawn. However, if you'd prefer to invest in true blackout curtains, try out Sun Zero's Nordic Theater Grade Curtains, which come in 14 different color options.

If you're looking for a medium-level of privacy, then you can't do better than sheer curtains. They're the privacy curtains that add effortless style to your house. They obscure the view inside when drawn, but still allow light to filter through and give you a faded glimpse of the view outside. That way, you won't feel completely concealed when you draw them, but you also won't feel on display. These are great for common rooms where privacy isn't paramount — like, say, in places like living rooms, dining rooms, and offices.

Keep in mind that the type of curtain you choose will also affect the level of privacy you create. Some curtains are sheerer and gauzier than others. The looser the weave is, the more light will filter through, and the more you'll be able to see through them. Also note that visibility will increase the more light is in your room. For example, if you turn on ambient lighting in the evening, it will be easier to see through them from the outside, as everything is brightly illuminated. If that bothers you, try choosing a slightly thicker material, such as linen or muslin. Such an example is NICETOWN's Thick Linen Sheer Curtains, which come in 30 different color options.

Another great medium-privacy option is cafe curtains. These are curtains that only cover the lower half of the window pane, allowing light to filter through the top. This also allows you to see the view from the outside since only half the window is obscured, which is a nice bonus if you have a pleasant view of trees or nature outside. These are most often seen hanging in kitchens, but there are other places to use cafe curtains. They are also sometimes used in places like powder rooms, windows in front of bathtubs, and playrooms. As for privacy, since half of your window pane is covered, you feel adequately concealed, if not totally hidden. While passersby might see the top of your head, they won't see what you're doing inside. These are also a great pick if your space faces the backyard and your neighbors are situated a ways away, negating the need for total privacy.

Cafe curtains come in all sorts of different styles. If you'd like a little more privacy, opt for panels that cover three-fourths rather than half of a window and that are a heavier sheer fabric, such as linen. However, you want to steer clear of choosing a fully opaque option, as it can make the small curtain appear clunky rather than airy. Your eye will notice the way it cuts the window in half, which can make it look awkward.

If you're looking for shades that offer medium privacy, Roman shades could be something to consider. These are shades that are made from a cloth panel rather than wooden or vinyl slats. The panel folds horizontally into itself as you raise it up, revealing the view outside. While the panels can be made from opaque fabrics like polyester or cotton, they land on the medium privacy portion of our list because they can be fussy to work. Depending on how structured of a blind you get, the pleats can be difficult to get neat and crisp when raising the shades up, which will make you less prone to lower and raise them unless absolutely necessary. If you don't feel like shaping them, you will likely leave them raised more often than not, which lowers the amount of privacy the room gets.

Of course, that all depends on you. If the shades are in a rarely used room like the dining room or parlor, you will likely leave them open and beautifully arranged. But if they're in your bedroom or a living room that faces the front street, then you will likely still pull them down, even if it will take some fussing to arrange the next morning. For the easiest fold, opt for medium-heavy, tightly-woven fabrics like wool-blends or high-quality cotton or polyester. You want the material to have the same weight as high-quality curtains in order for it to pleat effortlessly. Anything heavier and the material will be too stiff and will require help folding, and anything lighter might bunch up shapelessly when pulled upward. An example of a good medium-weight fabric is the Yamini Madagascar Cotton fabric from Spiffy Spools. In the close up photo, you can see that the material is tightly-woven and has some weight to it, which will allow you to raise your shades much easier and make them more high-privacy.

The lowest privacy option on this list is decorative drapes, mainly because they are often utilized as accents rather than functional curtains. These are usually heavier fabrics with luxury detailing such as French pleats, where the creases need to be arranged crisply and uniformly in order to be aesthetically pleasing. Since the fabric needs to lie a certain way, it would be a burden to use them as regular curtains and draw them closed for privacy each night.

However, if you're the type of person who thinks their window frames look bare without perfectly arranged panels at the ends of your curtain rods, then there are ways to still use them but increase your privacy level, if you wish. For example, you can pair the drapes with sheer curtains or slat blinds, which you can draw or close when you want to obscure the view inside. The drapes can remain in pristine condition on the sides, untouched.