Your neighbor's window is 3 metres from yours. You can see them, they can see you.
Time for better blinds.
Privacy isn't just about keeping prying eyes out. It's about feeling comfortable in your own home. Whether you're on a busy street, overlooked by neighbors, or just value your personal space, the right blinds make all the difference.
Top Tip
Privacy levels vary by time of day. What keeps you private during the day might show your silhouette at night when lights are on. For complete 24-hour privacy, choose blackout or thick fabric blinds that block visibility from both directions, regardless of lighting conditions.
Understanding Privacy Levels: What Actually Works?
Not all blinds offer the same privacy. Let's cut through the marketing jargon.
Here's what you need to know about privacy ratings.
Complete Privacy (100% Blackout)
These blinds block everything. No light in, no shapes visible, complete darkness.
Best for: Bedrooms, bathrooms, ground-floor rooms facing streets or neighbors.
High Privacy (Light Filtering)
Light comes through, but nobody can see in. You get natural brightness without being on display.
Best for: Living rooms, home offices, kitchens where you want light but not visibility.
Moderate Privacy (Translucent)
Softens the view from outside. People can tell someone's there but can't see details.
Best for: Rooms not facing direct sightlines, upper floors, spaces where full privacy isn't critical.
Privacy Rating Quick Guide
- Blackout blinds: Total privacy, day and night
- Thick fabric blinds: High privacy with some light
- Venetian blinds (closed): Excellent privacy when angled correctly
- Vertical blinds (closed): Very good privacy when fully closed
- Sheer blinds: Minimal privacy, more for light control
Best Blinds for Privacy: Room by Room
Different rooms have different privacy needs. Here's what works where.
Bedroom: Your Private Sanctuary
Bedrooms need maximum privacy. No compromises here.
Top Choice: Blackout Roller Blinds
These deliver complete privacy and total darkness. Perfect for sleep quality and privacy. They're simple, effective, and affordable.
Premium Option: Blackout Roman Blinds
Same total privacy as rollers but with added luxury. The fabric folds create a designer look while keeping everything private.
Budget-Friendly: Blackout Vertical Blinds
Excellent for large bedroom windows or patio doors. When closed, they offer complete privacy at a fraction of the cost of curtains.
Bedroom Privacy Checklist
- Must block 100% of light for quality sleep
- Should prevent any silhouette visibility at night
- Needs to fit flush to window frame (no gaps)
- Easy to operate for daily use
Bathroom: Privacy When It Matters Most
Bathroom privacy is non-negotiable. But you also need moisture resistance.
Best Choice: PVC Roller Blinds
Waterproof, easy to clean, and completely private when closed. PVC blinds handle bathroom humidity without warping or growing mold.
Alternative: Moisture-Resistant Vertical Blinds
Great for large bathroom windows. Choose PVC or specially treated fabric that resists moisture. When closed, they're totally private.
Luxury Option: Waterproof Shutters
More expensive but incredibly effective. Plantation shutters in waterproof materials offer adjustable privacy and excellent ventilation.
Bathroom Privacy Tip
Install blinds in the recess rather than outside the frame. This eliminates side gaps where people might see in. For bathrooms, those few millimetres matter more than in any other room.
Living Room: Privacy with Natural Light
Living rooms need flexibility. Privacy when you want it, light when you need it.
Perfect Balance: Day and Night Roller Blinds
These clever blinds have alternating sheer and opaque stripes. Adjust them to get light while maintaining privacy. Genius design.
Classic Choice: Venetian Blinds
Tilt the slats for perfect light and privacy balance. Closed completely, they're highly private. Angled, they let light in while keeping eyes out.
Stylish Option: Roman Blinds with Privacy Lining
Elegant fabric blinds with privacy backing. When lowered, they block the view completely while still allowing filtered light through.
Kitchen: Practical Privacy Solutions
Kitchens get messy. Your blinds need to handle cooking steam, splashes, and frequent cleaning.
Top Pick: Vertical Blinds
Easy to clean, moisture-resistant, and adjustable. Angle them for light while cooking, close them for privacy during meals.
Runner-Up: Faux Wood Venetian Blinds
Look like real wood but handle moisture perfectly. Wipe-clean surface and excellent privacy control.
Home Office: Focus Without Distraction
Need privacy for video calls? Don't want neighbors watching you work? Your home office blinds matter.
Best for Video Calls: Light-Filtering Roller Blinds
Block the view from outside while keeping your room bright and professional-looking on camera. No harsh shadows.
Concentration Choice: Venetian Blinds
Angle them to reduce glare on your screen while maintaining privacy. Adjust throughout the day as the sun moves.
Ground Floor Rooms: Maximum Privacy Essential
Ground floor windows face the biggest privacy challenges. Pedestrians, neighbors, delivery drivers—everyone can see in.
Ultimate Privacy: Blackout Roller Blinds
When you need guaranteed privacy, blackout rollers deliver. Nobody sees in, ever.
Daytime Solution: Top-Down Bottom-Up Blinds
Lower from the top to let ceiling light in while keeping the lower half private. Perfect for street-facing windows where you want light but not visibility.
Ground Floor Privacy Essentials
- Choose blinds that extend beyond the window frame
- Install in the recess to eliminate side gaps
- Consider layering blinds with curtains for extra security
- Opt for top-down options to keep lower portions private
Night vs Day Privacy: Understanding the Difference
Here's something most people don't realize until it's too late.
Daytime privacy and nighttime privacy are completely different challenges.
The Daytime Privacy Problem
During the day, it's brighter outside than inside. This makes it hard for people to see in. Even relatively sheer blinds offer decent daytime privacy.
Light-filtering blinds work brilliantly during daylight hours.
The Nighttime Privacy Challenge
At night, everything reverses. Your lit room becomes a stage. Anyone outside in the dark can see right in.
Even thick blinds can show your silhouette moving around. This is where true privacy blinds earn their money.
Common Privacy Mistake
Many people choose light-filtering blinds thinking they offer privacy. They do during the day. But at night with your lights on? You're basically in a display window. For rooms used at night, always test blinds with lights on after dark before deciding they're private enough.
Special Privacy Solutions
Some situations need creative privacy solutions.
Top-Down Bottom-Up Blinds
These genius blinds open from top or bottom. Lower them from the ceiling to get privacy at eye level while letting light flood in from above.
Perfect for ground-floor rooms facing busy streets.
Dual Roller Blinds
Two blinds in one fitting. One sheer for daytime privacy, one blackout for nighttime. Switch between them as needed.
Brilliant for bedrooms where you want options.
Layering: Blinds Plus Curtains
The ultimate privacy solution. Blinds for day-to-day control, curtains for extra nighttime privacy and insulation.
More expensive but unbeatable for complete peace of mind.
Privacy Blinds for Awkward Windows
Not all windows are simple rectangles. Here's how to handle tricky situations.
Bay Windows
Fit individual blinds to each section of the bay. Vertical blinds work particularly well as they can wrap around corners.
Narrow Side Windows by Front Doors
These are privacy nightmares. Blackout roller blinds or solid shutters are your only real options for complete privacy.
Bathroom Windows Next to Neighbors
Frosted window film plus privacy blinds. Double protection when the window is uncomfortably close to a neighbor's window or garden.
How to Choose: Your Privacy Needs Checklist
Before you buy, ask yourself these questions:
What Time Do I Use This Room?
Daytime-only rooms can use lighter blinds. Evening rooms need proper nighttime privacy.
How Close Are My Neighbors?
Closer neighbors mean you need higher privacy levels. Simple as that.
Do I Need Light AND Privacy?
If yes, choose blinds with adjustable features like venetians or day/night rollers.
What's My Budget?
Basic roller blinds offer excellent privacy affordably. Romans and shutters cost more but add style.
Is Moisture an Issue?
Bathrooms and kitchens need moisture-resistant materials like PVC or treated fabrics.
Privacy Blind Rankings
Installation Tips for Maximum Privacy
How you install your blinds affects privacy levels significantly.
Recess vs Outside Mount
For maximum privacy, recess mount (inside the window frame) is best. This eliminates side gaps where light and eyes can peek through.
Outside mount works when recess mounting isn't possible. Just make sure blinds extend 10cm beyond the frame on all sides.
Mind the Gaps
Light gaps = privacy gaps. Pay attention to:
- Side gaps (where blind edges meet the frame)
- Top gaps (between blind mechanism and frame top)
- Bottom gaps (where blind base meets the sill)
Made-to-measure blinds eliminate most gap issues. Worth every penny for privacy-critical rooms.
Key Takeaway
The best blinds for privacy depend on your specific room and needs. Bedrooms and bathrooms need complete blackout privacy. Living areas can balance privacy with light using venetian or day/night blinds. Ground floor rooms require the highest privacy levels. Always test blinds at night with lights on to ensure they meet your privacy needs before committing to a whole-house solution.
Bottom Line
Privacy blinds aren't one-size-fits-all. Your bathroom needs different privacy than your living room. Ground floor windows need stronger privacy than upstairs. The secret is matching blind type to room function and exposure level. Blackout blinds for bedrooms and bathrooms, adjustable venetians for living spaces, and moisture-resistant options for wet rooms. Get this right and you'll feel completely comfortable in every room of your home, day and night.
Ready to choose your perfect privacy blinds? Explore our full range of privacy roller blinds, vertical blinds, and venetian options. Need help deciding what's right for your specific situation? Contact our privacy blind experts for personalized recommendations.