Forget this gimmick, the real yuropean superiority is in proper blinds that are actually designed to block most light. For some reason they are extremely uncommon in north America
I’m going to go absolutely bonkers if I have to deal with one more set of cordless blinds that refuse to lift back up after you pull them down. The unshielded street light that exists only to ensure that I can see my car from my window at night, and shines not only through the cheap pvc but between the slats directly into my retinas, lighting my entire room at least 10 lumens brighter when there’s a layer of snow on the ground, is already wearing my sanity quite thin on its own, and I’m not even on the floor that catches the most light from it.
Oh, for their sanity…and it sounds like they’re in an environment with cold temps that have snow…blackout curtains will also help with keeping out the cold, keeping heat in. Save on utilities.
I don’t want blackout curtains. I like to let some light in the morning and during the day without sacrificing privacy in the early evening if I forget to close them. I also don’t like the thick unwieldy material of blackout curtains. Whoever put the stupid street lights out should have to be more considerate of the light pollution they create 😂
Have you thought about installing a blackout cellular shade instead? I bought a shade for this room I’m sitting in that’s basically two shades in one: it has a shade that lets in light and one that blacks everything out. If you want daylight, you pull the one shade down, if you want darkness you put that shade fully up, and if you want access to the window you put them both up.
It was IMO pretty affordable. I think the one I bought was around $300, and I have pretty large windows.
I actually always wanted those since I saw them in my aunt’s home but my mom never wanted to pay for them. Then I went to university and lived in various student accommodations. And now that school is done, my next move is in June and I’m actually going to Germany lol.
I’m mostly just lamenting that the american standard is such hot garbage that barely accomplishes what it is designed to do.
Ah gotcha, every apartment I’ve ever been in and my condo up until I installed these shades had crappy, plastic Venetian blinds that were basically pointless for blocking light…so I agree 100%.
Fair point about the light pollution. In my town they’ve been replacing the street lights with LED versions and it seems the beams are now more concentrated and lighting the street instead of everything in the proximity.
I hope a change like this may happen to your street in the future.
My dad is a light sleeper and when he has to attend a conference in the US he literally has to bring a sleeping mask to ensure he will be able to sleep properly
Tbh I’m just used to always finding them on the outside. But yeah if they’re not old-timey style blinds that are basically just doors for your windows I guess having them inside has some advantages.
I have never been to poland, scandinavia or the baltics, but all countries I’ve been to have one way or another to completely block light and don’t let cats scratch the curtains
proper blinds that are actually designed to block most light
You mean roll shutters?
Childhood home had both tilt & turn windows along with roll shutters, all imported from Germany in the late 70s when no-one in North America had them. I’m doing a frame-off reno on my current to add exactly those features.
Yes, I was not sure about the English terminology 😅 I was a bit shocked when I went studying in Canada and discovered they were basically alien technology to them
Xommon in central and southern Europe, not sure about northern. They are mostly there to limit sunlight in the summer where the house would be baked otherwise.
Forget this gimmick, the real yuropean superiority is in proper blinds that are actually designed to block most light. For some reason they are extremely uncommon in north America
Those are made by the same people who make American bathroom stall doors
I’m going to go absolutely bonkers if I have to deal with one more set of cordless blinds that refuse to lift back up after you pull them down. The unshielded street light that exists only to ensure that I can see my car from my window at night, and shines not only through the cheap pvc but between the slats directly into my retinas, lighting my entire room at least 10 lumens brighter when there’s a layer of snow on the ground, is already wearing my sanity quite thin on its own, and I’m not even on the floor that catches the most light from it.
Please, for your sanity, buy some blackout curtains
Oh, for their sanity…and it sounds like they’re in an environment with cold temps that have snow…blackout curtains will also help with keeping out the cold, keeping heat in. Save on utilities.
I don’t want blackout curtains. I like to let some light in the morning and during the day without sacrificing privacy in the early evening if I forget to close them. I also don’t like the thick unwieldy material of blackout curtains. Whoever put the stupid street lights out should have to be more considerate of the light pollution they create 😂
Have you thought about installing a blackout cellular shade instead? I bought a shade for this room I’m sitting in that’s basically two shades in one: it has a shade that lets in light and one that blacks everything out. If you want daylight, you pull the one shade down, if you want darkness you put that shade fully up, and if you want access to the window you put them both up.
It was IMO pretty affordable. I think the one I bought was around $300, and I have pretty large windows.
Here's what they look like if you're interested
I actually always wanted those since I saw them in my aunt’s home but my mom never wanted to pay for them. Then I went to university and lived in various student accommodations. And now that school is done, my next move is in June and I’m actually going to Germany lol.
I’m mostly just lamenting that the american standard is such hot garbage that barely accomplishes what it is designed to do.
Ah gotcha, every apartment I’ve ever been in and my condo up until I installed these shades had crappy, plastic Venetian blinds that were basically pointless for blocking light…so I agree 100%.
Fair point about the light pollution. In my town they’ve been replacing the street lights with LED versions and it seems the beams are now more concentrated and lighting the street instead of everything in the proximity.
I hope a change like this may happen to your street in the future.
My dad is a light sleeper and when he has to attend a conference in the US he literally has to bring a sleeping mask to ensure he will be able to sleep properly
I just want something my cat can’t destroy, is that too much to ask?
European blinds solve this as well, they are made of plastic and are on the outside of the window, not inside
Blinds on the outside? Here all blinds are inside the window between the window planes
Which is complete lunacy, if you ask me.
Why? They are protected from the weather.
I also forgot to mention that I am in Europe.
Tbh I’m just used to always finding them on the outside. But yeah if they’re not old-timey style blinds that are basically just doors for your windows I guess having them inside has some advantages.
Huh? They aren’t in every European country
At least all countries I’ve been to have blinds on the outside. Germany and Netherlands have rolling shutters like these: https://www.rollorieper.de/images/rollladen/overview_rollladen_mobile.webp
Southern and Eastern european countries tend to have little doors on the outside like these: https://www.schneider-schoenwalde.de/fileadmin/\_processed\_/3/8/csm_moosgruene-fensterlaeden_d2513c37b0.webp which are made of wood or plastic
I have never been to poland, scandinavia or the baltics, but all countries I’ve been to have one way or another to completely block light and don’t let cats scratch the curtains
Not romania :p
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That line of thought is the first step towards making cats more destructive.
Yes.
But think of the curtains industry! We must protect it
-Some congressional committee, circa 2029
You mean roll shutters?
Childhood home had both tilt & turn windows along with roll shutters, all imported from Germany in the late 70s when no-one in North America had them. I’m doing a frame-off reno on my current to add exactly those features.
Yes, I was not sure about the English terminology 😅 I was a bit shocked when I went studying in Canada and discovered they were basically alien technology to them
Xommon in central and southern Europe, not sure about northern. They are mostly there to limit sunlight in the summer where the house would be baked otherwise.
They’re all over the place in France and Germany. Also saw them a lot in Greece but I didn’t visit that many places here tbh
Yes Greece and Italy definitely very common.