# Window treatments to allow walking around naked indoors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852 "2009-12-19T09:46:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/1 "2009-12-19T09:46:28Z")
[This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=544452) reminded me that I have an interior design question that I don’t know the answer to: has there been invented a window treatment that allows one to look out of one’s window while NOT allowing outside viewers to look in? Here is my situation: I have a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline from my dining room and kitchen BUT I often wake up in the morning in whatever I was sleeping in (often nothing) and wish to poke around in the kitchen, make coffee, etc. in a state of dress that will alarm any passing neighbor who peers in. (Outside my window is a walkway to other apartments in my high-rise, empty space for about 23 hours and 55 minutes per day, but it’s those other 5 minutes I’m concerned about.) For years, I just kept the skyline blocked off with heavy drapes, but that seems a shame to me–the ideal would be some sort of treatment that lets me look out but doesn’t let passersby look in. Does this exist? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/2 "2009-12-19T09:55:22Z")
> **[Window Treatments for Night-Time Privacy | Homesteady](https://homesteady.com/13413576/window-treatments-for-night-time-privacy)** > > One important issue to consider when creating window treatments is privacy. Most homes require privacy coverings of some kind to prevent passersby from peaking into windows. Privacy window treatments also prevent potential thieves from taking note of... [http://www.homesolutions123.net/WindowIdeas](http://www.homesolutions123.net/WindowIdeas) They have a variety of ideas. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@The\_Urban\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Urban_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/3 "2009-12-19T10:12:06Z")
One-way mirror film is your answer. It reflects a percentage of sunlight to appear mirrored from the outside during daylight hours ([example](http://www.gpwindowfilms.com/image-files/solar-heat-control-window-film-schering-plough.jpg)), but lets enough through so you can see outside. Note however that at night, without this reflected sunlight, a lit interior will become visible again, so curtains are still necessary. It also adds a slight blueish tint when looking out in the daytime. I’ve also seen similarly mirrored blinds, as a more flexible solution. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/4 "2009-12-19T11:03:56Z")
Our next door neighbour has mirrored windows, you can’t see anything inside them during the day. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/5 "2009-12-19T11:21:26Z")
This art design concept for using one-way glass for a public toilet made the news a while ago: > **[See-Through Loo](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/see-through-loo/)** > > Photographs show a public toilet made with one-way glass walls. Note that such a solution for your windows does not prevent the sight of you from injuring those inside your home… ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/6 "2009-12-19T13:38:57Z")
If you’re that concerned about being busted, put on a robe. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/7 "2009-12-19T13:54:56Z")
interesting defnition of “window treatment.” ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/8 "2009-12-19T14:12:57Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > interesting defnition of “window treatment.” I guess I meant the OP should put the robe over the window. Or something. Gimme a break; I’m old and my mind gets cloudy from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/9 "2009-12-19T14:13:08Z")
The neighbors have just learned not to look in our windows, because the boyfriend is in his underwear 97% of the time and the structural integrity of his underwear is… questionable. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/10 "2009-12-19T14:39:11Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > The neighbors have just learned not to look in our windows, because the boyfriend is in his underwear 97% of the time and the structural integrity of his underwear is… questionable. I believe this to be a permanent condition of boyfriends. OP, I’d go with the mirrored window film. The manufacturer’s instructions should include spraying the window with a dilute soap solution just prior to applying the film, and using a squeegee to adhere the film tightly against the glass. Be generous with the soap solution and press hard on the squeegee - it’ll help prevent air bubbles from getting trapped between the glass and film, which would interfere with the view. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/11 "2009-12-19T15:25:04Z")
> [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > This art design concept for using one-way glass for a public toilet made the news a while ago: > > [See-Through Loo | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/toilet.asp#photo) > > Note that such a solution for your windows does not prevent the sight of you from injuring those inside your home… You could freak someone out by just staring as if you _could_ see them. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/12 "2009-12-19T15:35:16Z")
The newer low E windows with UV coatings, argon gas etc. block people from seeing in. Although, it’s still a good idea not to turn lights on in the room. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/13 "2009-12-19T23:23:45Z")
Is there anything close to those sunglasses that have logos on one side, but appear as normal sunglasses on the other? Those work, even at night. In fact, regular tinted windows work at night. You might want to look into combining that with the other suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/14 "2009-12-20T00:21:00Z")
I was pondering this very question one time and I also landed on the “two way mirror” idea. But then I thought…my city probably would make me take them down. Seems like something a city or a suburb would regulate against because of the glare it would cause for drivers. Not that every house is situated where headlights would hit its windows, but in my little neighborhood there are 5 intersections where I know my headlights hit the windows of the houses across the street. Does this sound like a real concern or no? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/15 "2009-12-20T00:27:08Z")
Not to the OP, who’s on the 17th floor. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/16 "2009-12-20T00:59:00Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Not to the OP, who’s on the 17th floor. Well duh 😛 But I am asking if people think this might be something that would be banned or at least regulated by some cities in general, for the reason I came up with. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/17 "2009-12-20T01:03:43Z")
There’s this marvelous invention I’ve seen which allows people on the inside to see out, but stops people on the outside from seeing in. It’s called “net curtains.” ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/18 "2009-12-20T16:21:16Z")
It reads as if curtains or drapes up to the waist or shoulder level would allow viewing from inside out both day and night and prevent the cantankerous grievous objections to anything seen viewing from outside in. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/19 "2009-12-20T16:41:52Z")
Thank you for starting this thread. I’ve been wanting to know this myself, since I like to walk around naked and I also like as much sunlight coming into my house as possible. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852/20 "2009-12-20T16:45:19Z")
Really? And how are YOU doin’? You’re welcome, BTW. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-treatments-to-allow-walking-around-naked-indoors/521852.md?page=2)