The Best Window Treatments for Privacy and Noise Reduction

Do you live on a busy street with lots of noise that you want to dampen? Or maybe you just want more privacy? Street-facing windows, or even those that look right out on a neighbor’s window, can feel exposed. But we also know that most people want privacy and noise reduction without sacrificing natural light, curb appeal, and ease of use. In this article, we’ll take a look at some things to consider plus our favorite window coverings for increasing privacy and reducing noise, all while still being functional and chic.

What to Consider

Choosing the right window covering isn’t just about the functions you want and how cool it looks in your home. In fact, you might not have considered the street light one house down and across the street that shines into your guest room, but it should be something you think about. 

So consider these things first to understand what it is you truly need:

• Do you need more privacy at night?
• Do you need to reduce light pollution at night? 
• Do you need to dampen noise from a highway or busy street?
• Do you need better light filtering to soften harsh light? 
• Do you have screens in the room that could benefit from less glare?
• Do you want to block street-level sight lines while still having privacy?
• What is the room used for? Is it a nursery, bathroom, guest room, bedroom, or common living area? The purpose and time of day the room is mainly used can make a difference!

Key Privacy Terms You Should Know

There are a lot of terms that get thrown around when you are considering new window coverings, like openness or light filtering. For the average person not steeped in the world of window treatments, these terms can add to the confusion. So let’s break down some key privacy terms and what they mean so you know exactly what you are looking for.

• 
  Light Filtering: If a window treatment is labeled light filtering, then it’s great for bright rooms that require softening of light during the day, however, may show silhouettes at night.
• Privacy Fabric: These are often tighter weave fabrics that translate to less visibility into your home at night (think opposite of light filtering). This can include a room darkening liner or fabric. 
• Blackout: This is the strongest nighttime privacy option, creating the darkest room when the shade is pulled.
• Openness Percent (for roller/solar fabrics): 
• 1-3% = more privacy
• 5% = balanced view and privacy
• 10% = more view, less privacy
• Key point to remember: solar shades are designed to block sunlight and can provide privacy during the day, however at night, the reverse happens and people can see into your home when the lights are on at night, providing little to no privacy. With this in mind, we recommend solar shades only in common living areas and not in bedrooms or bathrooms. 

Our Favorite Window Treatments for Street-Facing Windows

Now let’s take a look at 3 of our favorite window treatments that provide privacy, sound dampening, function, and style!

Top-Down/Bottom-Up Cellular Shades

Thanks to the honeycomb pocket design, these shades are known for their insulating properties when it comes to hot and cold temperatures. But did you know they can also dampen sound and provide privacy even without sacrificing natural light? 

Opting for top-down/bottom-up means you can block street-level sight lines while letting natural light filter in from above. And when needed, you can fully close it to help dampen noise. The dense fabric absorbs minor street sounds and vibrations much better than standard slatted blinds. And this operation mechanism eliminates unsightly cords for a sleek and stylish look. 

You can further increase your privacy and comfort by adding on a solar, room darkening, or blackout liner, making them a great choice for street-facing bedrooms and nurseries. 

Roman Shades with Liners

Just like with cellular shades, roman shades with liners create a multi-layered fabric shield between your home and the street. The dense fabric provides privacy day and night, even when your lights are on in the evening. You can also add room darkening, blackout, and solar linings for even more privacy and noise reduction. 

The fabric folds also dampen high-frequency outdoor noises like passing cars. These opaque window treatments are ideal when you do not need an open view through your window, as they provide a soft, decorative look. This also makes them ideal for bedrooms and nurseries as well as media rooms, offices, and formal dining rooms. 

And while roman shades are known to be a more traditional treatment, they look great in modern homes too. Just select a more structured pleat style. We also recommend opting for cordless roman shades if you have pets or small children.

Interior Shutters

Interior shutters, both composite and wood, are mounted directly to your window frame. This means they have the least amount of gaps between the window frame and the edge of your treatment, providing insulation from extreme temps and noises. And because this is a hard window treatment, the material is able to reflect some sound. 

These window treatments are the bougie cousin to blinds, so if you love the function of blinds, you’ll adore these window coverings! Simply angle the slats slightly up for light filtering while still having some views, or close the slats completely to block out street views. You can also opt for split tilt that allows independent operation of the top and bottom halves of the louvers. This means you can block street sight lines while still getting light above. 

But what we love about this window treatment the most is that it provides the most curb appeal and is the only window covering to add value to your home. Home buyers love interior shutters so much, they are willing to pay more for them; by adding them to your home, you are investing in the value of your house. 

Elevate Your Street-Facing Windows Today

Whether you are looking to reduce noise, improve privacy, or just add more curb appeal, Elevated Views can help you find the right window treatment for your needs and budget! We don’t use high-pressured sales tactics because our goal is to make sure you are happy with your new window covering and the process of buying it! 

Our locally, family-owned business focuses on personalized solutions that stay in your budget. Request a free in-home consultation and quote today and we’ll bring the design room to you!