Your home should always be your castle, yet we can’t choose who lives near to us, and sadly we can sometimes be made to feel as though our neighbors are uncomfortably nosy.
Nobody should be made to feel like they’re being watched, or cannot spend time in their gardens or host social gatherings because of concerns over their neighbors.
Although it can be difficult to confront your neighbors about their behavior, it’s certainly possible to take some key measures to rebuild your sense of privacy in the face of prying eyes.
With this in mind, let’s look closer at how you can protect your home and garden from onlookers:
Building Privacy in Your Living Spaces
Getting your privacy levels right in living spaces can be a difficult challenge. Nobody wants to live in darkened rooms with closed blinds or curtains, but equally, it can be difficult to feel comfortable with people feeling the need to peer towards your living room from the other side of the street.
Fortunately, many options can be used to maintain a sense of privacy at home. One of the best available solutions is to purchase day and night blinds, which can provide natural light during daylight hours before becoming completely opaque in the evenings.
The beauty of blinds is that they are highly adaptable to your wants and needs. They can be fully opened to maximize your access to natural light, vented to restrict the views of passers-by, or completely closed with little fuss. They’re also far less restrictive than curtains or net curtains, which can sometimes feel antiquated and space-sapping.
For a more bespoke solution, electronic privacy film may be an excellent option for homeowners who are no strangers to smart technology.
Electronic privacy film works a little like the smart background filters available on work team calls. By flipping a switch, you can instantly tint your windows while still letting in plenty of natural light.
These films are also exceptionally easy to install and don’t require interconnected electronic devices to work, making them an excellent and stylish solution for those in need of more privacy at home.
Layers of Security Can Make a Strong Impact
Your neighbors may be nosy today, but what if they become a security threat over time? While it’s rare, we’ve seen many examples of neighbors stealing from each other. From cases of packages being stolen to bikes, WiFi, and even gas, neighbors could pose a greater threat than what it may initially seem.
Although installing surveillance may seem a little drastic, it can be a great subtle deterrent to prying eyes.
One of the most common forms of security surveillance comes in the form of video doorbells. These electronic devices can be set to record either when somebody approaches or presses the doorbell itself. For neighbors who don’t want to be seen snooping around, the presence of a recording device could be enough to put them off peering toward your home.
For more acute cases of nosiness, CCTV cameras can be a great addition to the home. The brilliant thing about security cameras is that they’re ideal as a deterrent. They don’t even have to be operational. Dummy CCTV cameras are available on Amazon for less than $10, and are every bit as effective in preventing neighbors from staring at your property.
Keeping Your Garden Private
Our gardens can be the worst places to find relaxation when having nosy neighbors. They may be great spots to enjoy the sunshine, but they could be far more inhibitive if we feel that there’s an unwanted set of eyes peering on our movements or eavesdropping on our conversations.
The great thing about our gardens is that they can be easy to modify in order to build more privacy.
One time-honored way of ramping up your protection is to install effective hedging to block the view of your outside space.
By using a more natural solution, you can effectively create walls without feeling penned in by fencing. While it can take a little while for hedges to grow out, they serve as one of the best solutions for helping you feel more comfortable in your garden.
Another excellent long-term option is to plant a tree that can shield views of both your garden and home while serving as a beautiful addition to your outdoor space.
If your garden’s overlooked, installing shade sails is an excellent option to keep the more sociable areas of your outdoor space shielded from view while maintaining the aesthetic of your garden.
Communication Could be Key
Of course, it’s worth highlighting that these solutions can be prevented through sharing your concerns with your neighbors. You may even find that they’re approachable and may even be a little embarrassed by giving off a negative impression.
Talking through your issues can help to nip any emerging problems in the bud and build a more positive relationship moving forward.
You’ll feel most comfortable at home if you have a good relationship with your neighbors. For all other circumstances, there’s plenty of opportunity for a more affirmative approach to ensure that your castle’s walls remain unbreached.