Knowing how much privacy you need will help determine the opacity of your window treatments. It will also determine how often you leave the treatments closed or if you need a convenient way to close them. Determine how much privacy you need by considering:
The room you’re adding treatments to: Some areas need privacy more than others, which you can base on what way a room faces. Perhaps a window faces your backyard and no one can see in. You’ll still want window treatments there, but they can be sheerer than treatments on windows that face the street or neighbors.
If you’re at street level: Homes at the street level may need more privacy from window treatments compared to second-level apartments. If anyone can walk by your home and see inside from street level, you’ll want adequate window treatments.
The proximity of your neighbors: Even if you’re in an apartment, you may have apartment buildings nearby or across the street. Anyone below, above, or at eye level with your windows might be able to see inside, meaning you’ll need window treatments. If you’re moving to a new home, you should also consider how close your new neighbors are to decide how much privacy you need.
A good test of how much privacy you need is to look out your window. If you can easily see passersby on the street or windows of neighboring houses, they can probably see into your windows.