Caught Out! 7 in 10 movers forget curtains – and the makeshift hacks are hilarious
Moving house is stressful enough without realising — at 10pm on your first night — that the neighbours have a clear view into your bedroom. Every summer, thousands of Brits forget one crucial thing in the rush to get settled: window dressings.
According to window furnishings company Hillarys, more than 70% of movers don't arrange any window coverings before they get the keys. The result? A flood of funny, creative and often chaotic makeshift solutions to block the light and provide privacy.
The most common 'curtains' spotted in new homes:
- Clothes rails draped in coats
- Towels and bed sheets pinned up with bulldog clips
- Tall houseplants acting as privacy screens
- Cardboard, wrapping paper, and bin bags taped to the glass
While these improvised hacks are good for a laugh, the reality is less amusing. New movers often struggle with poor sleep and a lack of privacy in those first days, especially families trying to settle children before the new school term starts.
There are also practical implications. The Energy Saving Trust says well-fitted curtains can reduce heat loss by up to 15% — helping new homeowners cut energy bills and create a more comfortable space from day one.
Case Study: "I Ended Up Creating a Plant Shelf Just to Get Some Privacy"
Sarah, 59, from Nottingham, recently downsized to a two-bed mid-terrace — and in the chaos of the move, one important detail caught her off guard: the windows.
"I hadn't even thought about it until I was sitting on the sofa and realised I was basically on display," she says. "My new living room faces straight onto a busy street, and by that evening I felt like I was in a shop window."
With no functioning blinds or curtains in place, Sarah got creative — lining up her tallest houseplants across the windowsill to act as a makeshift privacy screen.
"It looked like a mini jungle, but it did the trick for a few days," she says. "Looking back, I definitely should have thought about window coverings a bit earlier. It's one of those things that doesn't seem urgent until you're in the house and really need it."
We have a webpage dedicated to home movers with expert advice on the right window dressings for their new place and practical tips tailored specifically for home movers, that your readers may find useful: https://www.hillarys.co.uk/moving-home/.
