Table of Contents
Why do Dutch houses have big windows?
Because the houses were narrow, and people still needed space to live, they would also be deep. In Dutch we call this a “pijpelade” (pipe drawer). If you want light to reach deep into your house, you need big windows. Anything blocking that light will mean a large part of your house will be dark.
Do Swedes use curtains?
But even the most secular Swedes seem strangely averse to curtains. Many Swedes don’t seem to have them at all, and those that do often seem resolved to leave them permanently undrawn.
Is it OK to not have curtains?
It’s ok to go bare—for the right reasons. To hear most designers say it, window treatments are the jewelry of the home, the finishing touch without which no good room is complete. But, as with every rule—design and elsewhere—there are exceptions.
Do Scandinavians use curtains?
Large windows are another typical element of Nordic homes. They rarely have curtains. Or if there is any kind of window dressing, it is kept very simple. Sometimes a few plants are displayed on the window sill.
What is an alternative to curtains?
1. Roman blinds. Roman blinds are a classic look and, being less bulky than curtains, enable you to use luxurious fabrics for a fraction of the cost. You can opt for thermal lining to add insulation, making them an energy efficient option too.
Is not opening windows bad?
Not only can keeping openings closed cause condensation issues inside your house (i.e. weeping windows), which we know can lead to mould, it also allows toxins already inside the home to build up. That includes volatile organic compounds, mold spores, dust, smoke, radon, viruses and bacteria.
Why don’t Dutch people wear curtains?
Especially in Amsterdam, people did not own curtains for the simple reason that people might think of you as a prostitute. As Amsterdam was the trade-centre of the world back in the day, it also meant loads of sailors coming of the boat every day looking for pleasure and so on.
Why do Dutch people allow passers-by to look inside their houses?
Yes, it’s not my keen observations skills that first noticed this alarming occurrence. The common explanation is that it stems from Dutch people’s Calvinistic roots: allowing passers-by a full view of your living quarters shows that you have nothing to hide.
Why do Irish people have so many lace curtains?
Closed curtains called for suspicion, whilst open curtains kept any harmful gossip at bay. Growing up in the aftermath of predominant Catholicism, it’s still common in Ireland to see semitransparent lace blinds dominate living rooms during the daytime and, once the sun sets, thick blackout curtains to keep the heat in and any peering eyes out.
Why do Dutch people put stickers on their windows?
There is a compromise that some Dutch submit to — vinyl stickers pasted on windows that force prying eyes to work a little harder, while still maintaining a level of transparency of course. Apartment living in Amsterdam is tight on space, especially in my neighbourhood of The Nine Streets ( De negen Straatjes ).