How to deal with nosey neighbors?

So.. I live in a co-op. A two story building with connected apartment units.

I am on the first floor with front and back doors.. my back door is to my kitchen, and it's a sliding glass door and I use this door every day since it's closest to my car. I got blinds for the door, but the string snapped from constant use and it is now out of warranty. Unfortunately, it's been open for a while and that allows people to see in at nights when my kitchen lights are on.

I am in the process of figuring out what I want to do with the door.. either try to restring or buy new blinds.. and this costs money that I don't have.

Lack of privacy is causing me discomfort from my neighbors.

My neighbors upstairs are very.. how to say it nicely.. simple people. Family of 5 (3 teenagers, 2 girls, one boy living in a 2 bedroom unit). I'm trying to be nice as possible as not to offend anyone here- yet to get you guys to understand who they are.. but their bulbs are not bright in their minds. I don't know if they have autism or aspergers or something like that, so I can't say for sure. They are nice people.. however.. they get a kick out of the simplest things. These people are constantly yelling at each other. Whether they're outside or in their home, I hear them screaming at each other. Every day. I've sent in complaints to the Board about this. I don't think they understand consequences of their actions.

Exhibit A: I was trimming my cats claws earlier in the kitchen- dark out and people can easily see inside when my light is on.. Father and son saw me through the door and walked to my porch, pointed and waved, fascinated by my task. Even when I looked directly at them and not wave back, they stared for a moment longer before finally walking off. 

Exhibit B: Now that the weather is getting nicer, my windows are open. They have to walk past my windows to get to their car. If my cats are at the windows, I hear them whistling and talking to my cats. It's like they've never seen cats before in their lives (And they have a cat.. which they got a few months ago. This is the other problem, and quite annoying when I am trying to relax.

Exhibit C: Their front door (their only entrance) is right next to mine. If I have my front door open, I catch them looking into my unit..not a happened glance walk by.. but a face up to the screen look in. I keep my front door closed because of this.

I feel like I have zero privacy with these people. I am tired of feeling like I have to hide in my own home when I see them outside.

I am not sure what to say to them.. or what else I can do to deter them from being annoying like this. I know they are harmless, but it is also disrespectful of my privacy and space. Should I leave a note for them or talk to them in person? I know I need to be firm in my words for them to understand to leave me alone as I don't think they realize what they do is just wrong.

None of my other neighbors look in my general direction. They all respect each other's privacy.. even the one that parks right outside my door and can clearly see in when they pull up (I should ask him if I can switch spots with him, lol). 

Any suggestions?

and thank you for putting up with my rant today.

Maybe some privacy window film? You can get a roll for around $4 at a hardware store. No blinds, no strings, nobody peeking in!

But that's just for the window. I don't really know what to do about the rest of it :/.

Willowy said:

Maybe some privacy window film? You can get a roll for around $4 at a hardware store. No blinds, no strings, nobody peeking in!

But that's just for the window. I don't really know what to do about the rest of it :/.

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I was looking at privacy films.. they only work during the day, unless I get frosted kinds and I would like to see out during the day. They don't work at nights when my lights are on

Can you hang curtains or drapes?  We had a sliding glass door and had drapes that pulled to one side and not apart in the middle.

I'd get temporary blinds...the paper kind, and duct tape them to the door. Wouldn't be the prettiest, but it should do the trick.

Trying to find something fairly cheap is going to be difficult with sliding glass doors. 

Are you good with sewing at all? I've heard of buying a really pretty bed sheet and using it as a curtain; you could take one of your own bed sheets, so you didn't have to buy new. Put a rod up, use grommets or something like that and then just pull the sheet across the sliding glass door. Yes, I know, it's not perfect, but it would do til you could afford to buy new blinds, esp at night. Do you know anybody who can sew or help you? 

I wouldn't talk to them, I don't know that they'd understand you anyway. And, for the most part, it's just not a good idea as you don't want to antagonize them. And if they know you don't like it, they may continue to do it. But instead of sending complaints to the Board, go in person to talk to somebody who's on the Board. 

Hope you can find something.

Thanks for the input all!

RE Curtains/sheets- I am hesitant to use them because the stove is right against the wall where the doors are at and it would be touching the stove when it's closed.. I am scared that somehow the cats would turn the stove on and start a fire when I am not around. Great idea though

I saw these frosted tint things.. I may get that and make it a little decorative. leave the bottom open where the cats can see out, and leave a little open at the top for me to see out. I will have to think about this one

Here you go:  http://www.nx2.com/a/nx2/she-paints...its-private-and-sunny-2997?utm_source=ape_kom

I think it's kind of a neat idea, esp for what you want to do!

Oooh, doing it with real lace is so cool! I got some privacy film that looks like lace but the real stuff would be even better.

Yeah, I was talking about the frosted stuff, and, yeah, it's annoying to not be able to see out.. You probably could put it only on the human eye level parts and leave the top and bottom undone.

Winchester said:

 
Here you go:  http://www.nx2.com/a/nx2/she-paints...its-private-and-sunny-2997?utm_source=ape_kom

I think it's kind of a neat idea, esp for what you want to do!

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that's actually pretty cool!

If you go that route, you need to take pictures....I'd love to see it! 

Winchester said:

 
Here you go:  http://www.nx2.com/a/nx2/she-paints...its-private-and-sunny-2997?utm_source=ape_kom

I think it's kind of a neat idea, esp for what you want to do!

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That's so creative!  

I like Pam's link. I was thinking about some sort of fireproof blackout blinds, but those are ugly as heck if that bothers you.

Ultimately, if push comes to shove you could always get an anti-personnel claymore mine that explodes when someone steps on it and plant it right outside the door.

FhiCat said:

I like Pam's link. I was thinking about some sort of fireproof blackout blinds, but those are ugly as heck if that bothers you.

Ultimately, if push comes to shove you could always get an anti-personnel claymore mine that explodes when someone steps on it and plant it right outside the door.

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Now, there's a solution.     

Decided to check out lowes and get the frosted cling. Left the bottom open for the cats. Really can't see out but overall I am pretty happy with it

It looks nice.  I see why you wanted something on the windows.

that really looks very nice! 

you might take a look at it outside tonight, just to know how much (of inside your home) can be seen from outside at night.

I would talk to the on site manager or homeowners association. Some folks just need to have things explained to them.

letters from the board has been sent to my neighbors for past behavior issues, including them yelling at each other. Nothing happened really. They're just that type of people that won't change, unfortunately.

I checked the film from the outside at night. no one can see in, unless they bend down to look in the opening that I left for the cats. I wish I made the opening one notch lower, but that means the cats would have to crouch to look outside, lol. spoiled felines.

Handsome Kitty said:

 
It looks nice.  I see why you wanted something on the windows.

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