How To Make Windows Private At Night

Heading out into the open world in your van with a bunch of friends or family and camping out for the night can be wonderfully enriching and a great way to appreciate nature and to build some precious memories.

Vans help to make it easier for us to bring along and access all of our usual home comforts anywhere we go, and this makes them absolute wonders of modern engineering.

However, with all of the domestic delights and comforts, there also comes some of the same domestic woes and even a few problems that may be exclusive to van life.

One problem that many van lovers have noted is that their windows do not feel private enough, especially during the middle of the night. This can very quickly turn a relaxing night camping into a creepy night spent cowering in fear!

So how can you possibly increase the privacy of your van’s windows when camping? What are some of the best methods that you can try out? Read on below to find out now!

How Do You Make Van Windows More Private At Night?

In order to feel truly relaxed while camping in your van, you need to be safe in the knowledge that nobody can see into your van during the darker hours of the night, especially when you are asleep.

There are quite a few options that you can try out to solve this problem, with some involving purchasing specific products, and others involving just a little bit of ingenuity and craftsmanship. Let’s take a look at them.

Blackout Curtains

They are the classic option, and this is because they are still very much an option that works.

Using curtains to blackout the light from outside is a perfect solution, as it allows you precise control over the amount of light being let in and out of your van, and also allows you to choose when the light should be allowed through.

Curtains are also a very inexpensive option, and can easily be adjusted to fit windows of just about any size. You may also be able to purchase curtains that are purpose-sized for van windows, which can save you a lot of trouble.

However, blackout curtains do not always offer 100% accurate light control, and some amount of light can easily slip through.

This also means that there may be small gaps through which anyone outside of the van may be able to see in. In order to solve this, try including some kind of sealant to hold the curtains in place once you have set them into your desired position.

Blackout Blinds

For another affordable and classic option that can block out even more light, then you should definitely make sure to consider blackout blinds for your van.

Blackout blinds easily offer some of the most precise control over the amount of light being allowed into your van, and this is done by simply adjusting the angle of the blinds to only let in selected amounts of light at a time.

Blinds will hold their position incredibly well over time, so you don’t have to worry about light leaking through accidentally.

This also means that you can control whether anyone can see into the van. At certain angles, you can allow light into your van from outside while still obscuring the view in for anyone on the outside.

There are also many purpose-built blind sets designed for use on van windows that you can try out for yourself.

Blinds are easily one of your best options.

Blackout Window Film

Easily one of the best options that you can depend on to help you to maximize your privacy within your van is blackout window film.

This material is designed to prevent massive amounts of light seeping through, which keeps light from escaping from the van during the night, and makes it impossible to see in during the night when the lights are off.

However, this does come at a slight cost. Blackout window film operates by absorbing light so that only a small amount of it passes through. This means that, while it prevents anyone from seeing into the van, it also makes it harder to see out of the van from inside.

Thus it is recommended for use on specific windows only. Do not attempt to put this film on the windshield of your van. as it will significantly impair your ability to drive.

This is also a more long-term solution, so you cannot simply remove it when driving and then apply it at night. Thus, to make the most of it, you should be sure to only use it on windows that need more privacy and on windows you do not frequently look out of.

You should also keep in mind that blackout window film needs to be purchased in bulk, which can make it quite costly.

Dimmable Window Films

This is still a fairly modern innovation, and thus it can be very costly to get your hands on.

Dimmable window film operates largely in the same way as blackout window film, however, it is possible to change its current state on a whim. If you want more transparency for your window, then simply turn it to the clear state.

This allows light in and out of the windows. You can also turn it to an opaque state, which causes light to no longer pass through.

This makes it a perfect option for van life, as you can switch the opacity down during the day to see out from the van, and to let the warming sunlight in.

However, as mentioned, this is still a relatively new innovation, and thus it can be incredibly costly to get your hands on and to maintain. The film also requires electricity to work, though you could very easily hook it up to solar power.

To Conclude

So there you have it, these are just a few of the amazing options you have available to you to help you to increase the privacy of your van’s windows.

Some of these solutions are better than others, such as blinds or curtains, but as well as those there are also more permanent options that can be used for specific spaces in slightly larger vans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Window Films Work At Night?

Only a few window films on the market can offer true privacy during the night, such as blackout films. This is because certain films operate by absorbing and blocking light.

If there is very little light reaching certain window films, then they may actually provide very little privacy.

How Does A Window Turn Into A Mirror At Night?

The reason that windows may be more reflective at night is because of the fact that there is more light coming through the window from one side.

If you are on the side of a window that is bright, then the light from your side of the window will be reflected back because there is little light from the other side competing against it.

Is It OK Not To Have Curtains?

Certainly. There are plenty of other options for blocking out light from inside of the home, such as blinds.