I have white cafe curtains in most of our rooms, primarily because when we first moved to our house, we had a dog. He barked at anyone walking by (that was his job, after all, to alert us). With the curtains, he couldn't see out and all was quiet. Now that he has passed away, we still have them and like the light that comes in all day. I'm considering putting in sheers here and there but just haven't gotten around to it. They wash well, are inexpensive, let in light, and offer what little privacy we need.