Update: I took down the curtain rod altogether (at least temporarily) and ordered these from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ARTSCAPE-Texture-Twelve-Window-Film/dp/B000Q3R3SI/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3C8LN5CCP31EG&dchild=1&keywords=artscape+window+film+36x72&qid=1626546804&sprefix=artscape%2Caps%2C646&sr=8-3

It supposedly lets in the same amount of light while giving you privacy through a textured glass look. I picked this one because it looks like you can still see things outside, just blurred. Where the curtain rod was, or a little higher, I am thinking of a floating shelf (not as long as the rod) with plants on it, or some other kind of wall hang or ceiling hanging plant idea