Here is a simple and affordable way to turn a regular glass window in your home into a Privacy Window. No demolition required!
The front door in my new place had a nice side light panel on one side. I liked that I was getting extra daylight through the window in the panel, but I didn’t like the fact that someone could walk up to my front door and look straight into my house.
The previous owner had put up a fairly inefficient (and ugly) little curtain over it, but it really didn’t work well and kept falling off. The curtain also had gotten really dirty, given the proximity to open doorway and screen door setup.
I found the perfect solution with this self-adhering privacy window film product! It easily can be cut to fit your custom window size, and installing it was simple. It is made from translucent material – so the light shines through, but you can’t really see directly through it. The material itself is a bit like those decorative ‘window clings’ that are used for holiday decorations, but this stuff is thicker and sturdier.
Other Applications
This privacy window film product would be great for bathroom windows, especially the little windows that are installed above bath tubs, or in a shower compartment. They would be unaffected by moisture.
Another area where I would use them is ground floor windows like in a window well. This would act as a security improvement to not allow passersby to see if you have anything valuable in your basement.
My favorite eco-sensitive application would be in situations where birds tend to fly into your windows because they can see through two aligned windows or they can see the reflection of the sky in the window. In either case, they fly at the window and injure or kill themselves by running into the glass. Applying a strip of this film over part of the window, or cutting out an interesting shape that would help them see the window would reduce fatalities.
Simple Steps
- Clean the interior of your window throughly
- Cut the film with scissors or on a cutting mat with a utility knife. Cut it a little larger than what you need. I left an extra 1/4 inch all the way around.
- Spray the window lightly with slightly soapy water. Something like a small amount Dawn Dish Liquid in a spray bottle with a lot of water works.
- Peel the backing off of the film. Put that side against the window.
- Slide the film into the right place. Work out any bubbles with your fingers or a squeegee. You have lots of time to do this and you can pull the film off and start again, so don’t stress this step.
- When the film is lined up how you want it, trim the excess film with your utility knife. An X-acto knife can also be good for this step.
- Gently wipe off any excess water and soap residue.
This works best when the outside temperature isn’t too cold outdoors. If you find that edges peel up a bit, squirt some soapy water along the edge and press to reattach it.
My Results
I have had my privacy window film in place now for over a year. The film has not peeled or yellowed. The outdoor temperature has ranged from 98 degrees to -10 below (Fahrenheit).
What I love about it is that when the sun is shining into the window, it acts like a prism and breaks up the light into rainbows on my floor. Even late at night, I get a rainbow effect because the street light shines through it.
This link will take you to the window film I am describing in this article. There are several other nice choices, but I thought this particular pattern fit my modern design style and looks very elegant.
If you don't have the tools on hand for this project, this kit contains: a spray bottle (that you can fill with soapy water), a retractable utility cutter, and a flexible squeegee.
Interested in window and door DIY subjects? Another article that you may like is Sliding Glass Door Repair – How to Fix a Jammed Sliding Door.
