Faux Frosted Windows
It’s easy to frost a window for privacy with this faux frosted window tutorial. With privacy film and these tips and tricks you’ll get your privacy back in no time!
One of the things I love about our house is the amount of natural light we get. The front of the house faced East so we get the beautiful sunrise that way and then the sunset over the backyard and wetlands that back up to our property. When we chose our house plan we opted for a front door with half windows and sidelights. And I love them. What I didn’t love though was the lack of privacy.
Anyone that came up to our front door could clearly see inside, all the way through to the back door. Especially at night. Just driving up to the house at night you could clearly see into the great room area and where we sit on the couch, etc. It was unsettling. Even more so during the times when my husband has to be away from the home for work and its just me and the kids. It was just one of those times when I received an email from the folks over at Wallpaper for Windows asking me if I’d be interested in reviewing their removable window films. Uh, yes please!
We had actually almost ordered Wallpaper for Windows a few months ago when we first moved into the house and realized the lack of privacy was an issue but I hesitated because I wasn’t sure that I could put up the film well enough for it to look good. I mean, this is the front door, not a lot of room for error here!
I mentioned this to the contact from the company and she told me they have a new custom cutting service that will cut your films to the exact sizes you need to eliminate you having to cut it yourself (and possibly make a mistake.) Worked for me! I sent them my measurements and picked out the plain Lite Frost window film. I wanted to keep as much light coming in the windows as possible, just maintain our privacy inside the home. A few days later my film arrived.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened it…it was just a large roll of film but I could see where the four individual pieces I needed were cut on the backing. (I chose to cover all the windows-even the one above the door for consistency.)
The directions were clear-cut. First you clean the windows, then spray with a soapy water solution. Then peel your film off the backing and apply to the window, lining up the edges and smoothing from the center out with your hand.
Once you have it in the proper place you spray the soap solution on the outer surface of the window and use the smoothing tool or a credit card to remove any lingering air bubbles.
(Helpful hint: after you smooth out the bubbles with the little tool, check the other side of the windows…I found some that weren’t visible from inside the house but were clearly visible from the outside.)
I had all four panels in place in a half hour (otherwise known as one episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse around here!)
I am so unbelievably happy with the results. There is still a ton of light in the house but the privacy is there. The installation was about as easy as it gets and it looks great, like real frosted glass. It does NOT look like “a giant sticker on the window” (I believe that was how my husband articulated his fears when we debated getting them the first time!)
I have a door just like you! I would use these there as well. Love them!!!
We are building a new house, and I’d love to try this on the front door!
I would love to try this on my 2 huge bathroom windows. Nice giveaway 🙂
I would love to try it on the front door and the basement windows.
i have 9 foot tall windows in my front room that face east. i hate covering them up but want privacy. these would be perfect!
Like you, I would use the covering on my front door, side windows.
Holly
I know what you mean about privacy and I don’t like people peeking in either! I’m entering your giveaway as I’m wanting to re-do our old transom window going from the bathroom into our hallway. It’s been boarded up before we moved into our house and I think a frosted window would allow natural light into our little hallway. Thanks and fingers crossed – winning your giveaway would sure give us a kick in the pants to tackle that project!
Love the frosted window look! I have a faux stained glass on my front door but they sure could use a make over ;^)
The window over my sink. It’s not a pretty view!
This is absolutely wonderful~I would use it on my front door. The funny thing is that I took the curtain off the door yesterday to launder it and thought how pretty the door looked without it but I didn’t want to give up my privacy….I so hope I win! : )
OK, so I really have no privacy issues, I just like the way the wallpaper for windows looks. Is that allowed? It would still look really pretty in my bathroom!
Great giveaway! I love all my light, too. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Oh, I would love to win this. I covered the windows by my front door with a curtain and we get no light through it anymore and it has been driving me crazy!
What a great idea! and it looks awesome!!!
We are on the first floor…I would love this in the windows throughout the house! Privacy in bedrooms, but delightful subdued light, lovely in the kitchen and fabulous in the livingroom!
I would use this on the living room windows. People can see right in when we are all in the living room.
I’d love something on our front door. It’s leaded glass, but you can still see through to the couch, and the back door is just window too. Sort of feels ‘fish-bowlish’ when DH is out of town especially.
Why am I such a chicken when he’s not home? I lived alone for years! Goodness!
Would love to try on a kitchen window that faces my neighbors bathroom and several other places.
Smart way to get a little more privacy. Our apartment managers replaced the window in our bathroom (in our shower) after it broke in a storm, but for some reason they didn’t replace it with frosted glass, they replaced it with clear glass! And then they wouldn’t replace the window a second time, so we ended up getting some window wallpaper like that and it works great. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!
Just wanted to let you know that this was the most popular link from last week’s party! You can check out the feature and grab a button here: https://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/09/the-fun-in-functional-link-party-16/
My front door windows
I’m torn between giving it to my aunt or my boyfriend’s mom they both have doors like this!
I would definitely use it on our front door!
I’d love the Dark Tint for our bedroom- it gets the sun FIRST THING IN THE MORNING!
I would use my Wallpaper for Windows on either my living room window or sliding glass door. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
I’d either use it on our front bay windows or in the office when I’m working in my pajamas 🙂
Thanks for the chance!
I would use it in our living room we have a window that is gigantic and even though we have drapes at night you can see into our house.
I did this on my all-glass front door and it is amazing! I used the privacy frost because I live next to a brewery. The curtain I had on the door before make the room dark. Now the soft light goes all the way to the back of the house but no one can see in at all! Now I just need to do the same thing to the dining room & living room windows.
Living room. I live downtown and it would give added privacy.
my kitchen has huge windows facing the neighbors and the screen isn’t cutting it
I have a little window in my front door that I would use it on, and I also have one on the back door to use it on too. If there were enough I might put it in the office window so we could open the blinds and see out.
My office is the messiest room in my house and has glass french doors and is right inside my front door. TRIPLE THREAT! That was the biggest mistake we made when designing our house. I need these stickers badly.
By my front door
I’d use this for bathroom windows!
living room
xxo
I would use them in the bathroom for sure and probably a couple of the bedrooms!
In the bathroom and the kitchen..I need the light, but privacy would be nice.
I would use it on the front window in the Living Room
I would use it on our back door!
I would use this in my bathroom shower where there is a window that we don’t want there.
suebunting1977at(gmail)dot(com) I would use Wallpaper for Windows on my bedroom windows!
I would use it in our entryway
I’d use them on my front door.
I would use it for my bedroom windows. Great review. I had never heard of this stuff. Great product!
I would use it in the living room. We are buying a new house and the one we are praying for (fingers crossed) needs a little more privacy. Thanks for the incredible giveaway and review.
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
I would use it for the front door windows
Id use it for my front door.
I would use it on the front door
For our study room! Really needs some privacy from the parking lot!
Wondering where you got this window frosted stuff?
I got it from Wallpaper for Windows
I’ve seen this before, but never realised it was that simple. I only hope it’s easily available over here in the UK.
That’s amazing! I’m seriously thinking of trying that out on my front door as well.
I’ve done window frosting on my bathroom doors and windows. I didn’t think it would look good on my front door but now I’m sold!
Very nice article. I thoroughly enjoyed it and wwas vety informative.