Comments on: everything I know about window film

By: beth c

beth c — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:34:32 +0000

Thanks so much for ask this info. I’ve got a window with film on it and it’s stuck to the window. I started with the scraper – what a nightmare. I’ll try the alcohol trick tomorrow and then the wd40. I’ll report back.

By: Sergey

Sergey — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 02:51:07 +0000

Hello. I have couple of bathrooms with small windows out to a large deck. I want to get rid of dusty shades and mold behind them. I’d like to expose the glass so it dries up quickly, and apply something to the glass for privacy. The issue with the frosted films is that people on the desk can see through into the bathroom. Another issue the windows are dark and depressing in the night. Someone above mentioned applying the fabric with starch. It might do. Are there other options? Thanks!

By: Decorate Your Windows with Window Films | The Greens of Bedford

Decorate Your Windows with Window Films | The Greens of Bedford — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:56:20 +0000

[...] local Lowe’s or The Home Depot, too. There are plenty more designs to find online and even DIY window film projects. Not only are they creative alternatives to hanging curtains, but the window film styles [...]

By: Judy

Judy — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:28:32 +0000

Thanks so much for this blog post! I was looking around at the Brume window films and loved their simplicity but not their price tag lol And contact paper is such a great alternative. I ended used black faux leather contact paper to mimic the stencils and they ended up looking like this:

http://cleaningjunkie.com/2013/01/15/easy-diy-window-privacy-film-week-2/

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 02:59:24 +0000

I’m thinking about using your concepts to make “window hangings” on a lightweight piece of mylar or plexiglass. Sort of a poor mans stained glass. Not so heavy, no lead, no hassle.

By: megan

megan — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 01:57:58 +0000

MrsP – Colorful tissue paper will stain your windows! I used white tissue paper. I don’t think it will hold for long before peeling off the glass

I would suggest either using plain film from a hardware store or using liquid starch and fabric (the last link in my post above).

Sorry the answer isn’t more DIY, I tried it and still recommend film or the fabric with spray starch. Good luck!

By: MrsP

MrsP — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:59:27 +0000

Hi Megan, Thanks for all the helpful information! You mentioned that you had tried using tissue paper with liquid starch but that it didn’t stay on very long. I’m renting and have windows that face the main walkway. I’m wondering if adding a little Elmer’s White Glue (the kind Kindergartners use & which is washable) to the liquid starch would help the tissue paper adhere to the glass? Yet, also allow the tissue paper to be removed with water later? Did you have trouble with the color from the tissue paper running onto the window frame?

For the Epsom salts & beer, it looks like it’d work well for privacy but allowing light in and then being able to be washed off with water. However, did the Epsom salts damage the metal window frame?

Thanks for your help!

By: allison

allison — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:10:43 +0000

The fabric route is so easy, plus with a simple washing, the fabric is usable for sewing again.

I didn’t use stray starch, I just mixed a tiny bit of cornstarch and water and applied it with a paintbrush. Maybe a spray bottle would have been easier. Don’t use too much starch or it will show from the outside.

A few tips:

I like using fabrics that are contrasty enough the the pater sort of shows on both sides.

Wash that fabric first and make sure it doesn’t run.

Clean the edges of your windows well. We live in an old house. I did not clean well enough the first time, and the dirt around the outside was sucked up into the fabric and the edges were disgusting and ugly.

If covering a whole window (not just the bottom half) consider leaving a three to six inch slit at eye level. You still get a lot of privacy, but can see out.

Last, remember this only a solution when the windows are closed.

By: denise

denise — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:22:38 +0000

When I was a teenager in 1967 I did tissue paper mosaic on my bedroom windows with starch water. Just tore up variety of solid colors and layered them–looked like a kaleidoscope gone riot.

By: Window Film

Window Film — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:34:22 +0000

Really some great examples of using decorative or frosted film. I always think how something so simple can transform the feel of a room. I saw previous comments on removing window film and I do want to caution on the use of cheap window film . They actually tend to be harder to remove and can leave a window stained.

By: megan

megan — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:48:23 +0000

Ashley – I believe there is window film that cuts down the UV (even further than the windows do) but still lets in the light and is clear so the view is still there. Ask at a hardware store. Otherwise maybe get one of those fancy remote controlled shades :)

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:14:19 +0000

This is such great information and gave me some really good ideas.
My project is a very large cut out window that sits 12 feet above the ground and faces the west. Because of this, the sun really beats in everyday from 2-7pm. I’m wondering if window film is the best option due to the high heat. I don’t want to completely eliminate the light just cause a bit more shade. What would you do with this kind of project?

By: Three things I learned about adhesive window film

Three things I learned about adhesive window film — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:26:29 +0000

[...] I did a little research and discovered entire websites devoted to this stuff — see here, here and here – though I will admit, I found a lot of the design options less than chic. More like Lowes chic. I became discouraged. Then I stumbled onto the design-y not martha blog, which compiled a list of some of the chicest design options out there. [...]

By: Stunning Privacy Film for Windows « Elaine Butler

Stunning Privacy Film for Windows « Elaine Butler — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:44:46 +0000

[...] found it through a great blog post by someone called Not Martha, which gives a very detailed overview on the options regarding window [...]

By: magnus kemp

magnus kemp — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:30:28 +0000

I’m looking for a sticky window film thats about 2m wide. The film needs to be at least 72inches wide. anyone got any good ideas?

By: Patti

Patti — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:10:06 +0000

An update on Trove – I was going to order some and their site popped up a recommendation that I buy their installation kit, but didn’t say what was in it. I sent them an email and never heard back. Today I called them and the guy said the kit included a squeegee and their application solution, which is proprietary. When I asked if you could just use soapy water, he said it didn’t work well, and the film is not re-positionable. It turns out the film has an adhesive and is PERMANENT. There’s nothing to even hint this on their site. Beautiful stuff, but horrible support, dang it.

By: Morning LInkage (Jul 10)

Morning LInkage (Jul 10) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:51:11 +0000

[...] Massive collection of info on window film. Which besides being cool is um, cool. Here mostly so that I can send it to one of the thousands of (liar) people who get this via BCC. http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/07/09/everything-i-know-about-window-film/ [...]

By: megan

megan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:48:41 +0000

Amanda – You might take a look at the mirrored privacy film that is also made by Gila and sold in hardware stores. It’s not pretty, but a shop near me used it in their windows and I couldn’t see inside easily. (Fun trivia: They were later busted for being an illegal gambling joint.)

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:18:59 +0000

What can you recommend for someone who wants to see out to a nice view but doesn’t want people looking in? Do you know of any products for that?

thanks.

By: Window film as cheap DIY window covering | This Tiny House

Window film as cheap DIY window covering | This Tiny House — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:33:57 +0000

[...] been perusing a bunch of great design sites for window covering ideas. You can buy this pricey paper at Scandinavian Design, Gila, Brume, Trove, and Emma Jeffs. Or [...]

By: megan

megan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:19:54 +0000

Kim – For smaller panels you could certainly cut fabric to fit over each window panel. I have a window in my door which looks like Trival Pursuit wedges and I’ve been planning on frosting each pie shaped piece individually. Now being able to see your door I’m afraid that’s all the advice I can offer.

By: kim

kim — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:03:59 +0000

Thanks for the great post. I bought my house and I love my beautiful front doors. Except that they have small areas of clear glass that I would prefer to have frosted/obscured for privacy. Do you have any ideas for this small project? What kind of fabric would you use for the fabric/starch application? Do you think it will be very noticeable since only small parts need the treatment and other parts of the door have a decorative obscuring design built in. Any help with this would be Very Appreciated.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:22:26 +0000

I have old windows, more than 40 years old. What window film would you recommend? Thanks!

By: ryan

ryan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:43:57 +0000

I think its a PVC film. Anyway, will wait it out for a week before removing it. Will see if it clears out. Thanks!

By: megan

megan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:53:26 +0000

Ryan – Sorry, I just don’t know. What kind of film did you use?

By: ryan

ryan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:13:30 +0000

its a frosted film. just used a mild liquid soap. A few drops of it in a cup of water which i used as as spray.You’re probably right. it may be the foam/soap or something. Anyway, is there anything i can do to salvage this? The last hope was that there’s this one panel I took out because it had a tear did dry up again and got better. but then the ones posted already are the same.

By: megan

megan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:04:48 +0000

Hi Ryan – Did you use soap? Or detergent? They recommend a low foaming something – I used baby shampoo and didn’t have any problems. Does the packaging specific one or the other? Are you using a clear or frosted film?

By: ryan

ryan — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:00:45 +0000

Hi….
I used the liquid soap solution to put up adhesive film. Now it looks like its very blurry with white marks and uneven. I don’t know if I did it right. Is it me or was this supposed to happen like this? Would it still dry/clear up?

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:44:22 +0000

I recently discovered the fabric & liquid starch concept and it is ideal, except I did it by brushing it on from a cup (better control than using as a spray). I’ve done it on a wood treasure chest and on the wall (pics of both are on my blog sewcando.blogspot.com) and I was thinking about doing a window with it, so thanks for showing some. It really isn’t messy at all and removing it is SO easy. Just peel off. WAY better than anything adhesive and you can rewash the fabric and use it for something else later. Win-win!

By: megan

megan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:07:28 +0000

Anotheryarn – The picture with the small fern in front is the Ikea stuff. I bought it a few years back so it’s possible they don’t have it any longer. If so I apologize!

By: Anotheryarn

Anotheryarn — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:53:12 +0000

Is one of the pictures in this post of the Ikea film? When I went in search of their window film, I only found stuff near the drapery meant to go on picture frame glass and found it not nearly opaque enough.

By: megan

megan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:27:37 +0000

Sara – I don’t see why not, though I cannot predict how it might look. Hopefully it will still reflect back some of the light without making porn music play in your head.

By: rachel

rachel — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:34:01 +0000

For a really cheap and (sometimes) temporary window cover I’ve always turned to tissue paper and tape.

By: Sara

Sara — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:04:13 +0000

Is there any reason that I shouldn’t apply one of these to mirrored closet doors? I’m moving into a house where the master bedroom closet door is a huge mirror and that is not my favorite. Thanks.

By: pigtown*design

pigtown*design — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:28:01 +0000

I have some window film that looks like stained glass (no, really!), and I cut some diamonds out of the center so I could have a tiny look out. When I lived in the UK, my artist housemate did some great cut-outs in frosted film.

By: Seanna Lea

Seanna Lea — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:38:10 +0000

I love all of these ideas. In my old condo, these would have been perfect. Our unit was subgrade, and people could look into our windows.

Now it would be a neat decorative look, but no one can see into our windows from the driveway so I’ll just keep in the back of my head for doing something fun.

By: Flo

Flo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:00:35 +0000

How fortuitous, I was just checking online about this very topic yesterday! Does anyone know a removable or non-adhesive version that does not let light through?

By: megan

megan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:05:19 +0000

Thanks CCherry!

By: CCherry

CCherry — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:48:14 +0000

re: starch and fabric- I regularly use large pieces of material soaked in liquid starch and placed on the wall and on plinths at the museum where I am the curator. I do NOT use it in a situation where it will be in contact with art or artifacts, but it’s nice for changing the background color. As to clean up, very easy- I use a damp cloth that gets rinsed often and just wipe the wall down.

By: megan

megan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:32:41 +0000

Thanks Minerva, I was really focusing on reversible options. I started using window films when I rented and appreciated that they were easy to remove.

By: Minerva

Minerva — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:20:08 +0000

There is always the undecorative and permanent solution, spray on glass frost.

http://doitbest.com/Spray+Paint-Rust+Oleum-model-1903-830-doitbest-sku-796125.dib

By: megan

megan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:06:05 +0000

Melissa – Thank you so much for the update!

Jenn – Yes, just spray starch. I’m quoting from the post at All Buttoned Up: “I used a bright white-on-white cotton print that I soaked in spray starch. I hung the fabric on the windows and re-sprayed the whole thing smoothing out the wrinkles, etc.”

I have to say I think the spray starch + fabric option is the best DIY one I’ve seen so far, and the least expensive overall. Bravo Melissa!

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:54:21 +0000

So, wondering about the fabric– the spray starch is the only thing adhering it to the window? If so, that’s awesome!!

By: melissa f.

melissa f. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:51:42 +0000

hey– thanks megan!! as an update to the fabric diy version, it’s been up for a year with no sign of waning. it’s up in the kitchen and has handled the fluctuating temps and steam brilliantly. i was a little surprised.

By: megan

megan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:19:12 +0000

Thank you Trey and Cheryl, if I ever find myself facing a window pane of stuck on adhesive I will try both.

Emily – Great idea!

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:13:17 +0000

In my bedroom window which is about 10 feet from my neighbors house I used the Gila film and then applied some wall decals in varying shades of gray over the top to give it a bit more of a decorative look. Haven’t tried to take it off yet but it looks great!

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:37:36 +0000

My dad works with glass and clear contact paper on a regular basis. When the contact paper gets old or has baked in the sun, it tends to leave adhesive on the glass. The easiest method to removing it is to saturate the adhesive left on the glass with rubbing alcohol. Let it sit for about 3 mins. Spray it down with rubbing alcohol again, take a straight edge cutting blade and gently scrape away the adhesive. The high amount of alcohol on the glass will keep the blade from scratching and should allow you to easily remove the adhesive. Also, its best to shade the area so the alcohol doesn’t dry up quickly!

By: Trey

Trey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:11:40 +0000

If you ever have an adhesive stuck to glass again, skip the Goo Gone and go for WD-40. It won’t score the glass, and removes adhesive (any adhesive – even crazy glue) easily.