DIY Window Film Ideas
While windows can be beautiful because of the view they provide, they’re mostly there only to serve one purpose — to show a view to the outside or into the next room. But what if there was a way to dress your windows up a bit, and make it so they were more than just an invisible entity through which you viewed something else? What if there was a way to transform your windows themselves into a work of art?
With decorative window film, that’s precisely what you can do. These films are designed to take your plain glass windows and turn them into something work looking at and something that elevates your whole home or business by association. Let’s walk through some of the most popular decorative glass films out there and talk about just a few of the fascinating things you can do with them to make your windows into something extraordinary.
What Are Decorative Glass Films?
Glass films are a way of taking your windows and giving them a little extra “something” that makes them more eye-catching and visually interesting. By using these films, you can take an ordinary window that might never warrant any attention and turn it into a true work of art.
Decorative glass films aren’t just one large homogeneous category, either. Within this overarching definition, there are a variety of sub-categories of films, each with a slightly different specialty to bring something a little different to your window. Some films are purely there for adding a sophisticated touch of decoration, while others can offer privacy and a bit of delicate color as well. Decide which style you like best for your window upgrade or mix and match a variety of styles for a unique look that’s all your own.
Unlike many window upgrades, which require you to replace your windows altogether and call in window professionals to do so, glass films are perfect for DIY-work. Their application is simple, easy and perfectly suited to the abilities of most people even if they have no professional experience working with windows.
In terms of form and function, vinyl films are similar to cling wrap that you might use in the kitchen to cover dishes of food. Like this kitchen wrap, window films come in long rolls that unroll to reveal a thin, filmy material. Depending on the specific type of wrap you buy, this film may be colored or patterned, and translucent or opaque. Based on this description alone, we might be referring to any type of vinyl film, as most share these basic characteristics. What sets glass and window films apart?
These are a special type of vinyl designed to stick to glass surfaces and give them an enhanced appearance. These films will usually either be transparent with a pattern etched into them or lightly colored. When you lay the film over the glass surface, this design or color blends into the glass in such a way that it looks like it’s part of the glass itself. Most decorative vinyl is also self-adhesive, meaning that they come equipped with a naturally sticky back that will adhere to the glass once you smooth it into place.
Where Can You Use Glass Window Films?
As the name suggests, you’ll most often use window films to decorate your windows. This isn’t the only place you can use them, however. Any flat expanse of glass makes a perfect canvas for decorative films. You can apply your films to:
- Glass storefronts
- Glass doors
- Mirrors
- Glass display cases
- Glass cabinets
- Glass tabletops
What Are the Popular Types of Decorative Glass Films?
Not every style of window film is the same. Each best suits a slightly different purpose, and all of them can be simply stunning when used in the right situation. Browse our list of a few of the most popular varieties of window films and decorative glass ideas, then decide which one might be right for your windows.
1. 3M™ Fasara Glass Decorative Film
For most of us, glass is something we look through and not at. When you choose 3M™ Fasara Glass Decorative Films, however, that all changes. These films represent the pinnacle of elegance, distinction and decoration for windows. You can use them purely for aesthetic purposes, or you can make them serve a more concrete purpose in helping provide extra privacy to certain spaces.
Because 3M™ Fasara films are the very highest quality you’ll find in the world of window films, they also represent the top of the price scale. However, this price comes with plenty of perks, the first of which is extreme durability. These films easily last up to 10 years and offer shatter-resistance to any glass surface they cover. Additionally, they’re low-gloss to prevent glare and come equipped with a pressure-activated removable acrylic adhesive for easy application.
Perhaps best of all, 3M™ Fasara films are exceptionally low maintenance. Once you’ve applied them properly, they don’t require any extra maintenance. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy their elegant for years to come.
What Types of Applications Are Best for 3M™ Fasara Films?
Fasara films are extremely versatile, and you can use them for many different applications. From the purely ornamental to the more purposefully practical, here are some of the ways you can use your Fasara films:
- Added privacy: Windows make terrific partitions between rooms, in the form of floor-to-ceiling glass walls, but they don’t always provide the most privacy. By adding a decorative film to this glass, you can obstruct the view slightly while not blocking any light. These films won’t block the view entirely, but they do an excellent job of providing a little camouflage and preventing it from feeling like the whole world can see directly into the room in question.
- Advertising: Window films don’t have to consist of merely one solid pattern across the entire span of glass. You can also use them to create an image or a phrase that advertises your business. Our films help you lay this image seamlessly across your storefront or window, combining beauty and functionality in one stellar product.
- Decoration: Sometimes, the most important function is just to be beautiful. If this is what you’re looking for, then our Fasara films can fit the bill perfectly. Choose from an extensive range of colors, options, patterns and finishes to find the style that will look exactly right in your windows.
What Style Goes Best With Fasara Films?
Wondering if Fasara films might be the right choice for your setting? Above all else, Fasara films represent elegance and luxurious design. They tend to look best in well-decorated, upscale locations where precise details lend distinction to the overall style and décor. If you feel this describes your décor, then these might be just the right choice for you.
2. ORACAL® 8710 Dusted Decorative Glass Film
Our ORACAL® 8710 Dusted Decorative Glass Films come with many of the same perks and benefits that you’ll find with our Fasara films. Our ORACAL® 8710 films are designed to provide a decorative and functional layer to your glass surfaces while still allowing all the light you need to pass through. Conveniently, they’re still simple enough to apply that they make a perfect DIY-project.
One important distinction between these two types of films, however, is that our ORACAL® dusted glass films represent the next step lower on the price scale. This price difference means that you’re still getting great quality, but you’re achieving it for a smaller price tag.
The dusted glass films are rated for seven years of outdoor durability, making them well worth their price for the years of use you’ll get out of them. Additionally, they’re specifically designed for easy weeding, making them perfect for creating complex designs, patterns and shapes to grace your windows. Rather than just using a full sheet for one uniform pattern, you can use a cutting machine to create your own unique designs. Finally, dusted glass films feature a clear, permanent and solvent-based adhesive that’s ideal for an easy and simple wet application. No matter what your level of experience, you should have no trouble applying these films.
What Types of Application Are Best for ORACAL® 8710 Dusted Decorative Glass Films?
What types of projects and applications will you have the best luck using your ORACAL® dusted glass films with? We think any of these window art ideas are worth trying out.
- Complex designs: One of the greatest strengths of these dusted glass films is how well they respond to weeding. This means that if you’re looking to use glass film to create complex designs or intricate artwork, ORACAL® 8710 film might just be your best bet.
- Added privacy: Just like our Fasara films, these dusted glass films do a terrific job of throwing up a bit of camouflage across an expanse of glass that helps provide privacy. At the same time, these films don’t block the light, allowing you to have the best of both privacy and brightness.
- Ornamentation: Sometimes, there doesn’t need to be a complicated reason why you might want to install a window upgrade. It’s enough just to add a little bit of extra beauty and flair to your space that shows your customers you care about the way you present yourselves.
What Style Goes Best With ORACAL® Dusted Films?
ORACAL® Dusted films have a fantastic old-time feel to them that makes them blend well with spaces that you’ve already decorated with a bit of a vintage style. They can shine in modern spaces as well, but their true strength comes through when they’re allowed to enhance a room and give it a bit of old-fashioned flair.
3. ORACAL® 8510 Etched Decorative Glass Film
Of the three major styles of window films you’ll find here at Rvinyl, the ORACAL® 8510 Etched Decorative Glass Film represents the most affordable style. Don’t let this price point trick you into thinking that this film doesn’t still bring plenty of advantages to the table, however. These films have a unique look that’s all their own, and plenty of great styling options as well.
ORACAL® etched films come equipped with a permanent, clear solvent-based adhesive that’s easy for anyone to apply even with no previous training. They’re also rated for seven-year outdoor durability so you can feel confident they’ll last long enough to be worth the investment, and they offer terrific performance against UV light, fluctuating temperatures, humidity and salt spray. Additionally, they’re polished with a matte satin finish and make for simple and easy weeding after you’ve cut your design.
These etched films are designed to be a bit more opaque than some of the other films we’ve looked at. While other films offer a bit of privacy and screening but are still transparent enough to let light through, etched films are different. They allow plenty of light through but tend to be more opaque and provide more of a solid color or pattern, rather than a see-through one.
What Types of Application Are Best for ORACAL® 8510 Etched Decorative Glass Film?
There are plenty of cases where ORACAL® etched films can add something truly special to your décor. If you’re looking to achieve any of the following outcomes, then these films might just be the perfect choice for you.
- Excellent privacy: Each of the films we’ve discussed will add a measure of privacy, but these films offer the highest level of screening. Because they’re more solid and less transparent, they help block the view into any areas you may want to keep private, all while still allowing plenty of light to filter through.
- Backlit signage: Are you looking to advertise with some illuminated or backlit signage? Etched decorating glass films are perfect for just such applications, thanks to their more opaque nature and the matte silk finish.
- Material imitation: Etched glass films are terrific at imitating the look of other materials. Do you want to achieve the look of stained glass, for example, without actually installing stained glass? Etched film can do that. Looking for a style that suggests the look of glass tile? Etched films are perfect for that as well.
What Style Goes Best With ORACAL® Etched Films?
One of the hallmarks of our etched glass films is their versatility. Depending on which style you choose, it can take on the appearance of sandblasted glass, cut glass or even traditional etched glass. Because of this, you can adapt etched films to fit nearly any style of décor, from the most traditional and elegant to the more modern and sleek styles.
Shop Decorative Glass Window Films Today
Are you ready to take your glass windows or storefronts from ordinary to spectacular? Then we invite you to shop our styles of window films. We’re proud to stock the very finest brands and styles in the industry, so you can feel confident that our products represent the best of the best. Get started by browsing our selection today, and don’t forget to contact us here at Rvinyl with any additional questions.