apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I wish we had some sort of window that had this built in that you could turn on and off.

Flip a switch, all the windows in the room go frosted for privacy.

simple and it looks good. also, the molding around the window is awesome, I'm glad it's not covered up by curtains.

I myself would MUCH rather have curtains or blinds so I COULD see out if and when I wanted to. I'd rather not feel like I've prematurely aged to the point where my vision's completely gone and it feels like vaseline's smeared over my eyeballs.

Is this stuff easily removed? I rent, but I want some for my front window. I sometimes feel as if I live in a cave because the only window in my living room looks out onto the breezeway in front of the apartment, and neighbors' kids traipse up and down in front of the window endlessly when I'm at home. Consequently, I have to keep the blinds or curtains drawn. I want to install this stuff, but only if I can remove it with water (solvent, whatever) when I leave...in order to get back my security deposit.

I would personally like to view the world at times so I would have chosen a roller shade of some sort. Perhaps, a linen shade or some type of translucent shade that can roll up and be less prone to catch dust and grease.

i bought something like this for my kitchen window, because a new building's rear exit is now only 15 ft away. the stuff i got is without a pattern though - i am planning to use an enlarged piece of handwriting and cut it out at eye level, so i have a chance to look out if i want to ;-)

i like it that the window is without any additional curtains or blinds - less clutter, cleaner lines.

you can remove it, if needs be with the help of a hairdryer, and possibly a little lighter fuel or so to remove residue of the glue.

nesagwa, there is something like you mention called electric privacy glass. i believe it's used in a lot of secure work places. http://www.glass-resource.com/sub/special/privacy.htm

Perhaps if the window faced a blank brick wall...
...but it reminds me of the windows in the bathrooms of the dorms I lived in while in the military - I think I'd rather be able to look out the window regardless of how the neighbors might appear or what they might see.

I used one called "wallpaper for windows" in the everleaf design for the tiny windows in our house that face the neighbours. It's great. I think it costs a little more than the one featured, but since it goes up with just a misting of water, it can be removed with no solvent, soap, etc. It would also great for a renter, since it could be re-used in a new place if the windows are the same size or smaller.

@39520expat: you can get self-clinging ones from the Improvements catalog - they have a variety of styles.

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product/thomas-hicks-decorative-window-film.do#

What a timely post.

My office window faces directly into and is about 4 feet from my neighbor's window. I have no reason or desire to ever look out this particular window. So I will take "vaseline smeared over my eyeballs" any day.

I bought some of this last month and have been waiting for the temperatures to rise above freezing so that I could install it. Finally, the time is at hand.

I found something similar for the kooky patio doors leading to my bedroom. I, too, had looked at Home depot but found a great affordable source online with several modern options:

http://www.berlinwallpaper.com/dcfix/Transparent.htm

Easily applied and easily removed.

I used the same product from home depot. Then while driving by my house early one morning..with my husband up and about with the lights on...it was CLEAR. It provided no privacy. Even though we couldn't see out...You could see in clearly, it was like there was no window film at all. =(

I got a decorative film to solve the same problem and it looks great:

http://www.2jane.com/decorative-window-film-moroccan-tile.aspx

It was kind of fiddly to put on but looks so pretty.

We are doing a bathroom expansion remodel with fairly large new windows. We live in a rural area, no close neighbors, where some people never lock their doors but you can never rule out the odd lurker. I want to be able to see out the windows most of the time & not shut out the great view & the light but still have the option of some privacy when needed. I have been trying to think of some easy-to-clean, low maintainence solution so I am not keen on curtains to wash (or worse dryclean) or blinds to dust.
My idea is cafe type shutters for bottom half of the windows with translucent glass inserts to let light in instead of slats. I like the idea of soaking in the tub (windows on 2 sides of tub) at night with privacy but still being able to see the moon & stars through the top half of the windows. I may have to have these made if I can't find some readymade option. If anyone has done something like this, I'd love to hear about it.

We have the frosted version from Home Depot -- no pattern, just a fogged look. (There are a lot of patterns including some fake stained glass if you like that sort of thing...)

I haven't tried to remove it (I just put it up) but I THINK it sticks by static cling, so it should just peel away. (Read the packaging to confirm.)

I will say that I had a couple of problems with my one-person installation. The film slipped a little when I was trimming it with a blade that maybe needed to be newer and sharper, and I ended up with a tiny strip of uncovered window at the edge. (I will eventually replace that windows's film, but the gap is too small to make a difference right now and I'm kind of low on money for another $20 roll...)


Also, I used some slightly soapy water and a squeegee, but in a few places the edges of the film has lifted. I hope moistening them and pressing the water out to the edges will fix that, but haven't tried yet. Just so you know it doesn't always look quite that perfect, darn it!

I have done this in my apartment as well - except I used a frosted film we rely on at work. It's not sticky, so I adhere it to the window with 3 small pieces of double-stick along the top edge.

Additionally, I only stuck mine to the lower pane, since no one is high enough to see through the top. I can see out, and no one can see my knickers.

Thanks a mil to all who offered suggestions, the hair dryer for removing these or especially to "home body" for the tip about self-cling ones.

I plan on trying ikea's, which I think costs about $7-$10. Has anyone had experience with the stuff from ikea?

I am normally opposed to curtains - as I love light and I long to see out.

But that mis-sized window replacement is so terribly obvious - I would rather cover it with nice fabric than to look at it.

Rather than making looking at the window feel like you need glasses, wouldn't it have been better to incorporate some sort of shade - like a roman shade? They also have better privacy film - even some where you can look out but others can't look in. If I had been the poster's mother, I might have strangled her.

For everyone who asked about the film, it apparently just peels off for removal- no special products required. As for shades etc, we had them before and they just helped make the kitchen darker. My mom has no desire to be able to see out this window; it looks onto the neighboring building and the alley into our garage- the only thing to look at is the sometimes naked neighbors and the dumpsters!

Well, glad you like it, but the room feels like a prison with the window blocked out.

I've used the Ikea window film with very nice results. I have it on the lower part of the window only, so I get both a view and privacy.

Vaseline on eyeballs, prison, strangulation? Wow. Tough crowd.

I like it. I just put my own window film up today.

Then again, I hate curtains.

We all do sound harsh - but seriously, the window now looks horrible. I'd have to put curtains over it to not want to kill the person who did it. If you are going for film, go for good film that isn't going to hurt your eyes.