painting the bottom 2/3 looks like it would be enough to give your privacy and let the light come through

I would not paint the glass. Rather I would add sheer panels on the outside of the door that are attached to rods on both the top and bottom. You could have plain sheer panels or even lace ones depending on your decor. I have these on my glassed paned door to my screen porch and they supply filtered light but do not block everything. You can do this on your own if you are handy or you can call a drapery company and have them professionally installed. You could also put wooden blinds on the door but it would totally block out the light when closed. Here is a link to what I am talking about. https://www.paulshomefashions.com/frenchvoile_s/3773.htm

What about painting it with frosting glass paint instead of opaque paint? Or frosting glass film, that has the advatage of being removable.

I've used frosting spray paint before on a french door leading to my bedroom (that we also scored for free) and the result was surprisingly nice. It provides complete privacy, allows light through, and was super cheap.

I would just frost it, to be honest. You can buy frosting film or paint, though I think the paint would be easier with the texture. You could also apply lettering before painting to give the negative stencil effect. I'd go with something like "W.C." to give the illusion the glass was once part of an old courthouse.

I used a frosted film on my glass bathroom door and it was still a bit too revealing so I put a light cotton curtain (not quite a sheer) on the outside of it using small rods top and bottom. It works well, still lots of light getting through and total privacy. With just the frosting you couldn't really see detail but could definitely see a person shaped blob moving or standing when the light was on in the bathroom. The frosting I used wasn't the heaviest available, so that would make a difference too, also how far back from the door a person was standing.

Have it etched. Or etch it yourself.

What's the problem. Kind of fun.

Another vote for frosting.

Bathrooms, in my opinion, should be totally private. Even a frosted pane makes me uncomfortable, but it would be better than what you have now.

Great door; could you use it elsewhere and get a solid door for the bathroom vs applying something to the glass? I wouldn't frost etc; will just make the glass messier looking. If anything, a curtain of some kind on the bathroom side of the door.

These questions are boring.. I feel like the 'how do i help make my window more private' comes up way too often... and they're always the same answers (window film, sheers, etc.). Let's see some new creative problems AT!

The frosting spray paints are actually really good. You don't want to spray paint it; it wouldn't let any light through. Use a frosting spray paint or film as others have suggested.

use this door elsewhere, anywhere but the bathroom...

A curtain?

Paint it with stripes going horizontally, with wide stripes at key heights so you'll get a fun plaid effect and still have privacy. The pattern will do enough to distort and hide without filtering out all of the light. Try it with painters/duct tape first for a non-permanent trial period and to figure out how wide to make the stripes.

Oh, and another option: get a roll-down curtain thing, paint a silly peep show silhouette on it, and pull that down when you go into the bathroom. I'm a fan of playing with the humor of a situation.

If this is a master bathroom in your bedroom, then I would leave it as is. I would think guest would not go into your bedroom to go to the bathroom. And if they did, I would think being in a bedroom would give it enough privacy.
If this is a common bathroom, I would vote for the sheers as another posted.

Daniel over at Manhattan Nest did this cornstarch thing with some glass doors using white fabric. It's lovely, cheap and simple. I've wanted to use it ever since.

http://manhattan-nest.com/2010/06/01/the-doors/

If this is a bathroom anyone but you and your husband will use, swap that door out with another one. It may be free, but IMO it's not that attractive anyway and bathrooms should be private. Even a sheer behind it wouldn't be enough privacy to me - you'd need a solid curtain and that would really negate the whole idea of the glass door anyway.

I think you should add a roman shade to the door. It would be on the inside so whoever was using the bathroom could choose to put it down or not. It would require some screwing into the door but the glass wouldn't be touched.

Seriously? If you are uncomfortable with the level of privacy this door gives, use it elsewhere.

A single coat of regular old spray paint will still let the glow of light through. I learned the hard way that it takes a few coats to completely stop light.

Buy a can of krylon and test it for yourself.

I like the idea of frosting the bottom 2/3. I'm not a prude, but the idea of being able to tell when someone is on the toilet is a little too personal...

I agree with others, add frosting.

Wheaton's suggestion of a stretched voile curtain is elegant (unlike painting the glass) and unobtrusive (unlike the moving parts of a roller shade or Roman shade). The vertical lines of the stretched fabric will work with the texture of the reeded glass instead of disguising it. And you'll still get the advantage of plenty of light passing through.

Frosting spray will allow you to keep what you like about this door and add privacy. You do it in light layers, so you can layer up to the comfortable degree of privacy, and to get an even coat. Definitely the way to go I would think.

Spray paint won't allow light through, and any sheer curtain or shade will cover up the window, which is the good part of the door so why cover it?

I love that door. I'd say play with the frosted paint (and great idea with stenciling WC or LOO or LOUNGE on it). If that does not get you to the comfort level you'd like, I'd swap it elsewhere before I covered the best feature [the cool glass] with curtains. Also, I've been playing with the Kylon metallics...they could be cool as well...maybe even in combination with the frosted paint?

I agree with KaBoombox.

LED light strips... facing out...

Kudos to your husband for acting as the "Hey - you can see through this thing!" model.

I'll second the suggestion for using cornstarch to "stick" fabric to the glass. I used Daniel's tutorial at Manhattan-Nest on some french doors in my bedroom and it turned out great. It still allows light through while hiding whatever you don't want to see. Plus, it's not permanent like paint or frost spray.

I like the idea of pulling down a shade.

Ditto to the cornstarch fabric. It's really easy to remove when you want to also.

Love the shade idea and the corn starch and fabric, might try those myself. As for using a glass door on a bathroom, the reason I did it was because there are no windows in the bathroom and with this door I get enough natural light to not have to turn lights on in the bathroom during the day. Otherwise I would have left the original solid door.

I think you should do a metallic spraypaint stencil, using lace or something, on the bathroom side of the door. Because it is reflective there will be more light shining off the door than emanating from the bathroom, which is the same reason you cannot see out your window at night. You could also add brightness to the outside of the bathroom with lights or mirrors, and paint the opposite bathroom wall a dark color or pattern.

Or you could install towel racks on the bathroom side of the door and have towels act as curtains.

I would add a tapestry that would cover up most of the glass but still let some light in around the sides. Or a towel rack.

Since it has a shaker profile, I would cover the bottom half interior of it with a 1'8" plywood or MDF then add another piece of MDF across the top to make it look like a shaker panel. It would end up looking a little like my bathroom door:
http://ramblingrenovators.blogspot.ca/2012/02/white-bright.html

The suggested sheers are the easiest idea, seems to me. Get a simple short curtain rod and inexpensive sheer-ish fabric and hang that - or you could secure it between a top and a bottom rod. Did that to the rear kitchen door leading from my old apt to the rear garden, to give me a tad more privacy since 2 upstairs units also had access to the garden. Worked out great. Let in light but provided more privacy.

Way coool door...but NOT for the bathroom...come onnnn.

krylon looking glass paint rubbed to look like an antiqued mirror could be cool. here's a peek at a project i did with a little step-by-step: http://shootingallens.posterous.com/mirror-mirror

it'll give you privacy, still let in light, and keep you on trend.

keep us posted on what you end up doing!

I had the same problem and added white contact paper to my door. I sheer curtain would be good alternative too.

What about this decorative window film?, that's what I have on a bathroom window
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/ProductSearch?storeId=11653&catalogId=11653&langId=-1&searchTerm=decorative+windows+film

They have different styles, I tried to frost a window before and it looked bad.

Why not a pull down window shade? You can hang it on the inside and pull it down when you want privacy.Whats the point of that great looking door if you just want to cover it?

I would think a curtain rod that attached to door hinge would allow you to add privacy when you need it but keep the light available. As you can swing the curtain to cover the window when you need it.
I have seen pants hangers that attach to the hinge to keep out them out if the way so you might have to get creative in making one but it would solve the privacy issue.

nice door as is.

Perfect idea! (I would have recommended wooden stripes...)
But with the tape they can see if it even would work. Great!

I did this on my ground floor, sidewalk facing windows and still think it was the best privacy idea, ever... http://lifehacker.com/399731/increase-your-privacy-with-16-diy-window-frosting

I agree with the film...here is another cheap site HOME DEPOT

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbrcs/h_d2/Navigation?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051

good luck!

I love your idea, vlw!