This has to be one of the cleverest and cheapest window treatment ideas – creating a decorative window screen using masking tape. Our rental has very public front windows and we don’t like to open the blinds up, which means missing out on the lovely morning sun. So we’re very keen to try this, looks like they’d create beautiful shadows on the walls too.
DIY: Masking Tape Screen
Melbourne
[ Images from 'Patterns in Design, Art and Architecture' ]
These images are from a favourite inspiration book, ‘Patterns in Design, Art and Architecture’ and were created by textile artist Claudia Caviezel. You could try emulating these patterns or create your own. Using different widths of tape gives you more variety in line. The bonus of this idea is you can easily remove the tape if you get bored of it – try soaking it in Windex, vinegar or cooking oil, before scraping off to get rid of any residue.
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Comments (13)
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The idea is nice, although it reminds me of WWII when storefronts were taped to keep them from shattering during bombings.
view Daniel Poitiers's profile
This is gorgeous. Best post ever, Emilie and AT.
view wig3000's profile
Sorry to piss on your Cherios, but with all the great, cheap options out there to add privacy to windows, why on earth would someone take the time to do this?
All I see are painstaking hours putting up tape that, because of it's weak adhesive properties, will likely not last more than a few months.
view modtramp's profile
Taking the mundane to the point of marvelous!
view gregory's profile
The patterns created are quite beautiful, but masking tape is such an ugly material that I wonder how it looks close up. Perhaps colored tape might look better? I'd be more inclined just to put up a beautiful thin sheet of handmade paper.
view jacasi's profile
I'm going to have to agree with modtramp. For all the lovely, affordable privacy coverings out there, why spend so much time and energy on something that's going to peel at the first sign of humidity?
view Allsunday's profile
Hurricane preparedness
view hdtex's profile
And next week we hope to read a 'how to' on burning the book: Patterns in Design, Art and Achitecture.
[Although I do hope Emilie holds true to her word and posts some photos of her attempt at this]
view pinky speedway's profile
Imaginative but they look really horrible when sunlight is not pouring through them.
view exquisitecorpse's profile
I don't think it's as terrible as everyone is saying. Also, the masking tape should stay on for years.
I remember, years ago, my parents bought new windows with those little insert-type things that make them look like paned glass. They couldn't get one for an oddly-sized small window, so they just used masking tape. It stayed for years, and no one could tell.
view inertia's profile
I wonder if it's the same house. Seriously, stay off the meth, kids.
view K T G's profile
The pattern is beautiful.
But I do have to agree with everyone else. Masking tape will yellow and harden over time, especially under sunlight or extreme heat...
I would peel it off before it starts to harden, otherwise, it'll take more work to clean up the mess.
Still beautiful!
view cojaclynsy's profile
For all the care they've taken to line up the angles, and the time and concentration and effort it must have taken, I'm quite surprised to notice the tape widths on the left don't match to the tape widths used on the right. Be anal or not! Somewhere in between just doesn't cut it!
view K T G's profile