Blocking the view while letting light in

July 31, 2022 1:10 PM

I'm looking for a window shade solution that will attractively mask a very ugly building next door, while letting in plenty of light. The window is right above a bed, so it's a focal point and I want it to look nice. Can't do curtains because it's an angled ceiling and it will look awkward. Privacy is not a huge concern. What kind of fabric or design should I consider?
posted by acidic to Home & Garden (14 answers total)

Would some kind of window blinds work? Angle the louvers to allow light in but still block the view?
posted by Splunge at 1:19 PM on July 31, 2022

There are transparent but image destroying films you can apply to windows to provide blurry light.
posted by nickggully at 1:19 PM on July 31, 2022 [11 favorites]

The window films you can get now are really amazing. Watch some youtube videos on application to save yourself some frustration and do-overs.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:25 PM on July 31, 2022 [11 favorites]

There's all sorts of patterns available in window-cling. This would be my preferred choice for something like this, especially if it's a window where there wouldn't normally be a window covering.
posted by stormyteal at 1:26 PM on July 31, 2022 [2 favorites]

Not sure if this fits your definition for looking nice, but cellular window shades allow light while blocking the view. For example: these light filtering shades from home depot
posted by tuesdayschild at 1:28 PM on July 31, 2022 [2 favorites]

N'thing window film - we put some from this site on our front door and it's completely opaque but lets in plenty of light.
posted by msbutah at 1:53 PM on July 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

I was tempted to try the lace and cornstarch thing but haven't, as yet. This link has a bunch of DIY options.
posted by kate4914 at 2:16 PM on July 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

While you're deciding, you can do wax paper and cornstarch, even simpler.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:25 PM on July 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

A stained glass window hung in front of your actual window (by all 4 corners if the window itself is angled)? If you like the idea of repurposed architectural elements, you can probably find an architectural salvage business in your location that will have multiple window examples in a variety of sizes and degree of opacity. There is an amazing amount of stained glass at architectural salvage businesses - I was astonished. It could turn out to be a beautiful focal point of your room.
posted by citygirl at 3:38 PM on July 31, 2022 [3 favorites]

I have those Home Depot cellular shades and they're very nice. They were installed in our new house as the light filtering option which lets in plenty of light. I replaced the ones in the living room w/ blackout versions that don't let any light in so there's lots of options in between on how much light you want.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 4:17 PM on July 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

Some window films are prismatic and will fragment incoming sunlight into rainbows. Here’s one example.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:41 PM on July 31, 2022

I bought some pretty, translucent paper from a stationery/art store and put it up on my glass office door with cornstarch paste when I had need for privacy but didn't want to lose the light.
posted by lapis at 5:53 PM on July 31, 2022

On the angled roof window above my desk, I've got a stained-glass-style window film and then a cellular shade in a warm white colour in front of it. I had the blind professionally installed, and it runs on wires stretched taut between the top and bottom of the frame, with a tab to pull it open and closed (no cord). The sun shining through the window film makes very pretty coloured shapes on the blind, and it lets so much light through that I had to take additional measures in the recent heatwave to keep from cooking as I stood under it.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 3:04 AM on August 1, 2022

Many years ago I did folded paper cuts to make patterns on some white tissue paper and used sticky tape to affix the unfolded paper to windows. Very cheap, very effective at letting light in and cutting up the view of the ugly building across the street.Totally fun to do, and easily replaceable when bored.
posted by mareli at 5:39 PM on August 1, 2022 [1 favorite]