Leaving the wavy glass is hands-down my favorite part—nothing beats that old look. But yeah, it can be a pain to hang safely. I usually run a couple of heavy-duty D-rings into the stiles (not just the rails—those can split), and always hit a stud if I can. If you’re worried about weight, French cleats are overkill for most, but they make life easier if you’re dealing with a monster frame. I’ve tried both with and without glass, but honestly, if the glass isn’t cracked or loose, I’d keep it every time. Just takes a little extra patience to secure it right.
- Kept the glass in mine too, even though I debated pulling it. That old ripple is just classic.
- Hanging’s always the hardest part for me. Last time, I used big D-rings and heavy wire but skipped French cleats—felt like overkill for what I had.
- Agree on going into the stiles, not the rails. Learned that lesson after splitting a rail clean in two... not fun.
- If you’re hanging on drywall, finding a stud is key. Anchors work, but I never fully trust them with these heavy things.
- Only time I ditched the glass was when it rattled every time someone walked by. Drove my dog nuts.
- One tip: I use those little clear bumpers behind the corners to keep it from scuffing the wall and to help it hang straight.
Never fails to surprise me how much character those wavy panes add. Wouldn’t swap 'em for anything new.
I’ll admit, I was nervous about keeping the glass in mine at first—visions of the dog knocking it off the wall and a million shards everywhere. But those old wavy panes just look too cool, especially when the sun hits them and throws those weird patterns across the room. I did end up using French cleats on one of the bigger windows, and yeah, probably overkill, but I sleep better knowing it’s not going anywhere. I tried the heavy wire thing once but the window kept tilting forward, so now I’m a cleat convert for anything over like 15 pounds.
Funny someone mentioned splitting a rail—I did that exact thing on a smaller sash and my wife just gave me that look. You know the one. Ended up gluing and clamping it for a week and now it’s got “character,” which is what I call my mistakes.
I haven’t had much luck with drywall anchors either. The “heavy duty” ones always seem to pull out eventually, especially in my old plaster walls. I’ve started using those toggle bolts, which are a pain to install but at least I don’t hear any ominous creaking at night.
Curious if anyone’s tried putting LED strip lights behind the window? I keep thinking about it for a hallway but I’m worried it’ll look more like a cheap bar sign than vintage art. Or maybe there’s a trick to making it look subtle?
That’s funny, I had the same “cheap bar sign” worry about the LED strips. I actually tried it last winter, thinking it’d be a cool backlight for the old window I hung in the den. Maybe it was the brand I used, but it ended up looking way too harsh—like a strip club window, not vintage chic. I even tried diffusing the light with some wax paper, but it just looked... off.
Has anyone found a strip that gives off that softer, more candlelight vibe? I keep seeing those “warm white” options but I’m skeptical they really look warm, or if it’s just marketing. Also, I get what you mean about
—I have cats and honestly, that fear is real.“visions of the dog knocking it off the wall and a million shards everywhere.”
On the drywall anchor front, toggle bolts are a pain but they’re the only thing that’s held up for me too. I tried those “self-drilling” anchors once and the whole window came down in the middle of the night. Never again.
Warm white strips are hit or miss, honestly. Some look yellowy and cozy, others are just a harsh white with a fancy label. I’ve had better luck with the ones that let you adjust the color temp—2700K is about right for that candlelight glow. Still not perfect, but way less “nightclub.” As for anchors, yeah, toggle bolts are a pain but worth it. Those self-drilling things are a joke for anything heavy. Learned that lesson the hard way when my old mirror crashed down at 3 a.m... scared me half to death.
Funny enough, I’ve had almost the exact same experience with those “warm white” strips. Some of them looked downright jaundiced in my dining room, while others were so cold they made my old windows look like they belonged in a hospital. The adjustable color temp ones have been the only real solution—2700K is my sweet spot too. Still, it’s never quite that soft candlelight vibe, but at least it doesn’t feel like you’re eating dinner under a streetlamp.
On the anchor front, I’ve become a toggle bolt convert after a few disasters. Tried those self-drilling drywall anchors once for a heavy picture frame, and let’s just say the crash was impressive. Now I break out the drill and toggle bolts for anything over a couple pounds. The extra hassle is worth not waking up to shattered glass at 2 a.m.
If you’re mounting old windows for a wall display, definitely err on the side of overkill with your anchors. Old window frames can be surprisingly heavy, especially if there’s any original glass left. Better safe than sweeping up shards in your pajamas...
- Had a similar scare with drywall anchors—thought my old window frame was secure until it pulled out of the wall mid-movie night. Not fun.
- Totally agree on the weight issue. Those frames look light but with glass, they're sneaky heavy.
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Learned that the hard way... still finding glass bits months later.“Better safe than sweeping up shards in your pajamas...”
- I actually doubled up on toggle bolts for my last install. Overkill? Maybe, but no regrets.
- For lighting, I’m with you—2700K is nice, but never quite as cozy as I want. Sometimes I just use a table lamp for that softer vibe.
I get the urge to go overboard with toggle bolts—been there myself—but honestly, I’ve started questioning if it’s always necessary. If you can hit a stud, isn’t that usually better than relying on even the beefiest anchors? I’ve had mixed results with drywall over time, especially in older houses where the walls aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes I just end up patching more holes than I’d like. Curious if anyone else has found a sweet spot between security and not turning your wall into Swiss cheese.
On the lighting front, I actually prefer 3000K for displays like this. Feels just a touch warmer without getting too yellow, at least in my space. Maybe it’s just the paint color throwing things off...
If you can hit a stud, isn’t that usually better than relying on even the beefiest anchors?
You’re spot on—hitting a stud always feels more secure to me, especially with anything that has real weight or sentimental value. I’ve learned the hard way in my 1950s place that drywall can surprise you, especially after a few decades of shifting and patching. I used to rely on toggle bolts for almost everything, but after patching more holes than I care to admit, I started mapping out the studs first. Sometimes I’ll use a combo—studs for the main support, then lighter-duty anchors just to keep things level or stable.
On the lighting, 3000K is my go-to as well. It’s got that bit of warmth that makes old wood and glass pop, but doesn’t give off that orange cast. Paint color definitely plays a role—I once thought my bulbs were off until I realized it was just the undertones in the wall paint messing with my eyes.
Finding that balance between secure mounting and not wrecking your walls is a bit of an art, especially in older homes. You’re not alone in that struggle.
Not sure I’d always say studs are the end-all, especially in old houses where nothing’s ever square and sometimes the stud is nowhere near where you actually want to hang something. I’ve seen plenty of heavy pieces stay put for years with the right anchors—toggle bolts can be rock solid if you install them right.
That’s fair, but honestly, overkill can mean more patching down the line if you ever move stuff around. Sometimes less is more if you’re careful about weight and placement.“I started mapping out the studs first. Sometimes I’ll use a combo—studs for the main support, then lighter-duty anchors just to keep things level or stable.”