Still, I wish someone would invent “vintage frosted” glass that actually does its job... is that too much to ask?
Not too much to ask at all—honestly, I’ve wondered the same. I swapped in privacy film on my windows as a stopgap, and while it’s not “vintage frosted,” it does the trick for now. If you’re handy, you can even layer it over old glass for a bit of that imperfect look. It’s not perfect, but it beats blackout shades turning the room into a dungeon. Keep at it—sometimes it’s about finding the least annoying option.
I hear you on the “vintage frosted” thing. I tried those stick-on films too, and they’re decent for daytime privacy, but at night with the light on? Not so much. The old glass in my 1940s bathroom has this wavy look that I actually like, but it’s not private at all. Kinda wish someone would make a film that mimics that uneven, cloudy vibe instead of just the standard “frosted.” I’m tempted to try etching cream one of these weekends, but I’m not sure if I’ll just make a mess…
- Tried etching cream myself once—honestly, it’s messier than I expected and the finish wasn’t as even as I hoped.
- Those films are hit or miss at night, agreed. If you want real privacy after dark, blackout roller shades might be more reliable (not as pretty, but they work).
- The wavy glass is cool though. Maybe lean into it and just hang a sheer curtain? Less risk of ruining the original glass.
- Not sure any film really nails that vintage look yet... everything I’ve seen is too uniform.
The wavy glass is cool though. Maybe lean into it and just hang a sheer curtain? Less risk of ruining the original glass.
I actually did this in my last place—just tossed up a cheap sheer curtain and called it good. Looked kinda artsy, and zero stress about botching the glass. Anyone else tried those stick-on “frosted” decals? I always wonder if they peel off clean or leave a mess behind...
Yeah, sheer curtains are a solid move—cheap, easy, and if you pick the right one it actually looks intentional. I’ve fiddled with those frosted decals before (on a rental bathroom window). Honestly, they did the job for privacy and peeled off fine when I moved out, but you have to be careful with the install—dust or air bubbles can make them look janky. Not sure I'd risk it on anything historic or irreplaceable, though. The old glass just has more character.
I went with actual privacy glass when I renovated our downstairs bathroom last fall—figured it’d be a more permanent fix than decals or curtains. It’s not cheap, but I didn’t want to mess around with something that might peel or look weird after a few years. The install was straightforward since we were already swapping out the old window, so no extra hassle there.
Honestly, I’m glad I did it. The etched glass gives solid privacy but still lets in a decent amount of light. No need to worry about mildew on curtains or sticky residue from decals down the road. The one thing I’ll say is, the style is definitely modern—if you’ve got older woodwork or leaded glass, it might clash a bit. Our house is 1950s brick, so it doesn’t look out of place, but I can see how it’d feel wrong in a Victorian or something with original windows.
One downside: cleaning. The texture on the glass means you can’t just wipe it like plain glass; dust and fingerprints stick more than I expected. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if you’re picky about smudges.
Curtains are way cheaper and easier to swap out if you change your mind later. But for me, the privacy glass feels more “set it and forget it”—no fiddling with rods or worrying about fabric getting gross in a damp bathroom. If you’re already replacing the window anyway, I think it’s worth considering. Otherwise, yeah... decals or sheers probably make more sense for rentals or older homes where you don’t want to mess with the original glass.
The one thing I’ll say is, the style is definitely modern—if you’ve got older woodwork or leaded glass, it might clash a bit.
I hear you on this. We swapped out the glass in our main floor powder room last summer, and while I love the “no more peeping neighbors” aspect, I did have a moment of regret when I realized it made our 1920s trim look even more ancient by comparison. Ended up painting the trim white to blend things better, which kind of worked... but still not perfect.
Cleaning is a bit of a pain like you said. I thought it’d be like regular glass—nope. Somehow manages to hang onto every dust bunny and mystery smudge. Still beats wrestling with shower curtains that never dry right though.
For me, privacy glass feels like a solid upgrade if you’re already doing reno work. But if you’re just trying to spruce up an old window, yeah, decals or even a nice roller shade are way less hassle and commitment. At least with those, if you get tired of them, it’s not a whole production to switch things up.
Ended up painting the trim white to blend things better, which kind of worked... but still not perfect.
Funny, I did almost the same thing in our old bungalow—tried to modernize the look with paint, but there’s always that little mismatch. I hear you on cleaning too. Seems like privacy glass is a magnet for streaks. Have you tried those microfiber cloths? They helped a bit for me, though not a miracle fix. Honestly, if I hadn’t been redoing the room anyway, I probably would’ve just stuck with a good shade or even those stick-on films. Less commitment if your style changes down the road.
- I totally get the appeal of privacy glass, but yeah, it’s kind of a pain to keep looking clean.
- Tried both microfiber and newspaper—honestly, neither was magic.
- The white trim trick helps, but there’s always that “almost matches” feeling... drives me a bit nuts.
- If you like to change up your space often, stick-on films or shades are way easier to swap out.
- Privacy glass does block nosy neighbors, but if you’re picky about streaks or want flexibility, it’s not always the win it sounds like.
- For me, it’s a trade-off: looks sharp when clean, but high-maintenance.
I hear you on the streaks—my bathroom privacy glass looks great for about a day after cleaning, then the water spots start showing up again. Have you tried using a squeegee right after showers? I found that helps a bit, though it’s one more thing to remember. I do like that it lets in more light than shades, but sometimes I miss being able to just throw the window open for a breeze. Anyone else notice it scratches kind of easily too, or is that just me being clumsy?