In this guide, we’ll shed some light on how to cover glass doors.
Read on to find out which steps to take for different methods of glass door covering.
How to Cover Glass Doors With Window Films
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You’ve probably heard that window films can help you etch problems with glass glare and UV light.
Or, maybe, you’ve tried to use one and realized it helps reduce the risk of your glass door shattering.
Window films come in a range of patterns and shades that will undoubtedly cover your glass door safely and keep your privacy a notch higher.
The best part?
You can find films of different designs and sizes—from etched and frosted to stained glass—that will undoubtedly augment your décor. To apply a window film, you need:
- Water in a sprayer
- Vinegar
- A window film of your desired size and pattern
- Baby shampoo
- Scraper or squeegee
- Breakaway knife
Step 1: Clean the Glass Pane Thoroughly
Mix one part vinegar and four parts water in a spray bottle and shake to create a uniform solution.
Spray the solution evenly on the glass door. Using a clean cloth, wipe the solution in circular strokes, then vertical strokes. Finish off in a horizontal motion.
Step 2: Cut a Window Film of Your Required Size
Begin by demarcating the parts of the pane you want to cover. A tape measure can help you maintain much-needed accuracy. Transfer the measurements to the film.
Then, using a utility knife, trim the tape carefully along the intended edges. The tape you cut should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) larger than the space you intend to cover in both width and height.
Step 3: Apply the Baby Shampoo
You’re free to eliminate baby shampoo from your list of requirements. However, if you’re planning to use water as the only adhesive, be sure the film will stick faster than you intend.
Baby shampoo can help increase the film’s sticking time. This way, you can adjust the positions of the films and correct any wrinkles.
Add one teaspoonful of baby shampoo into a 1/4-gallon spray bottle, 3/4 full of water. Mix the two by shaking the bottle vigorously.
Spray the solution evenly over the glass surface. Use a clean cloth to wipe the solution—vertically, horizontally, and in a circular motion.
Step 4: Use a Squeegee to Remove Air Bubbles
Drag a squeegee over the whole glass area to remove any remaining solution from the surface. Make sure to keep the surfaces as dry as possible.
Meanwhile, you don’t want to have fingerprints, dirt, grime, or smudges sticking on either inside or outside the surface of your glass. So be sure to clean both sides of the pane.
Step 5: Install the Film on the Pane
You’re going to apply the window film to the inside of the pane. So, check and identify that the pane is clean and free from smudges, fingerprints, lurking grime, and dust on the inside. From the application kit, check for a spray solution.
Then spray the solution evenly on the inside surface of your glass door. Place the piece of the window film you’ve cut on top of the pane.
This process shouldn’t be a task since the window film quickly wiggles into place. Be cautious to ensure it fits approximately in the center.
As the film meets the glass surface, it forms bubbles that may cause wrinkles. Don’t fret. You’re going to use an applicator tool to smooth them out.
But before that, be sure to place a paper towel near the glass door on the floor so that as the bubbles drip down, they don’t wet your floor.
Start smoothing the bubbles, starting at the top and running the applicator tool towards the edges on the downside. If you do this pretty well, you’re going to be amazed by the results.
How to Cover Glass Doors by Frosting the Glass
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Make your glass door gleam like the ones on glossy pages of advertising magazines by frosting it to shape. The best part is that your privacy is highly guaranteed, and you can scrape the coat any time you wish.
You can frost your glass door in two ways: using spray paint or etching it into your desired shape. Read on to learn how you can go about each process:
Using a Spray Paint
Here, you’re going to buy and apply any popular spray paint available on the market. However, we recommend Rust-Oleum for this process as it is readily available, even on Amazon or a local retail center.
Step 1: Clean the Glass Door Thoroughly
Spray a solution of water and vinegar onto the glass door, as in the process described above. Then use a sponge to clean the pane thoroughly. Finish off by wiping off the solution until you’re sure the pane is all dried.
Step 2: Apply the Spray Paint
Your paint will come in a spray bottle. Starting from the center of the glass, apply a thin coat of spray paint evenly to all the places you intend to frost. Leave the glass pane to dry.
Step 3: Check If the Opacity Is Enough
Check if the opacity of the paint is what you desire. If it isn’t enough, repeat the process above, this time applying as much paint as you’d like. Let the pane dry.
Etching the Glass Pane
If you desire to install something that will stay permanent, then etching your glass using an etching cream is the best solution. Here is how to go about the whole process:
Step 1: Mask off the Glass Pane
Stick a painter’s tape to the surface of the glass you want to etch. Then mask off the tape. This process will leave behind a clean surface free from smudges and lurking dirt.
Step 2: Scrub the Etching Cream Onto the Glass
Use a brush with small and soft bristles to scrub the crème gently and evenly onto the glass pane. Let the cream sit for a while, per the instructions given by the manufacturer.
Step 3: Wash off the Crème With Warm Water
Rinse off the crème, beginning from the top of the glass to the bottom. As the crème goes down, it leaves behind artistically etched glass from the once-clear glass.
How to Cover Glass Doors With Curtains
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Curtains are great blinds that double as decorators and dust trappers. And best of all, curtains hardly affect the nature of your glass door.
That’s why they are a popular choice for any homeowner looking to cover a glass door. Should you opt to install a curtain to cover your glass doors, you’ll require the following materials:
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Drill
- Drywall anchors
- Hammer
- Curtain brackets
- Extra-long curtain rod
- Finials and curtain rings or hooks (optional)
Step 1: Demarcate the Spots Where the Rod Will Go
Using a measuring tape and pencil, demarcate and mark about 4 inches above the glass door. Doing this will ensure your drape falls just a few inches below the sill.
Unlike window drapers, a curtain for the door will graze the floor. So, measure the drapery length too, making sure to add 1 inch to what you get as your total length.
Step 2: Balance the Width of the Rod vs. the Width of Your Door
Measure the width of the door and subtract the width of the rod you want to install from it. Divide the result by two. Place the measuring tape at the height you identified in step one.
On both sides, measure a length that equals what you got from the division above. Mark the points with a pen to indicate where you’ll install the metal brackets. Ensure the width you come with equals the length of the draping rod.
Step 3: Drill Holes for the Brackets
Drill a hole on both sides of the door you marked in step two above. For large doors, you may need to drill a hole for a center bracket.
The center hole should not be more than 30 inches away from each side bracket.
Step 4: Screw the Brackets Into the Mounting Holes
Insert the brackets into the holes you’ve drilled above. The center of the brackets should align with the center of the holes.
Insert a screw into the hole, and using a screwdriver, tighten the screw into place.
Step 5: Insert the Rod Into the Bracket
Insert the mounting rod into the bracket. Be sure to set a level on the rod to ensure it’s straight and aligns with the sill.
Step 6: Install a Finial
Install a finial from one end, then thread your curtain over the road. Slide the curtain to the other end of the rod and install another finial on the same end to hold the curtain in place.
Things to Consider
- If your glass door has a metallic edge, you can use a magnetic rod instead of drilling a hole into the wall.
- If you need a frosted glass door that isn’t permanent, you can use a frosted window film, as it’s removable.
Final Thoughts
There are various ways to cover your glass door.
Up to this point, you’ve learned the three most popular methods, which include frosting using crème, wrapping using window film, and hanging a draper.
All these methods work perfectly with any type of glass door and will definitely solve your puzzle.