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Have a Bad View? 7 Window Treatments to Improve It
If you see buildings and billboards outside your window, these ideas should help distract you from the view
Vinita Kunnath
5 December 2019
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.
A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More
Not all of us are blessed with views of vast green expanses or a striking Manhattan-like skyline; more often than not, we city dwellers get to look out at buildings under construction, brick walls or worse, dirty alleys. Still, instead of packing your bags and moving, get a little creative and upgrade your views. From frosted glass to window shelves, these ideas will help you reclaim your windows. You can use them in isolation or you might find that combining one or more of them will help achieve the best results. Read on to find the solution that works best for you.
1. Etched or frosted glass
When you are looking to block out the view without sacrificing daylight, then etched or frosted glass could be the perfect solution. Frosted glass is basically translucent glass that obscures visibility while still letting diffused light through. If plain frosted glass is not your style, opt for a spot of etching – the process of creating decorative patterns in translucent glass.
Glass comes in different levels of frosting or opacity, where zero per cent is completely clear, and 100 per cent is maximum opacity – it allows you to pick the level you want, according to the quality (or unpleasantness) of the view .
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When you are looking to block out the view without sacrificing daylight, then etched or frosted glass could be the perfect solution. Frosted glass is basically translucent glass that obscures visibility while still letting diffused light through. If plain frosted glass is not your style, opt for a spot of etching – the process of creating decorative patterns in translucent glass.
Glass comes in different levels of frosting or opacity, where zero per cent is completely clear, and 100 per cent is maximum opacity – it allows you to pick the level you want, according to the quality (or unpleasantness) of the view .
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2. Glass film
An alternative to frosted glass is glass film, which serves the same purpose but at a fraction of the cost. Glass films come in a variety of designs that deliver privacy and block out an undesired view without sacrificing natural light. Since you can customise it to your window (and even carve patterns into it), it’s always a perfect fit. What’s more, it’s easy enough to apply (simply stick it onto the glass) and does not damage the glass, enabling you to change the design whenever you want a different look.
Tip: Glass film can be used over large windows, small windows and even windows with numerous glass panes.
Look for window treatments in Houzz products
An alternative to frosted glass is glass film, which serves the same purpose but at a fraction of the cost. Glass films come in a variety of designs that deliver privacy and block out an undesired view without sacrificing natural light. Since you can customise it to your window (and even carve patterns into it), it’s always a perfect fit. What’s more, it’s easy enough to apply (simply stick it onto the glass) and does not damage the glass, enabling you to change the design whenever you want a different look.
Tip: Glass film can be used over large windows, small windows and even windows with numerous glass panes.
Look for window treatments in Houzz products
3. Roman blinds
The advantage with Roman blinds is that they can be customised so that the panels can be adjusted to block either the top or bottom of the window. The trick to letting in natural light while blocking views is to go for a sheer material that has a pattern or texture to it – this will draw attention away from whatever is on the other side of the window.
Tip: If you want to block light at night, install the sheer blinds under your regular curtains.
A beautiful living room will hold your eyes – scout for ideas in Houzz photos
The advantage with Roman blinds is that they can be customised so that the panels can be adjusted to block either the top or bottom of the window. The trick to letting in natural light while blocking views is to go for a sheer material that has a pattern or texture to it – this will draw attention away from whatever is on the other side of the window.
Tip: If you want to block light at night, install the sheer blinds under your regular curtains.
A beautiful living room will hold your eyes – scout for ideas in Houzz photos
4. Hanging plants
Blur the outside view by distracting the eyes with lovely plants hanging from the ceiling above your window. Adjust the heights so the plants hang where you need them to catch the eye. Opt for bushy, leafy plants with trailing vines (such as English ivy, spider plants, philodendron) that hang so you’ll still get light in but really obscure the view. This is something you can try both indoors and outdoors.
Blur the outside view by distracting the eyes with lovely plants hanging from the ceiling above your window. Adjust the heights so the plants hang where you need them to catch the eye. Opt for bushy, leafy plants with trailing vines (such as English ivy, spider plants, philodendron) that hang so you’ll still get light in but really obscure the view. This is something you can try both indoors and outdoors.
5. Window plants
Not so keen on drilling holes in your ceiling to hang pots? Use your window sill (outside or inside) to grow a mass of plants, so that it looks like you are living in a beautiful garden. Build a wooden ledge or box (be sure to protect the wood from leaking pots) to plant in. It’d be hard to look beyond a flowering phlox or a lush dracaena.
Tip: This, combined with hanging plants (indoors or outdoors), can cover an entire window.
Not so keen on drilling holes in your ceiling to hang pots? Use your window sill (outside or inside) to grow a mass of plants, so that it looks like you are living in a beautiful garden. Build a wooden ledge or box (be sure to protect the wood from leaking pots) to plant in. It’d be hard to look beyond a flowering phlox or a lush dracaena.
Tip: This, combined with hanging plants (indoors or outdoors), can cover an entire window.
6. Window shelves
Normally considered a storage solution for small spaces, window shelves are a great way to distract from a bad view. Here’s a chance to display your collection of books, souvenirs or even kitchen goods – use the shelves to showcase your personal style, while blocking out the neighbour’s untidy backyard.
Tip: Acrylic or glass shelves allow more daylight to filter in than wood, but wood can be painted to match the window trim or to contrast so the shelves ‘pop’.
Normally considered a storage solution for small spaces, window shelves are a great way to distract from a bad view. Here’s a chance to display your collection of books, souvenirs or even kitchen goods – use the shelves to showcase your personal style, while blocking out the neighbour’s untidy backyard.
Tip: Acrylic or glass shelves allow more daylight to filter in than wood, but wood can be painted to match the window trim or to contrast so the shelves ‘pop’.
7. Louvred shutters
Window shutters with louvres work well to shut out a bad view while doubling as a decorative element in your room, just like these bright yellow ones. For a large window, install multiple split shutters so that you can have any part open or closed, depending on the situation. Even when shut, they allow enough daylight to pass and are great for ventilation. The louvres can be customised to give you control of how much of the window you want open.
Beautiful Windows That Make the Most of the View
Window shutters with louvres work well to shut out a bad view while doubling as a decorative element in your room, just like these bright yellow ones. For a large window, install multiple split shutters so that you can have any part open or closed, depending on the situation. Even when shut, they allow enough daylight to pass and are great for ventilation. The louvres can be customised to give you control of how much of the window you want open.
Beautiful Windows That Make the Most of the View
Here’s how you can combine one or more of these ideas:
These bi-fold shutters are combined with a panel shade that blocks the view out in the bottom three-fourths of the window.
These bi-fold shutters are combined with a panel shade that blocks the view out in the bottom three-fourths of the window.
Semi-transparent blinds are partially lined with black-outs, blocking out the view, while enabling privacy and letting in light.
Read more:
How to Change the Bad View Outside Your Window
How to Colour Your Home’s View With Stained Glass
Tell us:
What are your hacks to improve a bad view? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
Read more:
How to Change the Bad View Outside Your Window
How to Colour Your Home’s View With Stained Glass
Tell us:
What are your hacks to improve a bad view? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
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