All of us are looking for ways to cut back, save a little on the bills, and lessen the strain on our wallets. One major concern for some people is that ever-increasing electric bill! If you’re hoping to pay a little less this year why not give your sliding glass doors a make-over? It’ll cost you little, you’ll create a new and beautiful look for the doors, and you’ll block out some of that sunlight streaming in. It won’t take too long to create the new look, and when you’re finished, you’ll definitely notice a difference!
A lot of people cover sliding glass doors with drapes or curtains but what’s the point of that? Sure, you block some of the sunlight coming in but you lose the view that you would have without the curtains. If you need the curtains for privacy, that’s fine, but in the daytime why not pull the curtains open and view see your yard in all its splendor? Don’t worry about the sunlight pouring in and heating up the room; you’ll be making a cool new design for the doors and blocking the heat as well.
Purchase adhesive tinting on a roll to make the designs. The tint is sold at automobile supply stores and home improvement stores. You won’t be simply unrolling the tint and placing it on the doors; you’ll be doing something a little more spectacular. Cut designs to put on the door and create your own choice of patterns. Later, if you want to remove the designs, rubbing alcohol will help you strip the adhesive.
The designs you cut can be anything from circles to flower shapes. Cut triangles, squares or other shapes to create the pattern you want. Circles and circular shapes look great when attached to the window. They leave small gaps, between the circles, which create an interesting pattern that allows a little light to come in. Align the circles – or other shapes – across the bottom and work your way up or go in the opposite direction.
Make sure the doors are very clean and dust-free. Clean and dry the glass just before adding the adhesive designs. Peel and stick the many shapes to the sliding glass doors. All the shapes can be the same size or you can make some larger or smaller than the others. The pattern you decide on is all your own but keep in mind that the smaller you cut the designs the longer it will take to affix them all to the glass.
The great thing about the adhesive tint is that you can still see through it. If you leave spaces between each stick-on design you’ll also be able to see outside through the spaces. If blocking sunlight isn’t a concern, but you still want to make-over the sliding doors, use the tinted adhesive shapes to make a perimeter around each door or make a different design.
Arrange the squares, circles or other shapes to create a large “x” on each door. Or, place the designs only halfway up to give the glass a different look. There are hundreds of different designs you can create with ease. There are other things you can use, instead of the tint, to make the designs on the doors. Use lacy bathroom window adhesive covering, shelf liner shapes, or even window clings. Dampen the glass to cause the clings to stick. Make your own clings by purchasing the thin vinyl at a craft store and cutting your own shapes.
One way to make really unique shapes for the doors is to use cookie cutters. The cutters can be traced around, onto the adhesive paper, to create unusual accents for the glass. Combine the shapes with metallic tape and you can then design even more patterns. The tape dispenses like Scotch tape and is found at most craft stores. Use it to create a perimeter then use the adhesive shapes to make the main design.
You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to create a spectacular look for your old sliding glass doors and you won’t believe how much heat the new doors will block. You’ll still be able to see outside and won’t have to live with the curtains constantly pulled shut!
Reference:
- Purchase adhesive papers here: www.michaels.com
