DIY Faux Stained Glass Sliding Barn Door

Faux stained glass is a beautiful and colorful DIY project you can create at home! Read on to see the secret material we discovered that makes it easy and completely damage-free.

Friends! This project was one that I had in my head and didn’t actually know if I’d ever get up the courage to tackle it.

I wanted to do a faux stained glass treatment on our sliding barn door in the studio forever, and was totally chicken to go for it. However, I just dove in and tried it and good news! It’s way easier than I thought it would be.

It’s such a cool way to update glass, mirrors, windows, or anything that wants a little color. Also, it’s temporary so you apartment dwellers can get in on the action too. This faux stained glass is a pretty and colorful DIY that’ll make you feel like a total professional.

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Decor Idea for Homes or Apartments

This faux stained glass doesn’t involve any paint or damage glass in any way! I wanted to find something that I could add to our existing door because I tend to change things up frequently.

As a result, I discovered this cool material for creating faux stained glass!

How Long Will It Last?

Update June 2022: The faux stained glass is still on our sliding barn door five years later, and in perfect condition! We created this initially in early 2017.

Because the material is not peeling, curling, or bubbling in any way, it still looks like the day I made it.

Frankly, I do love it but it’s lasted so long I’m almost ready for a little change!

That being said, if you’re an apartment dweller and can’t use permanent materials, then this project is also perfect for you. Whenever you decide that you’re done with it you can peel it away from the glass with zero damage.

How to Create Faux Stained Glass

Materials

• glass window, door, or mirror
• colored window film (we got ours here, ordered by the foot)
• squeegee
• spray bottle
• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
• hard straight edge tool, like a scraper or similar
• razor blade
• paper towels

Make Time: 15 Minutes per color panel

Instructions

Note: We deviate slightly from the instructions on the site where we purchased the color window film. Trial and error led us to this method; be sure to review their instructions as well!

1. Mix up your spray solution. Add one tablespoon of baby shampoo to a spray bottle and fill with water. Clean all glass surfaces completely.
2. Carefully peel off the clear liner from your window film. Then spray the liner side of the film.
3. Place the wet side of the film onto the glass to start creating faux stained glass. Next, slide the film into place (it’s easiest to line up at a corner if you have one).
4. Spray the film again so that the squeegee will slide across the surface. Then, squeegee the film to start adhering it to the glass, working any bubbles out.
5. Use your straight edge tool to press the film into the corners of your glass. Then, once it’s pressed into the corners slide the razor along the straight edge of the tool. Work the tool and the razor all the way along the edge of your glass to cut all excess film. Note: Be careful not to let the film slide around as you are squeegeeing and cutting.
6. Next, spray the film again and squeegee again. Then, use the straight edge tool if needed to work any bubbles out. Take your paper towel and press outward along all edges to be sure that they are adhered. Finally, soak up excess spray solution from your faux stained glass

Our Color Choices

We used five different shades to create our stained glass effect. The colors we used were:

• 1600 – Peach
• 2400 – Amber
• 3430 – Flamingo Pink
• 5140 – Light Aqua
• 3100 – Salmon

Colorful Faux Stained Glass Brightens a Room

I am so pumped on this colorful update! Above all, it’s such a happy colorful spot in our studio. It is perfect in our bright white house with pops of color.

My goal all along has been to create a neutral canvas (which is why we did things like paint a brick fireplace white), then include fun colorful surprises like the faux stained glass around every corner.

And I’m also still so pleasantly surprised at how simple it was. Five years later it’s still holding up beautifully and looks just like the day that I made it! xoxo

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means that I receive a small commission should you make a purchase via one of these links, at no extra cost to you.

Faux Stained Glass Treatment

Yield: Faux Stained Glass Sliding Barn Door

Active Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $80

This faux stained glass treatment is perfect for homeowners, apartment dwellers, and anybody who loves colorful DIY.

Print

Materials

• Solar Graphics window film
• Glass pane door
• Squeegee
• Paper towels
• Spray bottle
• Baby soap

Tools

• Scraper or straight edge tool
• Razor blade

Instructions

1. Mix up your spray solution. Add one tablespoon of baby shampoo to a spray bottle and fill with water. Clean all glass surfaces completely.
2. Carefully peel off the clear liner from your window film. Then spray the liner side of the film.
3. Place the wet side of the film onto the glass to start creating faux stained glass. Next, slide the film into place (it's easiest to line up at a corner if you have one).
4. Spray the film again so that the squeegee will slide across the surface. Then, squeegee the film to start adhering it to the glass, working any bubbles out.
5. Use your straight edge tool to press the film into the corners of your glass. Then, once it's pressed into the corners slide the razor along the straight edge of the tool. Work the tool and the razor all the way along the edge of your glass to cut all excess film. Note: Be careful not to let the film slide around as you are squeegeeing and cutting.
6. Next, spray the film again and squeegee again. Then, use the straight edge tool if needed to work any bubbles out. Take your paper towel and press outward along all edges to be sure that they are adhered. Finally, soak up excess spray solution from your faux stained glass

Notes

This faux stained glass doesn't involve any paint or damage glass in any way! I wanted to find something that I could add to our existing door because I tend to change things up frequently.

As a result, I discovered this cool material for creating faux stained glass!

Update June 2022: The faux stained glass is still on our sliding barn door five years later, and in perfect condition! Because the material is not peeling, curling, or bubbling in any way, it still looks like the day I made it.

Frankly, I do love it but it's lasted so long I'm almost ready for a little change.

That being said, if you're an apartment dweller and can't use permanent materials, then this project is also perfect for you. Whenever you decide that you're done with it you can peel it away from the glass with zero damage.