Decoration inspiration: Wallpaper for your windows

At mydeco.com HQ we are slaves to our computers, but we do like to take the odd break to read a magazine, browse our (other) favourite blogs and catch up on what’s new in our living rooms (Made in Chelsea… Shhhh). The other day, after our last digestive and gulp of tea, we realised we’d been talking about windows for half an hour – how they’ve become much more than a piece of glass enabling us snoop on the neighbours (never!) or hoover the house without sucking up the kid’s lego men. So, I’d thought I’d share our thoughts with you.

First of all, with summer on the horizon now is a great time to look at how to make the most of all the natural light we get with the longer days. Most of us don’t get the chance to get out as much as we’d like, but being stuck at your desk or busy in the kitchen doesn’t mean missing out on the sunshine.

Image credit: minimalisthousedesign.com

The fact that windows can open up a room is a well known interior design tip, much showcased on many a Grand Designs show. Large windows let in more light, highlighting every inch of space and extending a room out beyond its walled boundaries. Floor-to-ceiling windows are stunning and serve nicely to make your garden an extension of your living room – opening your home to nature at its best. Are you thinking about an extension, or making your windows larger? Why not use mydeco’s 3D room planner to see what it would look like before the builders come and knock the walls down?

Take a look at this 3D room by mine8eg – see how open and refreshing the seating area looks by having a vast view to watch. Who needs a TV as a focal point when you can create homes as clean and spacious as this?

Image credit: mine8ag

Ok, so this is in the virtual world of mydeco and in reality many of our homes look out onto a concrete jungle. If you want privacy while still letting in the light, window film is a nice alternative to blinds or shutters and is becoming increasingly available in inspired patterns, prints and colourful tints.

Image credit: apartmenttherapy.com

Keep it classic and simple with white frosting such as Emma Jeff’s pearl window film, seen below. By covering just a section of glass, or just the bottom half, you allow yourself some privacy while benefiting from the light coming through the entire window. It looks great from the inside and out, and adds a touch of interest to the rest of your room decor.

Image credit: myadventureisyouradvantage.com

White frosted  film is a good idea if you like to make-over or play around with your home decor a lot. This type of film is understated and classic and will look good set against any room. If you want to keep it simple but add an interesting detail, there is a huge range of different patterns to chose from in frosted white – I like the range by Emma Jeffs which would look lovely in a childrens room.

This is not limited to smaller windows either. Entire glass doors or French windows can be covered, and  you can get film made to size. This is extended to large office windows and glass buildings which look beautiful decorated in patterned or coloured film with different light reflections and shapes.

After all, we all know how beautiful stained glass windows can look. This photo, taken by community member and interior designer Mirka McNeill, shows the light flooding through the partially stained glass window.  And you can recreate the look at a much lower cost with coloured window film.

Image credit: Mirka McNeill

If you are renting and unable to paint your walls, coloured windows are a great temporary DIY decoration as most films can be removed fairly easily with an ammonia-based window cleaner. Adding a touch of colour in this way is easy and relatively inexpensive.

Image credit: blog.proleno.com

This decoration is also environmentally friendly – increasing heat reduction and energy efficiency  – which is especially  great come winter.

Just how colourful you want to be with your window design is up to you. And why not get creative with the excess film left over, by decorating shower doors, vases, glass top tables and place mats with motifs? For more window design inspiration take a look at my windows folder, created using mydeco’s folder tools: