Window films are an affordable alternative for expensive privacy glass windows or curtains. It is a thin layered sheet that can be applied to a glass window for providing privacy from outside glances.
It not only provides privacy but also serves various purposes such as blocking harmful UV rays, protecting skin and furniture.
There are some decorative window films in the market that can be used to remodel your rooms in any way you desire.
Window films soften the harsh daylight that gets in through your window and create a soothing comfortable environment in the room it is installed in. It is getting popular for its convenient and flexible usage.
However, choosing the best window film to serve your particular purpose can be tricky. There might not be one best window film for all purposes, considering the various criteria of its usage and what you might need.
To help you choose the perfect window frame, we have researched the most important features of various window films and listed the eight most worthwhile ones in the market.
Table of Contents
Types of Privacy Window Films
There several types of window films that you can choose from depending on the material it is made from, the view from outside and inside, how much privacy it will provide you, etc.
Decorative Window Film
As the name suggests, decorative window films are a great way to adorn your apartment. It comes in many different colors, patterns, and opaqueness.
It comes with the design of patterns, sketches, textures, etc. It is not the best option if you are looking for a film that will give you 100% privacy.
Most decorative window films are translucent. It gives you semi-privacy for both day and night and reduces visibility.
However, you can still make out shapes through the window film. These films tend to soften harsh sunlight that comes through it, making the room cooler and more comfortable and soothing.
Some of this kind of window film obstructs the harmful UV lights that can damage your skin and furniture. Because of its translucent quality, it is not recommended to use it in the bathroom.
If you are looking to get soft daylight and aesthetic looks, decorative window films are the best option for you.
Blackout Window Film
Blackout window films provide the best privacy you can ask for. It blocks most of the light in the daylight and completely dims out the room.
It provides privacy in the night as well. It ensures no one can look through the window and disturb you. It also prevents you from looking outside from inside the room.
Whether it is for medical reasons or you do not want anyone to have a glance of what is inside your room at all, this is the best option for you.
One-way Reflective Window Films
These window films are made from reflective material and work basically like a mirror. The reflective window works best in the daytime when it is brighter outside than inside.
It reflects the light away and stops people from peeking inside. However, this situation reverses in the night when the inside is brighter than outside. One way reflective mirrors only give you privacy in the daytime.
Best Window Film for Day and Night Privacy 2022 – Top 8 Reviews
1. Rabbitgoo Window Privacy Film
Pros
- Unique Rainbow Visual effect
- Easy to install and remove
- No glue required
- Obstruct harmful UV light
- Reusable
- Very aesthetic
- Semi-private
- Different size available as needed
Cons
- Does not provide full privacy
- Reduce adhesiveness over time
Rabbitgoo privacy film is a very attractive decorative film despite its simplicity. It is plain in dynamics, however, the 3D printing provides an irregular pattern for aesthetics.
It does not have any color of its own, however, the laser-printed design creates a striking rainbow effect when sunlight enters through it. It filters out natural light and creates a very calming ambiance inside the room.
This 3D window film is not only great for its unique aesthetic but also protects you from harmful UV rays. It obstructs 96% harmful UV lights, serving as a protection for your skin from harsh sunlight.
It only provides semi-privacy from outside unwanted places. Although it does not completely block out outside view, it grants you the functional aim to obstruct direct sight from outside.
For this reason, it is not recommended to use it in the bathroom, however, it is a great choice for a drawing room or dining space.
The installation of this window is very simple. You do not need any adhesive or glue for applying it. Simply add water to the surface and the backend of the film and apply it.
You can also remove it anytime to reapply it to another surface. The simplicity of the installation along with the aesthetic certainly makes it the best window film for day and night privacy.
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2. CottonColor Window Film
Pros
- Reduce a lot of heat in summer
- Increase glass strength
- Create a soothing environment by reducing strong light
- Protect skin from harmful UV rays
- Durable
- Reusable
- Super easy to install
- Semi-Private
- Aesthetic
Cons
- Does not provide full privacy
- Made of PVC
CottonColor Bubble pattern is very aesthetic in a quite affordable value. You can use it in the kitchen, bedroom, drawing room, office, or hotels.
It provides fairly limited privacy from outside views, and also makes the room that it is installed in a soothing, calm vibe by mellowing out harsh sunlight and the heat.
However, as it does not provide a total blockage of view from outside, it is not recommended to use its bathrooms or other private areas.
It adds toughness to the glass it is installed on, making it more durable. It is easily installed without any glue type material. And you can simply peel it off and reuse it on another surface.
It not only blocks out 96% toxic UV rays but also controls temperature by obstructing harsh sunlight in summer and reducing heat loss in chilly seasons.
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3. Gila Privacy Black Static Cling Window Film
Pros
- Reflective black material
- Daytime full privacy
- Energy efficient
- Make room cooler
- Protects from UV light
- Reusable
- Easy installation with soapy water
- Affordable
Cons
- Does not provide full privacy in the night
- Low tolerance of heat
- Blurry outside view
Gila Black Window film is constructed with no matte, dark black reflective material. This film blocks out harsh sunlight and darkens the room it is installed in, making it cooler and soothing.
The reflecting material gives back 56 percent of the heat of sunlight. It has a very high rate of blocking malignant UV light which not only protects your skin but also prevents your furniture from decaying.
It obstructs glares up to 93% during the daytime. The dark surface provides great privacy during the day when it is brighter outside than the interior.
In the evening, however, it is less effective. One can not see inside because of the blurry sheet, although they can figure out the shapes in the night.
It is not a very clear and thin window film. It is made of thick vinyl material. So the outside view is also a bit blurry.
This window film is really easy to install without any help with glue. It only needs soapy water to stick it to the surface. It should be installed outside the window.
Otherwise, it tends to heat up quickly and damage the glass which can be very dangerous. The film can be removed and is reusable. With this affordable value, it is one of the best privacy window films.
4. Coavas Window Privacy Film
Pros
- UV light obstruction
- Heat insulation and preservation
- Privacy Level : ★★★★
- Easy installation
- Soft light
- Protect furniture
- Reusable and recyclable
- Non-adhesive
- Easy to cut into any size
- Glare reduction
Cons
- Complaints about air bubble
- May lose adhesiveness over time
Coavas Window Privacy Film provides great protection from outside glances. For its aptitude for privacy, it can be used in the bedroom, workplace, hotels, and even in the bathroom.
It mellows out the harsh sunlight by filtering a small amount of soft light and creates a soothing atmosphere.
It not only blocks harmful UV light but also protects the furniture from decaying. In hot weather, it insulates heat to keep the room it is installed in cooler and comfortable, and in chilly weather, it preserves heat to keep the room warmer.
So this window film is in our top list of best window film for day and night privacy for its multipurpose quality.
It is really easy to install. It only requires soap and water to apply and can be cut into any desired shape. There are some complaints about the air bubbles while installing it. But Coavas has top-notch customer service to help you through the process.
5. HIDBEA One Way Window Film
Pros
- Vinyl material
- Advanced UV blockage
- Heat insulator
- Non adhesive material- static cling
- Daytime protection
- After sales service
Cons
- Does not provide privacy at night
- Not applicable to double pane window
Hidbea One Way Window Film is made from vinyl material which is better than most other windows films that are constructed with PVC material. Vinyl is safer and non-hypoallergenic than PVC.
This one-way window film is suitable for all the year-round usage because of its heat insulator and preservation quality.
It keeps the room it is installed in comparatively cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In this way, it saves a lot of money for otherwise temperature controlling technology. It also obstructs UV rays that are very harmful for skin and the furniture.
It does not require any glue or any adhesive material to stick it to the surface. It can be installed easily with just soap and water and can be detached to reuse it in other places.
Hidbea provides excellent privacy during the day. The outside surface works as a reflective, so no one can peek in to see what is happening inside.
It lets natural light in after reducing the harshness of it, creating soft, dim-lit, soothing environment. However, it does not work in the night or evening when the inside is brighter than the outside as the reflective quality of the film disappears.
Hidbea is the best one-way privacy film amongst the ones in this article because of its quality. It can be used in various places in your house, office, or hotels. The customer service is there to help you with any of your inquiries.
6. Rabbitgoo 3D Decorative Window Film
Pros
- Non adhesive
- Very aesthetic visual effect
- Protection from UV light
- Softens harsh sunlight
- Reusable
- Easy installation
- Semi private
Cons
- Does not provide 100% privacy
- Not recommended to use in bathrooms
Rabbitgoo is a well-known name in the windows film market. This decorative window film is constructed to have mosaic patterns and provides a very aesthetic rainbow-like visual effect.
This 3D film softens the harsh sunlight and creates a soothing and cooler ambiance inside the room. It is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it also protects your skin from harmful UV light.
It obstructs 96% UV rays that are malignant. It also keeps furniture from decaying faster.
This mosaic printed window film provides semi-privacy to your bedroom, drawing room, offices, or hotels. It blocks the view from the outside partially however not completely.
One can see shapes through it, although they will not be able to figure out details. For this reason, it is not ideal to use it in the bathroom.
It does not require any adhesive or harmful glue to install this window film. It is recommended to wash the window properly before applying the film with soapy water.
It can be detached easily and reinstalled in other places if you change your mind. Thus it is very cost-effective and risk-free purchase.
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7. VELIMAX Static Cling Total Blackout Window Film
Pros
- Non adhesive
- Environment friendly material
- Two way privacy
- 100% privacy
- Blocks 99% sunlight
- UV light blocking
- Reusable
- Heat control
Cons
- Non-applicable to double pane windows
- Can’t see from the inside
- Bubbles problem
If you are looking for a window film that will allow you to completely block out outer view and darken the room, then Velimax total blackout window film will be ideal for you. This window film obstructs 99% of sunlight from getting inside and hence allows you to have 100% privacy. It blocks sight from both inside and outside.
Whether for medical needs or other purposes, if you want complete darkness even during the day, this one would be suitable. It not only restricts sunlight but also blocks harmful UV light.
It protects your skin and your furniture from decay. It also saves you from excess heat keeping the room cool.
It can be simply installed with just soap and water. It can be easily removed and rolled up for later use. As this product is completely glue-free, it does not leave any stain on the glass surface.
You need to carefully smoothen the surface while applying it, otherwise, there can be bubbles underneath.
This window film is not applicable for double pane windows and the glass needs to be flat and smooth for applying it. Otherwise, it might not stick properly or there can be bubbles seen underneath.
8. Artscape Magnolia Window Film
Pros
- Aesthetic visual effect
- UV protection
- Adhesive free
- Flexible size
- Easy installation
- Easy cleaning
- Semi private
- Removable
Cons
- Not 100% privacy
- Can reduce adhesiveness overtime
Artspace’s floral design is very pretty and colorful. It is one of the most aesthetic designs for decorating your interior. Both sides of the film are equally colorful and the design does not differ from each other.
It looks equally bright from both outside and inside. This particular package comes with a film size of 2 feet by 2 feet. You can easily cut it in the size of your selected window and apply it to it. It also comes in different dimensions.
This translucent window film provides semi-privacy. Its main aim is to decorate the house. So if you are looking for full privacy, maybe this is not the window film for you.
The decorative film softens the harsh sunlight and creates a soothing environment, creating a wonderful visual effect. It also blocks up to 90 percent of harmful UV rays.
It can be easily applied to a smooth glass window. You just need soapy water to install it, there is no need for any glue or adhesive. Make sure to flatten the surface and get rid of bubbles while applying it.
Best Privacy Window Film Buyers Guide
Privacy
Different kinds of window films provide different types of privacy. Some provide all-time privacy, some blacks out the whole room and some provide semi-privacy. You should choose the one that fulfills your requirement.
Material
As PVC can be toxic, we suggest you choose films that are made of vinyl.
UV and sun damage protection
Before buying, it is wise to make sure the film provides protection from harmful UV light and harsh sunlight that can damage sensitive skin and furniture.
Installation process
Non-adhesive films are best because it does not require glue to install it and does not make a mess. Non-adhesive films only need water and soap to apply the film to the surface.
Reusability
Some window films can be removed and put away to reuse it later. This feature comes in handy if you change your mind about decoration.
Installation Guide:
FAQ for Window Films
Q. Can I remove the films?
Yes, window films are easy to remove as they are very easy to install. Most window films are reusable. It means that you can store it after removing it from the window and reapply it later
Q. How to install a window film?
Non adhesive or static cling window films do not need any glue. You only need soapy water to install it. First measure your window, cut the film in that size. Spray a lot of soapy water to the clean surface and apply the film. It is recommended to use a wet towel to press the film to make sure no bubbles appear underneath it.
Q. Are these films UV protected?
All of the window films listed in this article block most of the harmful UV rays. It protects your skin and keeps your furniture from decaying faster.
Q. How much do they cost?
Cost of window films varies with brands and type of film. You can find films costing $7 per square foot to above. Cheaper films can be deceitful and may lose adhesiveness overtime.
Q. Are they really effective?
They are very effective in providing privacy at a really low cost.
Q. Is it possible to see through a window film?
It depends on what kind of window film you are using. One way films allow you to look outside. Blackout window films block the view from both inside and outside. Through translucent films, you can not clearly see through the details but you can figure out the shape if they are very close to the window.
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Verdict
The window films listed in this article are the eight best privacy window films in the market right now, selected after thorough research. Each standout for its distinct features and their aptitude for providing privacy.
Rabbitgoo privacy window film is our chosen best window film. It is a decorative window film and does a great job of securing privacy.
Hidbea one way window film is the best one-way window film for its excellent quality material. Both window films protect you and your loved ones from harmful UV light. They also prevent furniture from decaying faster.
