Dark Hallway? Get Light From Another Room With A Clever DIY Stained Glass Project

Hallways are, unfortunately, often dark and not properly illuminated. There are some tricks, including getting bright lighting or painting the entire space with a crisp white. While these work in a pinch, it's not always what you want from a hallway. If you're looking for a more creative and colorful option, and don't mind getting a little hands-on, then repurposing a stained glass window may be just the DIY you're looking for. 

It's worth noting that this is going to take some heavy-duty work. To truly get the effects from the stained glass, you need to knock out a wall between your hallway and a room or space with a lot of light. It can be natural light, or it can be a space filled with your favorite bulbs. Either way, you'll get a brighter hallway without having to settle for something lackluster. While this DIY works in any hallway, it has a particularly charming appearance in one with a set of stairs. 

Though it sounds intimidating, it's a rather straightforward project. All you need to do is knock out a portion of your hallway wall, frame it, put in the window, and add some trim. However, before getting too deep into a home renovation project, no matter how small, you need to make sure you listen to experts on how to keep your home renovation from becoming a disaster. As for what you need, a saw such as a reciprocating saw, painter's tape, wood for a frame, trim, a measuring tape, a Brad nailer, and a pencil should cover your bases.

While you can make your own stained glass pieces, it's a lot of work, and requires many tools and materials the average person is unlikely to have lying around. The better option is to look through thrift stores and see if you can find anything to repurpose. Old window pieces with stained glass adds a bit of charm and lets you reuse items that would otherwise be lost or broken.

As for installing the window, you just need to open up a hole. As long as your wall isn't load-bearing, it can be pretty easy. You can cut through almost any part of your wall. Just do so carefully and make shallow cuts, as you want to avoid any pipes or electrical wires in the area. You'll have to clear out the entire space behind the wall to fit the window in, so if there is electrical work, you will have to completely reroute it. The same goes for pipes, so be careful where you choose to put the stained glass.

Double-check your measurements as well, ensuring you cut a hole to the right size. It's frustrating to realize you cut something too large. Once the hole is made, it's time to frame. After that is set up, attach your window to the hole. Finally, you may want to trim. It isn't necessary, but it definitely makes the space look better as it hides any gaps between your stained glass and the wall. It is also perfect for hiding any uneven cutting.

If you do this project yourself, it doesn't cost all that much. You'll have to pay for the window, some boards, trim, and a few nails. You may also want to buy materials to touch up the stained glass window. As long as the glass itself doesn't need to be replaced, you can probably do everything for less than $500, and for much cheaper if you do most of the work yourself.

However, there are things that could cause the price to jump up. If you have to reroute electrical wires and piping, the cost can skyrocket, especially if you bring someone in to do the work. If you don't feel comfortable making these changes yourself, which is reasonable considering the number of highly dangerous mistakes you need to avoid when doing DIY electrical work, try not to cut open walls with these issues. You also need to ensure the wall isn't load-bearing, or at the very least that the portion you're cutting down is not where the point load is sitting, as they can be very expensive to move.

Additionally, you need to make sure you practice proper tool safety. Cutting through a wall is a simple process, but it can be dangerous if precautions aren't taken. Wear safety glasses and a mask to prevent anything from getting into your lungs or eyes. If you're hesitant to cut through the space in your home, or you simply can't because you're renting, you can brighten your windowless hallway with this ingenious design tip instead. It achieves a similar appearance, but requires far less remodeling for the home.