How To Use Cardboard To Give Ugly Sliding Glass Doors A Sleek, Easy Transformation

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Sliding glass doors might let in loads of natural light, but they're not always the most attractive design feature. For anyone dealing with plain glass doors that clash with their interior style, a quick DIY hack using cardboard, painter's tape, and frosted glass spray can give them a sleek, gridded makeover — without replacing a thing. Inspired by the look of industrial or French-style doors, this technique mimics windowpanes to bring in a more architectural feel.

HGTV host Casey Noble shows the process in a YouTube video from the home improvement channel, which involves masking off a grid pattern with cardboard and tape, leaving only thin lines of glass exposed. Once sprayed with frosted glass paint, those lines take on the soft, opaque appearance of etched glass. It's a surprisingly effective way to transform ordinary sliding doors into something with far more polish and presence. The finished look can be customized to suit a range of aesthetics, from vintage to modern farmhouse. This trick has become popular for its dramatic visual payoff with minimal materials and skill required. Plus, it's super budget-friendly, given that you likely already have cardboard and painter's tape around your home that you can use for no extra cost. So for those looking for a sleek glass door upgrade, this project offers both beauty and function at a low cost

Begin by taping measured and cut pieces of cardboard over the glass doors, to form a symmetrical grid pattern. The exposed sections will be the only parts visible during the spray process. Use painter's tape to cleanly define the lines of each cutout, as this helps achieve a crisp, geometric effect. Then, apply a frosted glass spray such as Rust-Oleum's Frosted Glass or Krylon's Glass Frosting in light, even coats. Once the spray dries, peel off the tape and cardboard to reveal clean frosted lines that give the illusion of divided glass panes. If you prefer a grid pattern that offers more of a DIY privacy glass solution, you can reverse this hack. Using just painters tape, mask out the grid lines on your doors. Coat the exposed glass with the frosting spray, and you'll have a frosted effect that provides much more coverage.

Before getting started, you should know that while most frosted glass sprays are technically removable with either a scraper or solvents like acetone, this can be time-consuming. So, it may be a risk for renters or anyone who needs to return glass doors to their original condition. For a renter-friendly alternative, try peel-and-stick frosted window film, which is easy to cut, apply, and remove without damaging the glass or leaving residue. Plus, it's still pretty cost-effective. The same grid pattern can be achieved by taping a layout directly onto the glass, then trimming and applying the film to fit within the grid. Choose from a wide range of options to find the window film to fit your style and aesthetic preferences.