Add Character To Your Sliding Glass Doors With This Affordable Renter-Friendly Hack

If you rent, you likely have a bucket list of items you would want to DIY or buy for your dream home, such as cute decorations or flooring. However, thanks to modern ingenuity and the internet, you may not have to wait until then to make some of your dreams come true. Sliding doors are a great example. Most of the time, they are plain, glaring sheets of glass. If you have a beautiful backyard or amazing view, this isn't so bad, but other times, they're an eyesore. However, you may not want to lose the light by covering them with curtains, and many of the simple and renter-friendly sliding glass door window treatment options make your home look cheap. Thankfully, if you are renting, all is not lost. According to @courtneygettshome on TikTok, you just need a few items to add an elegant arched top to your sliding glass doors. 

Using a bit of cardboard, a dry-erase marker, and a solid, non-adhesive vinyl cling film like the VELIMAX White Blackout Window Film on Amazon, you can create beautiful arches on top of your sliding glass doors to add a little bit of charm and beauty. With a roll costing less than $10, this is an affordable DIY that will last a long time and yet comes off easily when you move to a new place. It's a simple project that looks nice, and it won't get you in trouble with your landlord, making it a win-win all around. 

First, use a measuring tape to find the horizontal center of your glass and mark it with your marker. Jot this measurement down. Then, decide how low you want your arches to be on either side. Add dots at the ideal spots on the window and measure how far they are from the top. Copy these three measurements onto your cardboard, and use a ruler to make even, straight lines. They'll look like the top of a square, with one side being far shorter than the other. Now, you want to close off the remaining side by making a gentle curve from one point to the other, so that it mimics half an arch. 

@courtneygettshome

I was so sick of trying to cover up these doors. They were just...boring. Now they bring so much character to the living room! I'm thinking come spring, this outdoor patio needs a refresh as well! To make this, I used white electrical tape and white blackout window film! So easy and renter friendly! Lemme know if you want a full tutorial and tag me if you do this for your space! ........................ Thank you @Carly Fuller for the idea! #renterfriendly #renterfriendlymakeover #renterfriendlyhacks #homedecor #home #interiordesign #interior #decor #interiordecor #homecontent

♬ Champagne Coast – Blood Orange

It may take a few tries, so don't be afraid to sketch out a couple of different slopes and shapes until you get it right. Using your cardboard as a guide, cut the vinyl in the same shape. You'll want two halves for every glass panel. Make sure to flip the material over for the second cut to get a complete arch. Once they're cut, you simply follow the instructions to attach the vinyl to the top of your glass. 

If you think it looks a little bland with the simple white or black vinyl, you can add a bit of color to your sliding glass doors by DIYing a custom blackout shade that's actually pretty. While you can stop there and have a beautiful arched sliding glass door, the creator also suggested using an electrical tape hack to give your windows faux grids to complete the look.