The Striking Stained Glass Solution For An Ugly Bathroom Ceiling

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Some of the best DIY projects start with a problem that's too big to ignore. Whether it's adding extra storage to fill the dead spaces in your home or painting outdated tiles until you can afford to replace them, the most creative makeovers are often born out of the need to solve these types of problems. Renters have to get even more creative than homeowners when tackling an ugly space, which is exactly where content creator Megan Zietz found herself when she dreamed up a striking stained glass solution for an ugly bathroom ceiling. Because she was renting, her options were pretty limited, but she made do with an inexpensive window film that mimics stained glass, and the results are quite charming.

The original ceiling that was transformed in the Instagram video was a dreaded, outdated popcorn ceiling. While there are a lot of ways to cover a popcorn ceiling, someone before her had used translucent diffuser panels in a drop ceiling frame, which didn't offer much in terms of aesthetics or durability. However, it still allowed the light above to shine into the tiny bathroom.

Her solution in this DIY was to cover all the panels with Artscape Window Film in a larkspur pattern, which costs about $25 for a 24-by-36-inch panel. After painting the rusty drop ceiling frame black, she unveiled her transformed bathroom. What's even more striking is how the brilliant floral ceiling design provides the perfect backdrop for the rest of her understated décor.

Window diffuser panels are used for drop ceilings in all types of buildings, most often appearing in places like offices, schools, and retail locations, but you also see them in basements, garages, and rec rooms in some residential buildings. Of course, sometimes they're found in the bathrooms of old apartment buildings.

To upgrade drop ceiling tiles for a modern look using window film, start by removing the diffuser panels. Then, clean both the panels and the frame. If the frame is rusty, painting it will have a dramatic impact on the finished look, but this step may require permission from your landlord. You can either paint it in place or remove it and paint it with a product like Rust-Oleum Metallic Spray Paint, which will make it look as good as new and give it a lasting finish.

Next, you'll want to follow Megan Zietz's lead by planning out your pattern arrangement for the panels. Once you spray the panels with a light soap and water solution, use a squeegee or credit card to smooth out the air bubbles. The film clings to the panel and doesn't move, so you can cut it after it's attached to the panel. Then, all you need to do is lift your panel into place and enjoy the results. With the light behind it, the film glows beautifully just like real stained glass. Plus, for renters, the best thing about this DIY is that the window film just comes right off like it was never there.