Privacy Window Options for Bathrooms - Which to Choose and Why

We're about to embark on a major renovation. In that process, the tub may or may not stay in the same place, but the window isn't going anywhere. We love the idea of a big walk-in shower, with natural light cascading through the giant window. Sounds amazing, right? Record screech as reality walks in the room.

I recently stayed in a hotel in New York with a window in the shower and no curtain or privacy glass. It was invigorating to look out over the city from so many stories up, knowing no one could see in. It's a shame this upcoming bathroom project isn't on the 14th floor :) The big window is beautiful, to be sure, and the light it lets in we do not want to lose. But eyes. Oh, those peeping eyes. Our property has a sidewalk along the back edge of it. And though we have some young screening we planted during our backyard project, it won't shield much for at least a few more years. The sidewalk is up a small hill and any passersby will have a marvelous view directly into our primary bathroom.

This isn't the first time we've gone through this. Our first Idaho home, we added a big window in our primary bathroom. We did the same in our second Idaho home. For both of those, the windows were more elevated, and the sight line more obstructed. We went with a translucent privacy glass, and it felt right for those. But Chris wasn't sold on that for such a big window in this case, so we've rounded up several of the best options we could find, along with their pros and cons.

Gold Knobs | Floral Wallpaper | Marble Title | Showerhead | Rain Showerhead

Shutters

Right now, the window is covered up with shutters that are closed 95% of the time. They would be an option if the window wasn't going to be inside the new shower.

Pro: No one is looking in the windows. The privacy is absolute. Oh, and they're charming.

Con: It's a pain to open them because you have to reach all the way over the tub (Okay, you really have to step into the tub!), and the bathroom is always very dark because we don't want to take the time to open them.

DIY Window Film - Peel & Stick/Spray

Peel & Stick window film or spray window film are great budget options, or if you want to add translucency to a window that's already in place. The downside is that they're still a bit more transparent then is ideal for a shower situation. But we used the film in our very first home in Utah, and the spray on the window for our pantry in our first Idaho home.

Pro: Very inexpensive, easy to apply, and provides privacy.

Con: We won't be able to see out, ever. The window will just turn into a soft light source during the day. The translucency also isn't very strong, so in a shower you'll definitely be able to make out a flesh-toned silhouette.

Curtains/Cafe Curtain

Cafe Curtains | Cafe Curtain Rod | Cabinet Hardware | Faucet | Sconce | Wood Mirrors | Rug | Step Stool (similar)

Obviously you can block a window with curtains. But in a shower, especially a shower in North Carolina, the humidity will do a number on the rod and rings, and you'll have mildew in the curtains within days of hanging them. You could go for plastic rods and rings, but that's not cute. And still, mildew. Gross.

Pro: They're really cute, and you can open it and see out when you want to.

Con: Not gonna work for high humidity applications like a shower.

Privacy Glass

Towel Hook | Artwork | Shower Doorknob

This is the permanent option we went with in the past, but again, the sight line was less direct in these showers, and the windows were smaller. But if you want something like this, the window has to be made with the specialty privacy glass, and it's permanent from the factory. But with this option, you can decide how much translucency you want, and it will obscure a lot more than the film or spray.

Pro: This solution will stand up to moisture on the daily (the peel-and-stick may not), so it's great for in-shower use.

Con: You lose the big, beautiful view of all the green trees from inside. And because this is specialty glass, it's more expensive.

One-way glass

Also called "mirror glass," you can see out of it clearly, but looking in — it's a mirror. One side is transparent, and the other is reflective. But that's only if outside is more light than inside. Once night time hits and the lights go on inside, zero privacy.

Pro: We can see clearly outside, but no one can see in. We'll get to take advantage of all that lovely light and the view.

Con: For a bathroom it's not a great option because once night time hits, everything inside will be in full view.

Electronic Glass

This is one of the new-comers to the scene. Not really - it's been around for a few years. But it is young enough that it can be glitchy. Essentially the window is connected to a switch that, when flipped, toggles between translucent and transparent.

There are two types, one that uses LED technology and one that used liquid crystals that move in and out of alignment when a current is passed through them. The LED version can be finicky, and if you try to take a video in the space when the window is clear, the camera will pick up strobing in the window - the window flashes on the video, even though it doesn't do that in person. The liquid crystal version (the company I know of that does it is CliC Glass) does not have the same strobing effect, but it also doesn't allow for any sort of grid pattern on the window, like we currently have. So depending on the style of your home, this one may or may not work.

Pro: It's clear and looks like a normal window, but the technology allows you to press a button, and it becomes privacy glass. And if the power goes out, it defaults to privacy mode.

Con: It's the most expensive option. By far. And if it breaks, it's expensive to replace. Additionally, in video, some versions have a strobe effect, and versions that don't do not allow for window grid/light separation (which all of our windows have).

So, which version are we going to go with? Drum roll please.... we're not sure. :/

We still have some things we want to figure out with the bathroom layout that could end up moving the location of the shower. If the shower isn't there, easy - regular window, curtains, bang, done. But if the shower does end up there, we have a lot to weight out, and some compromises to make.