We had a different post planned for today, but on Monday night a delightful little detour dropped into our laps: a random thrifted window and an idea we mostly improvised as we went. We weren’t sure how it would turn out, but the result surprised us—in the best way. This might be my favorite under-$10 DIY ever, and it’s easy to repeat with any reclaimed window you find at a thrift store, salvage yard, or Habitat ReStore. Save the old windows, friends!
The story of how we got this window is almost silly: I took a longer route on an evening walk and happened to see our neighbors loading a diamond-paned window into their truck to take to the dump. They asked if I wanted it. My reaction involved an embarrassingly loud and immediate “YES!”—I left clutching the window and whispering “my precious.”
The street-facing side was purple and pretty, but the frame and trim were water-damaged and delicate. My first thought was to paint it for backyard use, maybe as a trellis alternative. But after brainstorming with John we pivoted to a better option: protect the glass by bringing the window indoors and give it a colorful stained-glass look using a very low-cost material—tissue paper. We started and finished the project in a single morning, and the outcome was better than expected.
Materials were minimal: the free reclaimed window, two D-rings, about $9 in tissue paper, and a spray bottle of water we already had. In roughly two hours we transformed this old window into a charming focal piece. Yes, the early stages looked messy—think preschool craft—but it all came together.
We wanted the window inside the beach house so it could be enjoyed and protected from the weather. The perfect spot turned out to be across from the kitchen island, right under a sconce. Previously we had a large beachy print there, and moving that print to the dining area freed up this space for the window—an ideal switch for balance and proportion.
We debated leaving the window as-is and sealing it with a clear coat to encapsulate potentially old paint. Instead, we wanted a little color to contrast the white walls and cabinets. While glass paint exists, the nearest craft store was hours away, so we improvised with tissue paper. It sounded risky, but tissue paper is inexpensive and removable if we didn’t like it.
We already had some blue and mint tissue on hand and picked up pink, violet, yellow, red, and white from nearby stores that morning. Before applying tissue paper we prepped the window for hanging and cleaned the glass.
Prepping Your Window
John had heavy-duty D-rings we attached to the back of the frame so the window could be hung easily. If you buy D-rings, place them equidistant from the top so the window hangs level. We swapped the supplied screws for slightly longer ones for a stronger hold—just be sure they won’t poke through the front.
We hung the window with drywall anchors that don’t require pre-drilling and used a level to center it under the sconce. Hanging took under ten minutes. Once test-hung, I spent about 30 minutes scraping crusty paint from the glass edges with a flat glass scraper and vacuumed up the flakes. I avoided sanding because of the potential for lead paint dust; scraping and careful cleanup felt safer. Then I cleaned the glass with white vinegar in a spray bottle—an inexpensive, effective solution.
We liked the window’s aged character, so we didn’t try to completely restore the frame. At that point it was ready for tissue paper.
Our chihuahua Burger was very interested in the process and made several supervising cameo appearances.
Applying Your Tissue Paper
We experimented, but this method worked best for us:
- Cut tissue paper roughly to size—overlap is fine and preferable.
- Spray the glass generously with water from a spray bottle. Not a puddle, but more water is better than less.
- Place the tissue on the wet glass, starting in the center and smoothing outward with your fingers. Wet tissue is delicate, so take it slow and avoid using stiff edges that can tear it.
- Layer multiple sheets for bolder color and different opacity—spray over the existing tissue before adding another sheet and press lightly from the center outward.
Edges hanging over the frame looked messy from the back but were not noticeable from the front. Once the paper was in place, let the window dry flat and horizontal. If you hang it while wet it could stick to the wall—only hang after the tissue has fully sealed to the glass.
Note: this technique is intended for windows hung on the wall where only the front is visible. Our tissue dried and bonded without bubbling or shifting. If it loosens over time, the next attempt would be an adhesive mix like watered-down glue or Mod Podge applied from behind, but we preferred the cleaner look of the water-only approach for now.
Picking Your Colors & Pattern
We didn’t plan a precise pattern. Instead we tested color combinations on a scrap board to see how layers blended. Bright primary colors tended to look veiny and uneven when layered, so we peeled off combinations we didn’t like and kept the subtler mixes that resembled stained glass.
Layering techniques—such as placing a deep blue beneath lighter pinks or mints—created interesting variations and depth. We also left some panes clear so the reflective, wavy old glass could catch the room’s light; that reflection adds sparkle and makes the piece lively as you move around the room.
Photos don’t capture the full effect—the way light and reflections shift through the colored panes is gorgeous in person. For now we’re thrilled with this quick, affordable stained-glass look and will report back if the tissue technique changes over time.
If you enjoy quick, low-cost crafts, this is an easy project that yields a high-impact result. It’s a great way to repurpose a reclaimed window into a colorful focal point.
If you’d like more simple, affordable project ideas we’ve tried, check our crafting and art posts for inspiration. Small wins from quick projects are surprisingly satisfying!
P.S. Our friend Jenny Komenda is now offering two of our photos as prints through her shop; we’re excited to see them among her collection.
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