False glazing is gaining momentum and is a relatively new, modern technology in the construction of buildings and structures. The main advantage of translucent structures is cost-effectiveness. With this type of finishing, you can quickly assemble a building or easily reconstruct it. Exterior decoration work is carried out quickly, using a frame and glass. Buildings take on a beautiful, elegant appearance, and interior work can continue. The simplicity of the design allows you to build large hypermarkets, car centers, and chain stores within a few weeks.
Applying window simulation
This design technique allows you to enliven the situation, turning a blank wall, for example, a basement, into a bright structure that does not require structural changes to the project.
Decorative windows will help hide the shortcomings of the room. For example, this technique is relevant if the room has two windows located close to each other. It doesn’t look very aesthetically pleasing, and the space created between them cannot be used profitably. You can fill the gap between real glass with a false window. This technique will help to enlarge the space, make it bright, and reliably hide the design flaw, visually turning it into one large window opening.
A good quality false window costs from 50,000 rubles
An imitation window can be useful in a dark corridor where there is no natural light, but it is impossible to install a real window because the wall faces the inside of the building. You can create an exclusive design in the form of a frame into which any picture will be inserted. LEDs will help illuminate it. In this way, a boring dark corridor can be turned into a rather interesting place that attracts the eyes of guests.
The built-in fan will enliven the false window and make it more realistic.
Elements depicting perspective are perfect for a small room. It is best to use photographs of landscapes that can be seen from a regular window.
Stained glass will be an unusual decoration for your home. Find out more in our article “Stained glass in a modern interior.” You can make stained glass yourself, it is not difficult and inexpensive, you just need diligence. Find out more from our material “How to make stained glass with your own hands at home.”
Tiffany stained glass windows look amazing, for more information about the method of their manufacture, see the link https://oknanagoda.com/steklo/osteklenie-steklo/vitraznoe/kak-sdelat-vitrazh-tiffani.html.
Glazing variation
False glazing is made using different types of glass. A single-chamber double-glazed window can be a budget option. If we mean a higher level of construction that will retain the internal heat of the room, in this case it is better to use an air chamber made of 2 double-glazed windows. But this is not the only option for higher quality glazing; in a system of decorative false finishing, you can use 3- or 4-chamber double-glazed windows.
The main nuance that should be taken into account is the material from which the false racks are assembled. Most double-glazed windows, as a rule, make the structure heavier and a very large load is placed on the frame; sometimes this problem arises when insulating cold façade glazing, when a very heavy double-glazed window is installed on an existing thin profile.
False as a way of finishing buildings
False glazing is not only an economical way to finish the façade of a building. The main advantage is that the structure can take on a completely different look, with additional decorative elements of any geometric shape or color. Facade glazing can be combined with colored panels, which can be assembled into a single structure. An excellent option is the reconstruction of an old building; with the help of this type of glazing, it can take on a completely different look. An effective, durable finishing method that guarantees the passage of maximum daylight. Properly selected double-glazed windows in the system will provide good noise insulation in the room without heat loss.
Types of designs
False windows in the interior will look most realistic if you use 3D technology. In addition to the volumetric frame, which can be opened, this design has a built-in fan, thanks to which a breeze can be simulated. A live image with volume is usually used. To do this, you can use a high-quality photo or use the services of an artist.
Modern photo wallpapers as a method have been known for quite a long time, but technology has stepped far forward, and products are no longer found on plain paper. There are many materials that imitate frescoes, made on silk or eco-paper. Many companies produce photo wallpapers of various configurations and sizes suitable for false windows. Therefore, you need to clearly know where you want to place such a window and how much space it should take up.
Imitation of exit to the balcony
How to make a framed window?
It is quite possible to make a false window with your own hands; it does not require complicated steps. You will need a frame from a regular window, for example, a wooden one, and modern photo wallpaper. You can use polyurethane moldings. To create the required volume, experts recommend not giving up the window sill, on which you can install very real flowers. You can insert glass and hang curtains. This approach will make the picture realistic.
The imitation window in the interior must be in the right place: for example, it is a wall in the bathroom, corridor, room; there may be real windows on it, but this is not necessary. It is important to choose the right image on the photo wallpaper. A landscape with a perspective is preferable, when looking at it you will feel as if you are looking into the distance. The drawing itself is glued to the wall, the frame is secured with dowel-nails and glue.
A false window can be used practically, for example, its window sill is suitable as a shelf.
Framed stained glass window
Mirror window
If the space in the room is small, you can use mirrored false windows that will help visually expand it. You can also make such a decorative window on the wall with your own hands. To do this, you will need to purchase a mirror or mirror tile: it will be needed to make a sash window. The mirror is inserted instead of ordinary glass, and the frame itself can be used ready-made. The product is mounted on a flat wall; in this case, a niche is not required.
There are several options for creating such a design. The first is the simplest: a finished frame made of any materials, such as wood or plastic, is mounted on the wall. Then a mirror sheet is installed, on top of which the wicker elements are fixed. To create a realistic effect, it is recommended to install a window sill and use curtains.
The second option involves installing a solid structure, that is, you first need to insert a mirror tile, which is made of plexiglass or polystyrene, into the frame, then the finished window is mounted on the wall.
The imitation window on the wall should not be covered with a thick curtain, otherwise it will lose its ability to increase space.
Fake windows - pier
A simple false window with lighting with your own hands: video and comments
In order to fully understand how to make a false window on the wall, so that you can then complete all the work quickly and accurately, you will first have to prepare thoroughly. You will need to decide on the surface of the window, because it can be just a picture, or maybe a mirror; you need to collect all the necessary tools, equipment, as well as materials that will definitely be useful in the work. The simplest option is to purchase beautiful photo wallpaper depicting a picturesque landscape, and then decorate it in the form of a light box, which is quite possible to do with your own hands and get an excellent result.
Imitating a window on the wall with your own hands will require the following materials and tools:
- Photo wallpaper or a drawing that is just right for you in size and theme. Here you need to make sure that the picture or photo wallpaper fits perfectly into the rest of the interior and does not stand out from it.
- A glass panel for the window, but it is better to take colorless plastic, no more than two millimeters thick.
- Good glue, for example “Titanium”, as well as regular polyurethane foam.
- A large construction or stationery knife with an oblique blade.
- A decorative frame for a window, it can be an old window frame and glued moldings, or even just a picture frame.
- LED strip, as well as wires and transformers for it. As for the characteristics, you need to consult the store, the main thing is that the connections do not require complex soldering.
- Foil, covering material, for example, leatherette.
- A fairly large sheet of plywood, the size of which covers your future false window.
Thus, to get a high-quality imitation of a backlit window with your own hands, you really won’t need to spend a lot of money at all, but you will really have to tinker, you should also stock up on pliers and screwdrivers, which every home craftsman always has on hand, you should also take a hammer and prepare some tape , a small piece of sandpaper, a drill and screws.
Preparing the box: how to make an imitation window on the wall quickly and easily
Provided that you took a glass panel, you need to immediately cut it to size upon purchase, because cutting this material at home will not be easy, especially without the appropriate experience. When choosing a glass panel, you will have to make a frame from wood, and then insert glass into it, and for greater reliability, it will have to be installed with silicone sealant. This is much more labor-intensive and complex than a structure made of conventional plastic, which can be purchased at a construction market without much difficulty or extra costs.
If plastic is chosen as the base, by the way, you can take it not transparent, but matte, there will be a much greater effect of light scattering, then you should not rush to remove the protective film from its surface. The thing is that it scratches extremely easily, it can be damaged and ruin everything. Now you need to cut out the necessary templates for the box from plastic. There should be ten of them in number, and it makes sense to first draw and cut out the parts from cardboard, and only then transfer them to plastic.
- The front surface of the box, that is, exactly the place where the picture will be pasted, must correspond to the size of that same image, and the frame, but minus two centimeters in order to be able to bend the picture on all sides. All measurements should be made very carefully.
- Four sides of the box for the lid, ten or even twelve centimeters high, depending on the width of the LED strip, the size of the transformer, and so on.
- The bottom of the box also needs to be made according to the size of the front surface, but it is worth subtracting half a centimeter on each side so that it can be used to close the box by inserting it inside the structure.
- You will also need four more walls for the bottom, the same size as for the lid.
Next, you need to glue this entire structure together, and most often a caustic substance such as dichloroethane is used for plastic. It is quite dangerous, tends to ignite, is also overly aggressive and has an unpleasant odor, to put it mildly. It’s better not to use it at home, especially since it won’t give much harshness.
Therefore, it is advisable to take “Titanium”, which is recommended for use in household purposes for gluing a variety of PVC structures. In order for the corners to hold more firmly, you should glue pieces of plastic corner to them on the inside, which is sold by linear meters and costs mere pennies. If desired, of course, you can drill holes and secure the system with metal corners to the bolts, but this will significantly spoil the appearance.
Making false windows: video instructions illustrate all stages and details of the work
So, everything is ready and even the box has already been assembled, it’s time to make a beautiful and unique false window of your own production from it, which you can show to guests as a highlight of your home. It is worth paying very close attention to ensure that all the angles of your structure strictly correspond to ninety degrees, otherwise everything will look crooked and untidy, and maybe you simply won’t be able to assemble everything as needed.
- You will need to cover the bottom of the box with reflective foil, which allows you to produce the maximum lighting effect. You can also study the question of how to make a false window from mirrored plastic, then there will simply be no need to use foil, but such material will cost much more. Regular food foil will work here, so no need to worry.
- The LED strip should be chosen to be low-power, but with a very close arrangement of diodes so that the light is as uniform as possible. Such tape is sold in five-meter rolls, and for us, for example, for the size of a meter window, thirty meters, we will need to buy five similar spools.
- Don’t forget to also take care of purchasing a 450 or even 600 Watt transformer.
- The tape needs to be cut along the length of the box, in our particular case, in pieces of one meter and thirty centimeters. Make sure that it is permissible to connect no more than three similar strips in series, otherwise the transformer will not have enough power. In all other cases, you need to glue the strips in parallel. We glue the strips to the reflective foil, connect them to the transformer and connect them to the outlet with a regular twisted pair of copper wire.
- A pre-selected image is glued to the lid of the box. However, there are some points to consider here. For example, glue strips may be visible in the light, so you need to glue only where the picture bends over the edges of the box.
- Along the perimeter on the sides, in order to cover the edges of the picture and make such a window aesthetically beautiful and neat, you can simply paste it over with leatherette, thick fabric, self-adhesive oilcloth, and so on.
Next, you just need to fasten the two parts of the box, and the further the lid is from the bottom, the weaker the picture will be illuminated. You will need to make a special niche in the wall, slightly larger than the size of your improvised additional false window, where you need to insert it, connecting the wires to the switch. The window should be flush, and either a window frame or a picture frame is attached to the top, or simply the whole thing is covered with moldings, which also looks quite attractive.
Other places to install decorative windows
A window in the ceiling is a relatively new and original solution, which is applicable for small corridors, rooms where the space is small, but the walls are cluttered with various interior items.
Using false windows with lighting on the ceiling
The ceiling structure looks much more interesting than a decorative window on the wall. It is especially good in combination with a suspended ceiling. A false window inserted into it will create the feeling of an endless roof and make the design very unusual. To do this, the suspended ceiling must have a niche of a suitable size. In general, the technology used to create such a window on the ceiling is no different from a similar structure mounted on the wall.
Do you want unusual windows? Install stained glass windows. More details are described in our article “Stained glass windows”. Some buyers have already installed stained glass windows in their premises. If you want to know if they are satisfied, read their reviews in our material “Classic Stained Glass”.
Read reviews of Tiffany stained glass windows at the link.
Using reception from the front side
False windows on the facade of a house are used quite often. They help make the facade aesthetically attractive and hide some architectural flaws. For example, if the wall is large and has several small real windows, it will look boring. The products will help decorate the facade and create a feeling of luxury. Small false windows on the facade can be used to decorate the attic. From the street it will appear as if the attic is inhabited. You can install a small Carlson house on the roof, which will add color to the structure.
Installation of decorative windows on the facade of a building is carried out in exactly the same way as inside the building. The difference is that you do not need to use photo wallpapers and curtains. To make a window look realistic, it is best to use colored glass. The artist can depict on the facade elements of the room that could be visible from the street.
Knowing how to make a false window with your own hands, you can revive the interior without much expense, bring something new into it, change the facade of the building, without making any changes to the design of the house.
Types of false glazing of facades
- False glazing of facades, types and variations of execution, number more than twenty in construction.
- The system can use an insulated profile, and also use different types of glass.
- Today, the modern concept is gaining momentum and is actively used in the construction of buildings.
- The unique finishing method allows the building to take any shape, be smooth, even, mirror-like, or, on the contrary, strict, conservative, without bright elements in the facade.
Most owners appreciate the excellent glazing technology because it is not only a finishing method, but also a way to insulate the outside of the building. When decorating, you can not limit yourself to standard materials, but use and combine different colors and textures. The facade can be made not only with glass, but also with colored panels of almost any shape.
Current types of false glazing of facades
False glazing of facades, types can be different, and there are more than 20 current options. The most popular design is structural, panoramic glazing. This system does not use a profile, and therefore the entire surface of the buildings looks like cast. But, many old-type buildings with large, small windows assembled using a profile or mullion-transom system, which are also relevant. In most cases, this technology is used when the system contains double-glazed windows with double or triple chambers.
Features of the glazing system
False glazing of facades, types and areas, have a wide range of applications. Decorative canvases of different colors are used in the construction of cottages, country houses, sports clubs, restaurants, shops and other buildings. There is no limit to the height of the design. The main aspect that should be taken into account when calculating is the profile that bears the main load. If the type of glazing does not imply the use of a profile, then you should pay attention to the fastening system and its strength. When using it, the canvas should not be deformed and the structure should not move.
Modern technologies do not stand still and architecture already uses a system called spider. This type of glazing has virtually no fasteners. In false glazing of facades, four bolts and a small strip are used, which fix the glass panels at the joints. This technique allows you to achieve the effect of a complete absence of fasteners. The building looks grandiose and limitless.