There’s such remarkable beauty in painted glass windows. The centuries-old trend for depicting saints, angels, and other characters has made its way from cathedrals to homes and places of business.
Today, glass windows are painted domestically by artisans and even the average DIY at-home crafter. Painted windows are no longer exclusive to luxury homes.
Plus, there are many more reasons to paint glass windows besides being amazing art centerpieces and adding character to your windows. You can paint glass windows to block sunlight, maintain some privacy, and invoke a festive vibe, as many folks do during Christmas.
Painted glass windows can also increase traffic to your store as customers get drawn to beautiful displays on the street. If you intend to decorate your windows panes with paint, it’s a reasonably simple task. As long as you know your paint.
But what paints should you use on glass windows? The best paint for glass windows must be specially made to bond on glass surfaces, such as a permanent, solvent-based paint, or a water-based acrylic (which is best for casual or hobby uses). You’ll also want to look at opacity, durability, curing time, and safety depending on your needs.
In this article, we’ve laid out some basic considerations below and we’ve also found a few suggestions for you to check out. We also got a few key steps to help you when painting your windows below.
Wondering What Paint To Use On Glass Windows?
Professional glass dealers recommend solvent-based glass paint. It is a specially formulated paint made to bond permanently on glass surfaces.
However, there are water-based acrylic paints and other better options for DIY crafters, which we shall discuss in the article.
You will be enlightened on the best paint for glass windows with tips for application to achieve satisfactory results. We also have a section where we recommended the best glass paint products.
Choosing Paint For Glass Windows
Solvent-based glass paint is the best paint for professional glass windows treatments as it is designed uniquely for the surface. However, water-based acrylic paint specifically made for glass or tiled surfaces is the preferred alternative for DIY projects.
The best glass paint for you will actually depend on what you hope to achieve. The following factors can help you determine the paint to choose for your glass art projects:
Opacity – The paint coverage determines the amount of light that passes through the window. Acrylic enamel paints are more opaque (less transparent) than glass paints and are ideal for blocking a lot of bright light.
Durability – Solvent-based glass paint has a very high permanence level. It is suitable for permanent designs that will last an eternity on the glass windows.
Acrylic paint is somewhat permanent when dry. It will not wash or rub off easily and can stay put for a couple of years. However, it can chip or be removed by peeling or scraping with a sharp blade.
Curing time – Water-based acrylic and enamel paint dries to touch within a few hours of the paint job. If there’s an urgency to occupy a room with freshly painted windows, acrylic is the go-to paint. Solvent-based glass paint takes significantly longer to fully cure.
Safety – Acrylic paints are water-based and far less toxic than the solvent-based glass paint which releases a lot of VOCs. So if you have environmental and health safety concerns, you know which one is for you.
Best Paint For Glass Windows
Here’s our product recommendation for the best paint for glass windows.
| Rank | Brand | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glass Paint | Mixable, translucent effect, 24hr cure time |
| 2. | Gallery Glass Window Color | Good for beginners and privacy, non-toxic |
| 3. | FolkArt Enamel Glass and Ceramic Paint | Great coverage, rapid drying, scratch-resistant |
1. Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glass Paint
Pebeo is one of the most versatile glass paint brands in the market. They have sets and individual colors in different finishes: shimmery, glossy, and frosted for a little distortion of the view.
If you need outliner pens and mediums to go with the paint, they have that too.
Vitrea 160 is a water-based acrylic paint specially formulated for glass. It is a bliss to work with as you won’t encounter any strong fumes while painting.
There are ten vibrant color options in 45mL bottles; some shades of red, blue, green, brown, yellow, black, and white.
These are mixable to create new colors. With or without thinning, you get the stunning translucent stained glass effect. It goes on to glass smoothly and cures fully after 24 hours but will feel tacky dry within minutes of application.
This is excellent quality paint from a brand many artists reckon with.
2. Gallery Glass Window Color
The Plaid label is renowned for years of formulating quality paints made in the U.S. This 2 oz bottle of thick, non-toxic water-based acrylic glass paint carries the same excellence as other plaid paints.
It transforms any plain glass windowpane into a gorgeous colored glass that lets in sufficient luminance but still conceals the view for much-needed privacy.
It goes straight from the bottle onto the glass. There is no need to thin it or mix anything, which is great for beginner painters.
There are over thirty individual color options to choose from, so you only purchase what matches your theme. It’s available in several finishes: metallic, frost, shimmer, and pearl.
This paint will dry to touch within eight hours, but needs eight days to cure entirely.
3. FolkArt Enamel Glass and Ceramic Paint
Another non-toxic certified water-based acrylic paint formula designed for your glass art is this paint from folk art.
It has an outstanding range of colors for the most vibrant designs. The pigment is rich and coverage terrific.
The paint dries rapidly and is scratch resistant for enhanced durability, ensuring your paint job looks as refined as it was the first day you did it.
All our picks are nontoxic water-based paints ideal for amateur and experienced painters alike to use at home.
For stencil and lettering, window paint markers or dry erase will do a fantastic job. They are excellent for child artists, and you will appreciate how little mess they can make.
Can You Use Tempera To Paint Glass Windows?
Absolutely. Washable tempera is one of the best paints for glass windows, particularly for a fun-filled painting time with small children. It is a favorite especially during the festive season for window decorations at home or school.
Washable tempera is a very temporary paint for glass but more comfortable for young painters, and it is certainly the safest. The artwork will stay as long as it is shielded from rain or moisture.
You can easily wipe clean tempera painted glass windows after the season (unless you want to have Santa and reindeers on your windows all year long) with a damp cloth.
This is perhaps one of the biggest advantages of this paint compared to acrylic paints that need a razor and some muscle. There is no risk of scratching your beautiful window panes.
If you opt for washable tempera, go for the powdered versions instead of the premixed school grade paints. Mix it with just enough water to make it into a thick consistency. Pour in a little dishwashing soap for better holding power.
How To Properly Apply Paint Onto Glass Windows
Using the right paint for this task does not necessarily guarantee superior results unless you follow the right steps.
Experts recommend wearing latex gloves before commencing the actual work. Although our recommended options are non-toxic, you may still prefer to protect your hands.
Ensure the area is well-ventilated, especially when using spray paint or solvent-based paint. You will need a respirator too if you are doing heavy-duty painting or using more serious, or semi-toxic, materials. Please read the manufacturer’s instructions on the paint and follow them to the letter.
Here are some general steps on how to paint glass windows:
- Wash the surface of the glass window, preferably using warm water. Follow that up with rubbing alcohol to de-grease it and remove smudge and prints completely. The paint sticks better on a clean surface. Let the window air dry.
- Using painter’s or masking tape, seal off any glass window parts you don’t want to paint over.
- Trace an outline of the design on the glass window using a temporary marker. This little trick ensures that the details are accurate as the boundaries are already set.
- Another hack is to draw your design on tracing paper the same size as the window (or on many pieces cut and taped to fit it precisely) to use a template. Of course, you can do freestyle as well.
- If you must use a brush, go for natural bristle brushes created explicitly for glass painting to apply the first coat of the paint onto the glass window. This type of brush will give you a smoother finish and an even layer minus streaks, but a sponge and roller applicators are ideal. If you prefer spray painting, this is the time to apply it.
- After the first coat of paint is dry, check whether the color is vibrant enough. Apply a second coating of the same paint for the illustrations to stand out or to dim further the light passing through.
How Do You Remove Paint From Glass Windows?
If you do not like the results or the season has come to an end, you can remove the paint – unless of course, it is a permanent glass paint.
Warm soapy water will remove washable paint quickly using an old rag. For acrylic paints, you will need the help of white vinegar to soften and loosen the paint bond first.
If the paint coat is still stubborn, you may have to resort to a sharp-edged tool like a razor or putty knife to scrape it off.
Place it at a 45° angle to the glass and work in one direction using long strokes. You are aiming at lifting long sheets of paint, not flaking it. After you’ve done that, spray some glass cleaner over the window and wipe it back to its original sparkling clarity.
Be sure to cover and protect the surrounding area before you start removing paint.
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