What To Do With Your Old Wood Windows After Installing Replacement Windows

A popular design trend right now is to use old wood windows inside and outside the home as décor items. This is a great example of a “green” design—taking items that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill, and repurposing items in an attractive way. Many of the San Diego homeowners we work with are replacing their old, inefficient windows with new, energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows for environmental reasons, so we thought we would share with you some of the innovative ways we’ve seen people utilize old wood windows in their homes. Maybe it will inspire you to use the windows you replace in a creative way.

When your windows are part of your home, you want them to be well-maintained and in good condition, but when it comes to old wood windows used for décor projects in your home, sometimes the more rustic they are, the better! Peeling paint and weathered wood are actually desirable qualities in many of the window projects listed below. However, if you aren’t interested in the rustic look, you could always remove the old paint from the wood frames, sand them down, and either repaint or stain the wood to get the look you want. Painting the window frames is a great way to add a pop of color to a room!

We realize not everyone is handy, so we have broken down the window projects into beginner, intermediate, and advanced categories. Even DIY novices are sure to find a project that’s within their skill level!

Beginner Level Projects for Old Windows

One of the easiest ways to display your vintage wood windows in your San Diego home is to simply hang them on your wall, like you would a piece of art. You can add a decorative wreath made of burlap, grapevines, or dried flowers to complete the shabby chic look, and trade it out for an evergreen wreath at Christmastime. Even easier than that, is to set the window on top of an entry table or fireplace mantle, leaning it against the wall.

If you have multiple old windows (like if you replaced all of the old windows in your home with more energy efficient vinyl replacement windows), you could make a “headboard” out of them by hanging them above your bed. Just be sure they are well secured to the wall. You don’t want them to come crashing down on you while you sleep! It’s probably a good idea to add some extra caulking around any loose panes of glass as well, for the same reason.

Another beginner-level project for an old window is to turn it into a picture frame. You could either place one large picture behind the entire window, or display multiple pictures, placing one in each of the divided panes of glass. To avoid having to permanently attach pictures to the glass, you can use clear adhesive photo corners. They are inexpensive and easy to remove if you decide to use your window for another purpose later.

Old Window Projects of Medium Difficulty

A great use for old windows that are missing one or more panes of glass is to place mirrored panes where the glass once was. This will require you (or your local glass and mirror shop) to custom cut the mirror panes to fit your window. This is a project best suited for old windows with fewer, larger panes of glass, as the dividers will obviously reduce your viewing area. However, if you’re using the window-turned-mirror as more of a decorative piece rather than a functional mirror, you may not care.

A similar project, is to paint the existing panes of glass with chalkboard paint to create a charming display piece that you can use for leaving notes or reminders for your family, writing your grocery list, or letting your kids express themselves artistically. Chalkboard paint is easy to find at any hardware or craft store.

Add a shelf, planter box, or hooks to increase your display options. If the window hangs in your kitchen, you can add hooks to the bottom to hang coffee mugs, or a planter box to hold fresh herbs that you can keep conveniently nearby for cooking.

If the window is displayed in your entryway, add hooks that can hold hats, jackets, or purses. Just make sure the window is structurally sound and can support the weight of the added objects.

You could also make a custom jewelry display for your bedroom or bathroom. Add multiple small hooks around the window’s frame, as well as on the pane dividers to create ample storage for necklaces and bracelets.

Advanced Projects for Old Windows

For those of you with woodworking skills and the proper tools, you could build a custom cabinet that uses the old wood window as a door. This project works well with a long rectangular window. The finished cabinets look great used as linen closets or medicine cabinets in bathrooms, depending on the window’s size.

For those of you who like to garden, you can use multiple old windows to create a small greenhouse. This will allow you to grow a small amount of plants year-round, like a selection of herbs that you regularly use in cooking. It would also be an interesting and attractive feature on your patio or tucked within a larger garden.

If you have a wood window that in relatively good shape, you could turn it into a coffee table, using the window as the top of the table. The coffee table in the photo was also made with reclaimed wood, making it a truly “green” project that would be very inexpensive, while still giving you a unique conversation piece for your home.

Replace Your Old Wood Windows With BM Windows in San Diego

The projects listed above are just a few of the many ideas out there for old wooden windows. Those of you who are creative will certainly be able to come up with ideas of your own. Whatever you do with your old windows, we hope you will enjoy them (along with your new, energy-efficient replacement windows that replace them!) in your San Diego home.

If you have old windows in need of replacing, contact BM Windows today. We can come to your home for a free, no-obligation consultation. Someone from our friendly sales team will help you through the entire process of selecting the best replacement windows for your San Diego home, without using high-pressure sales tactics! See why we are one of the most referred replacement window companies in San Diego.