One way window film that works day and night

Hi Everyone! As the title says I’m looking for a one-way film that will work day and night. My new house has a lot of windows and I really like to look out, so I would prefer not to have blinds. But you can see clear through the house from the road, which is not ideal. I can find all sorts of films that work during the day but nothing for both. Am I looking for something that doesn’t exist, or are there some options out there? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

It sounds like you’re looking for something that might not exist yet. But you could try layering different types of films or using exterior lighting to see if it helps balance things out at night. Let us know if you find a solution!

The biggest issue is when the light level inside the house is greater than the light level outside. I’m not aware of any film that can alter that physics problem.

If you could control the light level inside the house to always be lower than the external light level, I can see how you could have a film that could work both day and night.

@Dallas
That makes sense. So maybe I should look into some more exterior lighting to go with whatever film I end up choosing. Thanks for your help!

Teo said:
@Dallas
That makes sense. So maybe I should look into some more exterior lighting to go with whatever film I end up choosing. Thanks for your help!

I think another option would be to use blackout curtains at night. I know you said you didn’t want blinds, but this could be a temporary solution for the nighttime issue while still allowing you to enjoy the view during the day.

@Joss
Light reflects on glass, and the glare will make it difficult to see through from the side that’s more lit. If you light the outside more, even normal glass will become more difficult to see through, just like trying to look into a house from the outside on a bright day. It doesn’t have to do with your pupils dilating from the dark. You don’t get glare on sunglasses because there’s no light coming from your eyes, so it’s much darker on the eyeball side.

@Marsden
I’ve tried something similar but wasn’t completely successful. I guess every house is different though, and maybe different angles or lighting setups could work better. It’s definitely something to experiment with.

@Joss
You might want to try aiming the lights directly at the windows from the outside. That could create enough glare to block the view into your home at night.

Yes this does not exist. How about some electric blinds that open and close on a schedule?

Winter said:
Yes this does not exist. How about some electric blinds that open and close on a schedule?

The most rational solution, I love my smart blinds linked to my smart home automation. Blocks 100% of sunlight and prevents thermal gain, helps with HVAC temperature control based on season and position of the sun.

Electric tint is a thing but it’s not a simple film, I think… Electrochromic glass.

Nari said:
Electric tint is a thing but it’s not a simple film, I think… Electrochromic glass.

There are films you can buy that achieve this effect, but they’re usually a bit cloudy compared to the built-in PDLC glass. Both are pricey though.

Nari said:
Electric tint is a thing but it’s not a simple film, I think… Electrochromic glass.

This is cool glass!

Doesn’t exist. There’s no magical material that lets light go only one way.

Noor said:
Doesn’t exist. There’s no magical material that lets light go only one way.

You’re probably right, but some liquid crystal tech makes me wonder if one day it could be possible!

@Pax
Liquid crystals sound fascinating!

Jody said:
@Pax
Liquid crystals sound fascinating!

Totally! They can change properties when voltage is applied—so cool!

You could try PDLC smart film. It’s expensive, but you can turn the privacy haze on and off as needed.

Ming said:
You could try PDLC smart film. It’s expensive, but you can turn the privacy haze on and off as needed.

That’s really cool film.

One-way window films work during the day because of the light difference between inside and outside. But at night, when your house is lit, it’s a different story. You might need to combine it with exterior lighting to keep some privacy at night.