How to Make a One‐Sided Mirror

1. 1
   Create a soapy water solution in a spray bottle. Take an empty, 32  fl oz (950 mL) spray bottle and fill it with lukewarm water. Mix in around 6-8 drops of gentle soap or baby shampoo into the water until suds form. ^[10]
2. 2
   Spray the surface of the glass and the film with the solution. Coat the entire surface of your glass or window with soapy water, as this will help the film stay put. Once you’ve done this, spritz a large amount of soapy water over the sticky, exposed surface of your two-way window film. ^[11]

   • It may help to have someone else hold the film while you spray over it.
3. 3
   Center the film over the glass on the side you want to be dark. Pinch the sides of the wet film and arrange it face-down on the center of the wet glass. Shift the film around with your fingers to tweak the film and make sure it’s centered over the glass or window. If you’re having trouble adjusting the film, pull back a corner of the film and spritz a small amount of soapy water beneath it. ^[12]

   • Double-check that the film is exactly the way you want it before you continue.
   • Be sure to position the film on the side of the “participant,” and not the “observer.” The participant will only see a tinted section of glass, while the observer will have a transparent view of the participant.
4. 4
   Squeegee out any bubbles or wrinkles in the film. Grab a car squeegee and cover it with a towel so you don’t scratch the surface of your film. Start from the middle of the film and work your way out, forcing away any bubbles and wrinkles as you go. Repeat this process until the film is completely smooth. ^[13]

   • Don’t worry if there are a few tiny bubbles leftover in the film—these will go away on their own.
5. 5
   Blot away any leftover moisture on the glass. Press a towel or clean microfiber cloth along the surface to soak up any leftover soapy water on your two-way window film. Don’t rub or swipe with the cloth—instead, focus on dabbing and soaking up the moisture instead. ^[14]
6. 6
   Trim away any excess film from the mirror. Take a retractable knife and go around the edges of the window or glass. Remove any extra scraps and make sure the film evenly covers the surface of your window or glass. ^[15]
7. 7
   Spritz more solution over the film and go over the film with a squeegee. Get the surface of the film wet one more time to ensure that the film is really stuck to the glass. Squeegee from the center of the film and work your way out. ^[16]
8. 8
   Wait several days for the film to dry. Don’t touch or mess around with the film—instead, wait 3-4 days for the film to adhere fully to the glass. Once the film is completely dry, you’ll be ready to use your new one-sided mirror! ^[17]
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1. 1
   Turn the lights up on the side of the mirror without any film. Keep in mind that one-sided mirrors have an observer and a participant, with only the observer being able to see what the participant is doing. Check that the participant’s side of the window is very well-lit, which makes it extra difficult to see through the tinted glass. ^[18]

   • For instance, you can set up a lamp or 2 in the room, or place a bright overhead lamp in the area.

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1. 1
   • If your film is on an exterior window, you don’t have to worry about lighting as much.
2. 2
   Keep the “observation” side of the mirror as dark as possible. Check that the lights on the “observer” side are dimmed, which makes it extremely difficult for the participant to notice anything behind the glass. If necessary, set up blackout curtains, which will make the area even darker. ^[19]

   • You can also paint the room a dark color to help blend in.
3. 3
   Test your new mirror. Ask someone to stand on the “participant” side of the mirror, while you stand on the “observer” side. Call or text the other person and ask if they can see you. With the two-way film and the lighting set-up, you should be totally invisible to the other person! ^[20]
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