How To Make Basement Windows Look Bigger And Beautiful

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I am so stinking excited to share my latest idea on how to make basement windows look bigger and beautiful! I’m absolutely thrilled to finally share this how-to!

by Robin

This idea has been percolating in my brain for years and years and now that we’ve finally finished it I can honestly say it turned out better than I had imagined!

(I fully admit I’m over-using exclamation marks today! Or am I?!?! When something is this exciting you get to use them as much as you like!! Right?!!)

Have you seen our earlier basement window solution from our guest room? It feels like a main floor room now.

I LOVE that one, too, don’t get me wrong. But that idea popped spontaneously into my head one day – so that love is surprising and healthy. This new window love is a long slow burning obsession finally realized.

If you’ve got one of these tiny, high basement windows, you likely know what a dilemma they cause – they just scream BASEMENT. They won’t let you forget, no matter how thoughtful the rest of your room looks, that this an afterthought sort of space. No longer!

Oh, and we did the whole thing for about $50…

how to make a basement window look bigger with shutters

I have had this shutter idea for so long – one thing, in particular, held me back from executing it. You know, that age-old problem: money.

I had priced out new shutters for this project. They were going to need to be custom to fit properly – for a price tag of about $350+. On the low end!

That felt much too steep for a faux window that may or may not solve my basement window problem. I couldn’t justify it.

My next route was trolling the online market sites, for our area that meant Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.

I found some here and there – but few were even close to the right size and most were made of vinyl. Vinyl shutters would have been hard to cut and tricky to paint. Not ideal by a long shot.

Then I was roaming around our local ReStore. And spotted a potential solution. And the solution was only $15!

Old bifold doors! I didn’t know I always wanted them!

Like a dummy, I didn’t buy them right away. This girl needs to get some confidence.

A couple days later I dragged Ed to the ReStore and presented the idea to him. He was game – which is usually true – and a little peeved with me that I didn’t just buy them the first time.

I am so thankful they were still there. The width was just about perfect for our window.

What you need:

Privacy window film – makes basement windows translucent and glow vs. show weeds or the car parked right there – dead giveaways that you’re underground.
Bi-fold doors – the same width or slightly smaller than your window is wide
Wood-fill and sandpaper
Hinges
Window trim
MDF or another material to build up any gaps that need it – we attached our hinges to this.
Primer & paint – we used Soft Focus from Home Depot in semi-gloss – this is the same trim paint I’ve used through our basement
1/4″ MDF panels to block the light behind the shutters.
nails, screws, basic tools
Shutter latch – we used this perfect one in oil rubbed bronze – it’s so affordable and it comes in lots more finishes

How to Make Basement Window Look Bigger with Faux Shutters!:

Step 1: Cut Your Doors to Size

The first thing we did was cut both sides of the bi-fold in half.

This left us with a tall and shorter pair of shutters.

After holding both in place we decided the shorter half was the best proportion.

Step 2: Prime and Paint Your new “shutters”

I sanded the rough cut edges of the doors.

I used wood-fill to hide any of the extra holes and sanded them smooth.

Then I wiped it all down with a damp cloth. It was ready for a coat of primer and two coats of paint.

Step 3: Add to Shutters to Make them the Same Width as your Window

basement window look bigger making shutters wider — We knew we needed to add a bit to the width – the shutters were about 2″ narrower than my window.

Ed cut a 1″ piece of MDF for each side. The pieces were the same length and depth as the shutters.

Step 4: Anchor Shutters to the Wall

I held the shutters in place so that they were exactly the height I wanted them – basically covering the bottom frame of the real window.

Ed fastened a temporary cleat to the wall. We rested the shutters on this to make sure they were level – they are too heavy to hold precisely by hand.

basement window bigger attaching shutters — We then attached these hinge-filler pieces to the wall.

Nails are not sufficient to hold this weight well – so after it was held in place we put two screws on each side as well.

Step 5: Build Frame Around Shutters and Window

basement window bigger trim around shutters — The next step was to frame around the window and shutters.

We actually flipped our window casing trim so that the widest part runs along the shutters.

This was to minimize the visual difference in the depth of the shutters. In the rest of the rooms, the trim is installed the other way – you can’t really notice that they’re different from each other – but you would notice that the shutters were way deeper than the thinner part of the trim.

Step 6: Paint Frame and Attach Shutters

basement window blocking light with shutters — You need something to block the light from coming through the top of the shutters – where they overlap the window. If you don’t block the light there it will scream fake window and the jig is up.

We used 1/4″ MDF panels. We tried to paint them with glossy mirror-like spray paint – as you can see it didn’t work – it’s just flat gray.

Turns out the gloss wouldn’t have mattered, but I thought a mirror would have been ideal to throw some sparkle through the slats. Mirror would have been $$$ – and really not worth the expense.

Step 7: Attach Clasp to Hold Shutters Closed

basement window shutters clasp 2 — We then attached this lovely little hinge to make it all look legit.

Funny story: we had originally nailed it all shut. There’s no reason for the shutters to open, so why make them operable?

Well, every single person who has ever come and looked at this window compulsively HAS to open it.

They can’t NOT open it.

We decided that we needed to make them operate or else some friend of the kids’ was going to pull them off the wall trying to open them.

Sometimes you have to plan around nosey guests. 😉

And I have plans for cheeky things I’m going to hang in there to address their nosiness…

basement window shutters and trim side 2 — Isn’t she pretty?! The large window effect is even more convincing in person.

I couldn’t be happier – it’s one of those times a project turns out even better than you expected.

Like our wood herringbone ceiling… 😍

Or our grid wall panelling… 😍

Other projects in our Basement Media Room Makeover…

Natural wood herringbone ceiling – the ultimate gorgeous basement ceiling idea on a dime
Simple grid panelling – choosing and installing the perfect trims
A timeless (and affordable) hollow core door makeover
DIY media cabinet built-in – that only looks expensive
Hidden TV cabinet that makes the room feel bigger and brighter (inspired by Fixer Upper and Pottery Barn – at a fraction of the cost!)
The best basement floor – and how to install it
How to build a faux fireplace that looks real (with German schmear bricks!)
and more!

In the meantime, have you seen our other Basement Makeover Projects?

We turned a closet into a basement bathroom & made the coziest guest room that doesn’t feel like it’s underground.

Robin & Ed Hicken Creators

Robin and Ed are a DIY-loving couple with over 25 years of design and build experience. Also, Robin is a Nutritionist and former Registered Dietitian and Ed is an award-winning Business Educator. We share strategies for living a rich life on a DIY budget: creative money-savvy ideas for a stylish home, healthy meals and family fun. Our work has been published in the pages of Do It Yourself, Farmhouse Style and Better Homes & Gardens magazines.

Hope

Saturday 14th of September 2024

Really like this idea! Ive seen it done like this but with a mirror behind the shutters. Any light in the room will be reflected through the cracks and gives the appearance of more window behind there.

Robin & Ed Hicken

Sunday 15th of September 2024

Yes - that would look great! :)

Lynn

Friday 20th of January 2023

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

frugalfamilytimes

Thanks so much, Lynn!!! :)

Denise Wood

Thursday 21st of April 2022

I would love to share and link this idea on our Sheffield Homes blog, with your permission. It's pure genius! I am writing a post titled "Dress for Success: Basement Window Edition," and when I was searching for ideas your blog came up. You would be given full credit, and I would link to this post. Are you okay with that?

Friday 22nd of April 2022

Of course, Denise! Thanks for asking. :) We have another basement window idea here too: https://www.frugalfamilytimes.com/2018/05/how-to-make-small-basement-window-look-bigger-2/

Jackie

Thursday 14th of April 2022

This is so so smart! I love the difference it made! We have similar windows in our basement so I would love to give this a try. We are making a list of home projects to do this summer and we will have to add this. Hopefully we will have time for some kitchen refinishing too haha. Thanks for sharing!!!

Glad you love it, Jackie! We do too! :) Thanks for letting us know. Happy projecting!

Lynn Spencer

Tuesday 24th of August 2021

Are you getting tired of me telling you just how brilliant you are? This is beyond clever!

Well done

Sunday 12th of December 2021

Never, Lynn! :) You always make my day. :)