How to Change Clear Glass in French Doors to Obscure

Clean the glass in the French doors with glass cleaner and paper towels. Allow the glass to air-dry completely.

Apply painter's tape or an adhesive stencil to any areas of the glass that you want to remain clear. Try taping the area where the door meets the glass for an inch or two of clear glass to remain while the main portion of the glass doors is obscured. Place decorative stencils in the center or corners of the glass panes for an elegant design that is permanently etched in the glass.

Place newspapers or a drop cloth underneath the French doors to protect the flooring from the powerful chemicals used in glass etching.

Apply etching cream with a sponge brush. Paint a thin layer over all the glass, as well as over any tape or adhesive stencils. Allow the etching cream to stay on the glass for about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the manufacturer's instructions.

Wipe the etching cream off with clean dry rags. Don't use wet rags, which could cause the etching cream to run down onto the door finish and damage it. Clean any remaining streaks with glass cleaner and paper towels after the cream is removed.

Peel off any tape or stencil to reveal the non-etched designs on the glass. Clean the glass once more to eliminate any final etching cream that may be lingering at the edges of the tape. It's important to get all etching cream off the glass to stop the obscuring process.