I bet they are admiring your door, sounds wonderful! I do not have experience w/the films but my SIL bought a film from HD and it's lovely on her windows.

Are people really peering in, or is it just a funny "exposed" feeling due to not being used to the new door?

I don't have the half window, but I do have the full-length sidelights, one on each side of the door. I live in a townhome development, and all the townhomes have them. People have treated them in different ways to obtain privacy, and many people have done nothing, not minding that passers-by can see in, as it's just the foyer that the door and sidelights look into.

I don't think I'd like a mirror effect on my sidelights as the entry to my house, but that's my taste.

Anyway, at first I had aluminum mini-blinds on the sidelights, which gave me the option to let light in, or to close the slats completely for privacy. But with that style, once you let light in through the slats, you lose privacy. I switched them out for cellular blinds with the small 3/8" honeycomb size, with the top-down option. With the top-down option on the shades, I can let light in at the top part of the sidelights, but still have privacy. The 3/8" pleat size is good for the narrow sidelights. I am happy with this choice.

We have several kinds of window film in use in our house (non sticky) and its terrific. There's everything from plain frosted (which is available in a variety of opacities) to patterns, colors, even things that are designed for the sidelights to look like leaded/beveled glass.

My neighbour installed some mirrored window film for the glass upper half of their front door and the sidelights, without having done enough research on it. They discovered it's perfect during the day, but once it's dark, if you have any lights on in your house, it becomes just like a clear window again, allowing those on the outside to see directly inside. They removed it and applied a spray on frosted film, like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk5Pxs9EjsY

They're happy with it, but of course it gives more of a steamed up window effect, rather than the shiny mirror look you're seeking, unfortunately.

Do you have pics of the door? Maybe some landscaping would help? I have a 6 foot wide glass pivot door and a glass carport door. I really love it, but there is landscaping to help give privacy.

I have a 3/4-light front door that I got specifically so it could sub as a window during the day. I love it. It's changed the light and character of my living room.

I also had to consider privacy because my door opens right into my living room. During the day it's not a problem because no one can really see in. Once it gets to be dark outside I pull down an off-white roller blind I had custom made online. It's not a decor statement, but it's functionality is its beauty.

I have side windows at my front door and added plantation shutters that match those in other parts of the house. They allow me to still let light in but provide more privacy, especially at night. I have no experience with films...sorry. However, you could exchange the clear glass for patterned glass like rain glass...big expense, though, when you've just invested in clear glass.

all our neighbors have those wavy 1/2-3/4 doors, and you can see right through them to the backyard. It would drive me nuts. They make some nice window clings that will add some opaqueness to the window.

I had them in a previous home and used sheers like in Torreys picture.

Is it a problem at night? or during the day? I didn't like it at night in my last house but loved the light during the day. So I put up regular curtains that I closed at night.

I used a film, it lasts a long time and doesn't take up space as does shutter or curtains. I bought mine from this company.decorative film

I don't quite understand the concept of mirrored panels/film. Who wants to stare at themselves when they are waiting at the door? Maybe I am not picturing it correctly. That said, I love the light and plan to replace our door with either a full glass or half-glass door.

I wanted something that would give absolute privacy and also get completely out of the way, every day. Of course, this doesn't address your sidelights.

Half-way closed, just to show the difference.

Top down-bottom up shades?

I can't imagine paying for new glass, but that's an option.

Or top down bottom up. Go to a Hunter Douglas showroom. They have lots of options.

eta. Photo looks distorted on my phone.

I suggested top-down shades near the top of this thread. I think the OP is one of the Houzz "1-hit wonders" who post once and never return.

I was going to try Home Depot's Artscape window film on my window. I took it out of the package and felt it was cheap looking. We just unrolled it a little bit and didn't apply it to the window. I know others have said that they really like it. We are going with Cellular blinds.

I have a neighbor who enjoys their Artscape for the privacy issue on their front door. They have one big problem with the film - they can't see who is at the door. They look outside via their dining room window. Good luck.

We have window film on our 60's front door. We do need to look out the blinds but we are getting a security camera. We live in the city and there is too much door-to-door activity and we don't want people to see in.