To customise a clear phone case safely, design elements should be placed inside the case rather than permanently attached to the phone. The design element can be added to the case between the phone and the clear case using adhesive or held in place by the case's snug fit. Don't block the area around the MagSafe ring if you want to charge it wirelessly.
Doing this gives you the freedom to change your design as often as you want to. You won't have any sticky residue or grit scratching against your phone.
Below are four easy ways to customise a clear phone case, a step-by-step method, and the mistakes that most often cause marks, dust or a loose fit.
Key Takeaways
- Design elements should be placed inside the case and be removable.
- A transparent sheet can be trimmed to match the dimensions of your case to store stickers, photos, or pressed flowers.
- An Instax Mini print is approximately the size of a credit card and should fit inside most iPhone cases.
- Dust behind a decorative insert can mark the phone. Clean behind the insert and check for dust regularly.
- Apple advises against placing items like bank cards, ID badges, or key fobs between your phone and a MagSafe charger. Keep your case clear of these if you charge it wirelessly.
Why Clear Cases Are Great for DIY Designs
A clear case is like a blank canvas. It provides a perfect backdrop for a DIY aesthetic phone cover and still keeps your phone protected. As everything is removable, you can change your phone case design as often as you like, and there is also a practical benefit to using a clear phone case. Since there is nothing glued to the case, there is nothing to remove when you sell your phone.
The one limit is fit. A clear case needs to hug your phone, and anything bulky behind it pushes the case out of shape. This matters even more with a slim iPhone case, because there is less space behind the back panel. If you want the thinnest iPhone case look, our super ultra-thin cases are made for exactly that. Stick to flat materials such as acetate, thin paper and sticker sheets, and a single flat insert will keep a slim iPhone cover looking slim while still showing off your design.
What You'll Need
- Clear phone case
- Microfibre cloth
- Clear acetate or old overhead projector sheet
- Fine-tip pen/pencil, sharp scissors or craft knife, cutting mat
- Decorations: stickers, photos, art, pressed flowers, ticket stubs
- Small piece of double-sided tape (optional)
4 Ways to Customise Clear Phone Case Designs
1. Clear Phone Case Inserts
This is the easiest method, and you should definitely try this at least once. Put your case face-down on the clear plastic sheet and trace the inner edge. Also mark where the camera is located. Cut just inside your line to create a flat edge and make the camera hole a little larger.
Now the fun part: decorating! Put your stickers, cutouts, or flowers on the insert, and stick them down! They should be on the insert and never on your phone! Put the insert into the case with the decorated side facing out, then put the phone inside.
The best part? You can change your design as often as you'd like! Swapping one insert for another takes less than 10 seconds, so there's really no reason not to!
2. Mini Photos and Keepsakes
Instant photos are by far the most popular option for this project. An Instax Mini print is about 54 x 86 mm, about the same size as a credit card, so it'll fit behind most phone case inserts. Other good options are photo booth strips, wallet photos, gig or event tickets, or train tickets.
Two layers are the maximum you should use. One photo can be enhanced with a piece of patterned paper, or a ticket stub can be placed diagonally in the corner. Make sure you don't use too much, though, or it'll detract from the main photo.
A good rule to stick to is not to use thermal paper. The print on thermal paper can fade or go completely dark over time, especially if it's touched by oils or certain plastics, like a case.
3. Stickers Without the Sticky Mess
There are tonnes of clear iPhone case sticker ideas. You can do a monogram, a college, or really anything else you want. The trick is keeping the glue from sticking to your phone.
The easiest way is to leave the backing paper on.
Cut out each sticker but leave the backing paper on. Place the sticker in the case with the printed side against the clear back, so the design shows through and the backing paper faces your phone. The phone holds it in place, so no adhesive ever touches the glass.
Another option is to use static cling decals. Static cling decals are great because they don't have any glue, so you are free to move them around as much as you want, and they will easily come off as well. If you want a sticker layout that stays, put, stick everything onto a clear insert (method 1) instead of the case. A small sticker in one corner or a simple quote along the edge are good ideas to start with if you aren't sure what to do.
4. Your Own Artwork
You can draw, paint, print, or do whatever you want on thin paper and cut it to the shape of your case. Thin paper is better than a card for this. Watercolour and markers are great, but let the ink dry completely first, or it could transfer onto your phone.
The best and simplest designs often make the best DIY aesthetic phone cover. A simple line drawing or pressed leaf is better than a busy collage.
Step by Step: Putting It All Together
Step 1: Clean the Case and Phone
Dust is probably the biggest issue with inserts. A tiny bit of grit between the paper and glass gets rubbed against your phone every time you pick it up.
Take the phone out of the case and, with a soft, slightly damp microfiber cloth, clean the inside of the case and the back of the phone. Apple says to use a soft, lint-free cloth and avoid harsh cleaning products for their cases. BASF, a TPU manufacturer, also states that alcohols can cause TPU to swell, so avoid using strong solvents on TPU cases as well. Always make sure to let it dry completely before putting it back together.
Step 2: Plan Your Layout
Lay everything out on a table first and play around with it. Once you're satisfied, take a quick photo of it so you can copy it later. Also check where the camera cutout is. You don't want your favourite sticker to be hidden behind it.
Step 3: Place Your Design
Put the pieces you're using to decorate the case into the case or insert with the design facing out. If you're using loose bits, a tiny piece of double-sided tape can stick them to the insert. Never use tape to stick anything to your phone.
Step 4: Fit the Phone Carefully
Start with the camera end, push down the other end, and move around the corners. Pay attention to the edges of your insert so that they don't get caught.
Step 5: Check It Every Week or Two
Pop the phone out, dust off the insert, and check it. It takes only a minute and will help stop dust and grit from building up.
Comparing Customization Methods
| Method | Reusable? | Risk to the Phone | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear insert | Yes | Low | Collages, stickers, pressed flowers |
| Loose mini photos | Yes | Low | Instant prints, tickets, keepsakes |
| Stickers with backing on | Yes | Low | Trying sticker layouts |
| Stickers glued to case | No | Some | A permanent, one-off design |
Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is using items that are too thick. Items such as thick cards, charms, or enamel pins can push the case away from the phone and loosen the fit. This may also affect how the case protects your phone in a drop.
MagSafe is next. Remember, if you're charging magnetically, keep the area over the ring magnet clear, particularly of metal or thick paper, as it can weaken the magnetic hold. It's best to avoid metallic stickers over the magnetic spot. Also, Apple suggests not placing credit cards, IDs, or key fobs between an iPhone and a MagSafe charger, as the magnets can damage them.
Next, we have wet paint or ink. It sticks to the inner part of the case and can leave marks on your phone. Let it dry thoroughly before putting it in a case.
Lastly, we have yellowing. In the presence of light, especially the sun, clear cases can discolour and tint whatever is behind them. A hard polycarbonate back stays clear for longer. We explain this further in our article Why Clear Phone Cases Turn Yellow and provide a comparison of the two materials in our polycarbonate vs TPU cases article.
Conclusion
This article explains that the best ways to customise clear phone cases are to keep it thin and to use stickers and inserts. A clear insert holds your stickers and artwork neatly, and a quick clean every week or two helps keep the glass clean. Before you start, wipe down your phone and case, make sure your materials are thin, and clear the MagSafe area. If you want a clear case that shows off your design without adding bulk, browse our super ultra-thin cases for a slim iPhone case or slim iPhone cover with a minimal profile. Prefer a finished look over DIY? Our carbon fibre cases and premium leather cases give you a premium style straight out of the box.
Sources and Further Reading
- Apple: How to clean your Apple products
- Apple: How to use your MagSafe Charger with iPhone
- ASF: Elastollan® chemical properties (TPU
- Wikipedia: Instax (film formats)
- Wikipedia: Thermal paper
