A method for producing thin films, particularly for coating surfaces includes a) adding surface-active substances to flowable compositions comprising nanoscale inorganic particulate solids having polymerizable and/or polycondensable organic surface groups; b) forming one or more thin films stabilized by the accumulation of the surface-active substances at the interface(s), the forming of one or more thin films taking place through the generation of bubbles, foam, through the formation of minimal surfaces and/or through the wetting of surfaces; and c) solidifying the films by polymerization and/or polycondensation.