Sliding Glass Door Blinds and Window Treatments

Spring has finally sprung! After a very long winter, I love to step out on my patio and finally enjoy the fresh air. If your home has a sliding glass door, then you may have encountered the challenges of choosing the proper window treatment that is both fun and functional.

Sliding glass doors are lovely because they bring in a lot of natural light, give us access to the outdoors, and show us our view.

On the flip side, a sliding glass door is a high traffic area that demands durability, some privacy, and ease of use.

Here are some items to consider when purchasing window treatments for your sliding glass door:

1. Make sure the curtains/blinds open in the same direction as the sliding glass door.
2. Use durable materials to withstand high traffic areas.
3. Make sure the curtains/blinds easily pull back or up. Making access easy.
4. Choose material that allows both natural light, a great view and privacy when needed.

Options to keep the fun in functionality

Ok, confession time. How many have had or still have vinyl vertical blinds on your sliding glass doors?

Yes, we all have had them at one time or another. Well, it’s time to leave those and anything else that is vinyl in the past.

The good news is there are plenty of options available.

Curtains and Draperies

Curtains and draperies offer endless options when it comes to dressing your sliding glass door. They can add style and function to the door wall while providing light control and easy access and they come in endless colors, patterns, and many light filtering abilities.

Functionality: When using curtains or draperies with sliding glass doors be sure to mount them far enough outside of the window trim so the fabric won’t get caught in the door. Also, be sure the material can be pulled or tied away easily and quickly. You wouldn’t want to be fumbling with tiebacks when you’re holding the BBQ tray!

Privacy: Consider different levels of transparency that allow both natural light and maintain privacy. If you prefer complete privacy or need blackout linings, consider pairing sheers and draperies together. In the daytime, drapes can be off to the side, and the sheers can filter the light.

Safety: Keep in mind one safety concern with sliding glass doors. Sometimes children and adults both have run right into the glass thinking the door was open. Curtains or sheers provide a safety barrier for quick moving children and cell phone distracted adults!

One final thought, since window treatments will cover a broad sliding glass door, think about how the window treatment will look when fully closed or open and pulled off to the side. Give it some thought because it is such a large area.

Blinds and Shades

For straightforward and functional sliding door window treatments, consider blinds or shades.

I have been an authorized Hunter Douglas specialist for years. Nothing beats or compares to the quality and style of Hunter Douglas blinds and shades. Here is a quick rundown of the most popular options for sliding glass doors from Hunter Douglas.

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

For doors that need extra insulation from the heat or cold, a cellular honeycomb shade with the Vertiglide™ operating system is the ideal option. This system is straightforward, with no cords, chains or wands, and gives you the flexibility to use one shade to cover the entire expanse or split it into two with each shade operating independently.

Luminette® Privacy Sheers

If you are looking for a classic, elegant look, vertical sheers are a good choice. The sheer facing resembles traditional sheer draperies, while the 180-degree rotating vertical fabric vanes give you complete control over light and privacy to create the perfect ambiance.

Designer Roller Shades

For a transitional to a modern look, roller shades provide a clean, tailored and durable solution.  Roller shades roll-up and down around the roller pole and are mounted inside of the window.  Roller shades come in many different levels of transparency, fabrics, colors, patterns and can be made with blackout lining and insulating material.

Skyline Panel Track Blinds

Panel track blinds are large panels that hang flat and stack off to the side when opened. They provide a very modern look which can be made in different materials and varying levels of transparency. Unlike regular vertical blinds the slats or panels do not tilt open they always lay flat.

Plantation Shutters

Another option for sliding glass doors is plantation shutters.  Shutters are either installed on a track, so they can move out of the way when opened or are hinged to swing open and shut. The slats come in narrow or wide sizes that can be rotated open and closed to let you control the view and light.

Plantation shutters are a classic look that never goes out of style. Even though shutters may accumulate dust, they are easy to clean with just a wipe of a dust cloth.

Between the glass blinds

These specialty sliding glass patio doors from Pella Windows have horizontal blinds built-in. The horizontal blinds are sandwiched between two pieces of glass and controlled by a slider knob or motorized. These smart blinds are protected from dust and dirt, they look neat and clean, and they open and close very quickly.  Click Pella Windows link above for more information.

Create a beautiful and functional home

I hope this article gives you plenty of options for dressing your sliding glass door.  You can create a beautiful and functional home for you and your family that you will enjoy no matter what season or time of the day.

If you would like a consultation on the best window treatments for your lifestyle and home, please contact me.