SOURCE: VOLA
So many of us have sliding glass doors in our homes and love them for their functionality. I love how much natural light they bring into our homes as well as being a convenient access point to go in and out of your house.
The biggest issue most of us will encounter is in tackling the lack of privacy as well as the lack of light control. The natural solution is window coverings but which ones are best? The best answer lies in the form of another question, what is the purpose? Do you want your window coverings to block out excessive daytime light or do you want to maintain maximum privacy? Or do you need your window coverings to do both?
I’m sharing some of my favourite window coverings for sliding glass doors and hope you find the perfect solution for your home.
MY BEST PICKS FOR WINDOW TREATMENTS ON SLIDING GLASS DOORS
1/ Drapes
SOURCE: Art Fasad
This is undoubtedly the most beautiful option. You can select a fabric that works with your design style and have these custom made or you can opt for a less expensive ready-to-go panel which are easy to find at many big box retailers.
Before you head out to purchase curtains there are some considerations you need to be aware of. Firstly, do you have space to hang a curtain rod? I prefer to hang a curtain rod 8”-12” on each side of the door. This will allow the curtains to be pulled back away from the door when the curtains are open. Be sure to avoid creating a hindrance or obstruction to the regular flow in and out of the door which can happen if the curtains hang directly over the door.
You’ll also allow the maximum amount of light to enter into the room when the curtains can be pulled back away from the glass doors. If you’re considering curtains for your sliding glass doors these are the considerations you need to review:
1/ How Many Panels Do You Need? You’ll need to have enough panels that when the curtains are completely closed that they still drape and hang nicely. You don’t want the curtains being pulled flat when you close them at the end of each day. A good rule of thumb is that you should use 1.5-2 panels per side. If you love the look of full curtains go for 2 panels per side.
2/ How Long Should They Be? Curtains should sit just slightly above the ground. You don’t want them draping or pooling on the floor because they’re likely to get stepped on throughout the day as your family goes in and out of the door.
3/ How High Should The Curtain Rod Be Installed? This is an area that homeowners commonly get wrong. The curtain rod should not sit directly above the door frame but instead, hang it at least 6”-8” above the frame. Ideally, take the measurement of the space between the top of the door frame and where the wall meets the ceiling. Divide that number in half and that’s where your curtain rod should be hung.
2/ Window Shades
SOURCE: Hunter Douglas
Also known as cellular shades or honeycomb shades, these offer the best light control options which is perfect for those who have strong daytime light that needs to be filtered. They have different levels of opacity which makes it a good choice whether you need only a bit of light control or you’d like to maintain privacy while also controlling the light.
These shades are also known for their temperature regulation so it’s a great option for homes that have hot and humid summers like we do in Ontario.
3/ Vertical Blinds
SOURCE: Pinterest
Many of us grew up in homes with vertical blinds and we may still have an aversion to them because they remember the dust and dirt that accumulates on them, not to mention the dangling chain that always seemed to be broken. Well the good news is that the blind industry has come a long way since then and today’s version is more sleek and simple than they were in the past.
Today’s blinds have bigger slats and come in your choice of fabric, vinyl or aluminum. While we do still see the typical 3” width there are also blinds offered in a range of widths up to 11”. These look more contemporary and less like the vertical blinds of the past.
These wider versions give the illusion of a curtain instead of a vertical blind. And even if you opt for the widest version you’ll still be able to pull them off to the side since the panels stack behind each other when open.
4/ Roman Shades
SOURCE: Dunbar Road
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering covering your sliding glass doors but why not? Roman blinds are beautifully decorative and add a layer of sophistication to your room. If you only need some privacy when the evening rolls around this is a good option for you. You can keep them up during the day and drop them down when nighttime rolls around.
The best part of a roman blind is the customization. The fabric you select can reinforce your design style and act as a functional light control or privacy screen as well as looking stylish. Most major shade and blind manufacturers are offering simple versions of the roman blind. If you prefer to include a gorgeous fabric like the one above, you’ll want to do a custom blind where you can select the fabric that works best for your style.
5/ Woven Shades
SOURCE: Quiet Minimal
I love to add texture to every room in the house and a textured woven shade is a great way to incorporate a lot of texture. These shades can be mounted inside or outside of the door frame and come in a huge variety of colours and patterns.
These are cordless blinds so they’re perfect for families with young children. They can be easily pushed up to let the light in and then pulled back down to control your privacy level.
I hope this helps you understand what options are available to you when searching for blinds for sliding glass doors. If you need help with window coverings or any other home project, reach out. I’d love to speak with you.
If you know your design style but you struggle with which paint to use, take a look at my Made-For-You paint palettes. They take the guesswork out and give you the confidence to get started.
