All About Window Coverings for Sliding Doors
Written By Armi Avila
“I am not a fan of vertical blinds, what are my options?” is a question that I often encounter when it comes to sliding glass doors. The short answer is there are a lot of possibilities! While vertical blinds are popular in part due to their affordability, it's worth exploring alternative window treatments that offer different aesthetics and functionalities for sliding doors.
The style of window coverings for sliding glass doors varies on several factors. These include the dimensions of the doors, your daily routine, goals, the window treatments in the room, space limitations, room location, style of the space, and household structure.
Before we dive into different applications, it’s worth noting the key benefits of embellishing your sliding glass doors with custom window coverings.
Window treatments provide privacy control, light regulation, glare reduction, insulation, and temperature control. In addition to these, it is a great opportunity to add an aesthetic appeal to the room and complement the overall appearance and decor of your home. Window dressings come in a variety of materials, colors, and styles, allowing you to choose options that complement your space. Most come with enhanced safety features, which are essential for homes with young children and pets.
Let’s explore a range of possibilities and how each one aligns with your goals, design, and lifestyle.
Honeycomb Shades
Hunter Douglas Applause® with Vertiglide™
Honeycomb or cellular shades are an energy-efficient option. Consider extending honeycomb or cellular shades to cover the sliding glass door if they are already installed on the windows in the room to maintain consistency.
There are two honeycomb orientations to consider, the traditional horizontal style and vertical honeycomb shades.
Vertical cellular or honeycomb shades operate from side to side and follow the direction of the sliding glass doors, making it ideal if you would like to open the shades partway to go in and out. When completely open, it has a minimal stack regardless of the size of the sliding door, so you do not lose a lot of your view and light coming from the sliding glass doors. The operation does not require the use of cords, providing safety for homes with young children and pets.
Horizontal honeycomb shades are more cost-effective than vertical honeycomb shades. As it is an up and down operation, the shades must be raised completely to go in and out of the door instead of following the direction of the sliding glass door. View Honeycomb Shades
Sliding Panels
Hunter Douglas Skyline® Gliding Window Panels
Panel tracks, gliding or sliding panels are a modern version of vertical blinds and consist of multiple stacking wide panels that slide along a track. They provide a sleek and modern look and pair nicely with roller shades. The fabrics come in a variety of textures, patterns, and colors. Like the vertical honeycomb shades, it follows the direction of the sliding glass doors, making it easy to use when going in and out while providing privacy. View Sliding Panels
Roller Shades
Hunter Douglas Designer Roller Shades
Roller or solar shades are a great alternative if you would like a minimalist and modern look. When rolled up, they provide a virtually unobstructed view, which is also beneficial for keeping your window treatments out of the reach of young children and pets. Roller shades are very popular in the Greater Seattle area due to their clean and streamlined appearance, as well as the ability to preserve as much of the window when raised completely, thereby allowing more light and view. They are also available in various colors, patterns, and textures to complement your interior. View Roller Shades
Roman Shades
Hunter Douglas Vignette® Roman Shades (Rolling)
Roman shades offer a classic and elegant choice for sliding glass doors. They provide an opportunity to add color and texture to the room. They consist of soft folds of fabric that fold or roll up when raised and hobble or lie flat when lowered. Roman shades come in various patterns, colors, and textures, allowing you to customize your decor and elevate its aesthetic appeal. It's important to consider that the stack of Roman shades when raised might pose an issue, particularly if the height of the door is limited, so a rolled-up option like the Hunter Douglas Vignette® Rolling Modern Roman Shade fits this approach the best.
Sheer Shades
Hunter Douglas Luminette® Privacy Sheers
Like the honeycomb shades, sheer shades come in two orientations. Vertical shadings provide flexibility in that they are a combination of soft fabric vanes and vertical sheer panels. The sheer vanes softly diffuse the sunlight while allowing view-through. The alternating panels can be tilted and closed to provide more privacy, light filtering, or room darkening depending on the opacity. They provide modern sophistication and a stunning appearance in the room. As these are more delicate and a premium option, they are not optimal for homes with young children or pets if the door gets high use.
Horizontal sheer shadings such as Silhouette® Sheer Shades offer the same flexibility and elegance as the vertical sheers without the side stack when the shades are in a fully open position. Like other horizontal applications, they must be raised completely to go in and out of the door.
Vertical shadings pair nicely with sheer shades and are an investment that displays elegance for years to come.
Shutters
Hunter Douglas Palm Beach™ Shutters
Made of wood, composite, or vinyl, shutters can either slide on the sides like the sliding glass door or fold onto itself. Shutters are a great option for sliding glass doors, providing a uniform appearance if there are shutters for the windows. Shutters are an investment that will last for years to come with proper care. They are considered a permanent fixture and add lasting value to the home. View Shutters
Most of these applications can be motorized, adding convenience and enhanced safety. View Automation
Recap
Selecting the optimal window covering for your sliding glass doors requires thoughtful consideration, weighing various factors such as functionality, aesthetics, durability, and privacy needs. There are certain elements and constraints often overlooked, which are equally important as the requirements and goals for the space. It is essential to weigh each factor thoughtfully to arrive at a window covering solution that perfectly aligns with your goals and enhances the ambiance of your living space.
If you live in the Greater Seattle or Bellevue and the eastside, and need more in-depth and customized analysis of what works for your sliding glass doors to suit your lifestyle and needs, feel free to give us a call at 206-801-6010 or fill out our contact form.
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