Window Treatments For Sliding Glass Doors

Shawn | Jan 25, 2011 |

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Sliding glass doors are a beautiful and practical way of bringing the outdoor environment into the home. However, there are some drawbacks, specifically too much direct sunlight that can fade the home interior, excessive heat that brings higher cooling expenses, as well as privacy issues brought about by all that open area.

These are some of the reasons homeowners find it important to implement window treatments for sliding glass doors.

Finding the right window treatment will allow the homeowner the option of full view of the outdoors, partial blocking of the light or complete coverage for privacy. One of the most important considerations when choosing the right window treatment for sliding glass doors is the amount of traffic in the area. Traditionally, this is a high traffic area and the window treatment should not impair access to the opening. Keeping this in mind, basically any treatment used for other windows in the home can be used to treat sliding glass doors.

The most commonly used window treatment for sliding doors would be the vertical blinds. They offer the versatility of light adjustment, privacy and a certain amount of insulating properties. The choices offered today are more varied and versatile than the plain plastic style used in the 1980s. There is now a wide choice of colors, designs and materials from which to choose.

Wooden vertical blinds can add a classic look, while choosing fabric or woven blinds allows you to coordinate or contrast the blinds with the existing dcor. A newer style of vertical treatment are the vertical panels, which are much wider than the standard blinds, from 11 inches and wider. For the truly creative, different colors or patterns can be mixed in the vertical blind or panel treatment.

If insulation properties are your main concern, consider simply hanging insulated fabric curtains over the glass doors. This choice also provides the privacy when desired, as well as the open feeling when needed. Just make certain the hanging brackets and rods are long enough and attached sufficiently out of the way to allow the curtains to be drawn back to prevent interference with the use of the doorway and use tiebacks to hold them securely when opened.