Window Treatments

Window Treatment for Sliding Doors

Glass sliding doors are a functional and stylish choice for any home. They turn your backyard into an extension of your home and let in a lot of light and a natural view. Plus, they provide easy access during outdoor barbecues and picnics or just during day-to-day use. But sometimes you don't want the great outdoors inside, and window treatments for sliding glass doors can be surprisingly cumbersome. You'll want to strike a good balance between form and functionality, so here are a few tips.

Vertical Blinds
These are the common solution for two-panel sliding glass doors. They can be adjusted to cover only the stationary panel, allowing access through the door panel. They can also be mounted with a coordinated valance or ceiling-mounted to eliminate that extra couple inches of bare space. Modern innovations also allow for back-stacking vinyl vertical blinds, a technology that does away with unsightly, tangled blind vanes. Vertical blinds are available at full blackout levels of light control, making them a good option for high traffic areas and sliding glass doors that lead to public streets.

Horizontal Sliding Panel Track Blinds
These window treatments for sliding glass doors are best if your top priority is light control. They are available in woven woods or with modern solar screen materials. If your sliding glass doors catch heavy summer sun, especially when you're sitting down at your dinning room table or relaxing with the TV, these screens are an easy way to block glare while still maintaining the view.

Double horizontal blinds
If vertical blinds just aren't right for you, you can go for two horizontal blinds installed over the two panels of your glass sliding doors. Pick blinds with low head rails that will be easy to install flush to the glass. This way, you can raise the access door shade while leaving the secondary shade lowered.