Patio Door Window Covering - What Are Your Options?

A glazed patio door invites the outside world into your home. Whether it overlooks your backyard or your neighbour’s, the serene hush of a wooded area or the hustle and bustle of the city, a patio door lets the sunlight in, even when unwanted, and can strip you of your privacy.

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to window treatments for your sliding glass door. Your coverings must be practical, allowing easy access to your deck or patio, but also aesthetically pleasing, meshing with your decor.

Vertical blinds, cellular shades, roller blinds, bamboo blinds, panel blinds, curtains—below are some pointers to help you find the right patio door window covering.

Patio Door Window Coverings: Tips and Ideas

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Adding patio door window treatments isn’t limited to finding blinds or curtains that fit your decor. The trendiest or most stylish covering won’t necessarily suit your space. Below are some factors to consider prior to choosing:

• Ease of use

• Ability to manage the amount of sunlight filtering through

• Opening and closing mechanism (cord, cordless, motorized, etc.)

• Allocated budget

• Required maintenance

Looking to buy blinds? 

We recommend Quebec-based company StoresBoutique.ca: custom-made blinds, sought-after products, but above all else, the best warranties for a stress-free purchase.

Practical Tips for Choosing the Right Patio Door Covering

Make a list of all the features you want your window treatments to have. Inquire about the product specificities (mechanism, maintenance, warranties). Consult the installation guide to ensure the product can be mounted easily where intended. Feel free to speak with a sales representative or the manufacturer if you have any questions. 

Beyond the technical aspect, consider genuine household needs.

Protect Your Privacy

Is your patio door exposing your home to neighbours and passers-by? Consider the degree of opacity you want for your window treatments. Some materials allow natural light to filter through during the day while simultaneously ensuring privacy. Given that large glazed surfaces afforded by patio doors leave homeowners exposed to unwanted stares from passers-by and neighbours, a perfectly opaque covering can be the ideal solution. It’s a must-have option provided it can be easily and entirely pushed aside during the daytime, allowing sunlight to seep in.

Patio Door Location

A south-facing patio door can fill a room with sunlight during the daytime. It’s practical, appealing, and even cost-effective during the winter from an energy-efficient standpoint. Although, you can bet that the situation will be turned on its head during the summertime. 

Some window treatments can effectively filter out sunlight, while others go beyond that, ensuring the room stays at a stable temperature, summer or winter. For example, when the cold front sets in, thermal curtains can reflect up to 90% of the sun’s rays inward. Cellular blinds are another great option, featuring small cells that prevent heat transfer and ensure a stable ambient temperature at all times.

Door Traffic

A patio door used multiple times a day must have a covering that doesn’t hinder foot traffic. Consider, for example, a covering made of two independent blinds, one for the fixed glazing and another for the sliding or pivoting glass pane. If you’re looking into getting curtains, choose a rod that’s wider than the doorway. There should be enough space on either side of the patio door to pull the curtains back, allowing for unobstructed access.

Targeted Amount of Shade: How to Block Sun from Sliding Glass Doors?

The window treatment on a patio door located in a bedroom or living room with a home theatre will benefit from more opaque covering provided by curtains or black-out shades. If, however, you want natural light to filter through and preserve your privacy, prioritize day-night roller shades or veiling.  

Customize Your Window Coverings to Your Home Decor

Are you looking for something a little more laid-back? Maybe a sleeker look is what you’re after? Is your home decor giving elegance and refinement? Your window treatments not only should align with your home decor but validate it too, whether it’s contemporary, bohemian, farmhouse-inspired, or industrial-like. 

Moreover, consider that once the shades, blinds, or curtains are closed, the patio door covering will be an important part of your interior decor, but also your curb appeal.

Blend the styles, pick materials meticulously, and take into account the type of installation needed since some are more apparent than others.

With What Can I Cover My French Doors? Panels and More

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Panel track blinds are all the hype right now. They’re super elegant, and retailed in an array of designs and patterns, from flower prints to moiré, with geometric patterns in between.

They come in three, four, five, or six panels, hung on a track system secured into the wall or ceiling. They’re easy to slide open or close using a wand. When all the panels are stacked, the glass panes are entirely exposed.

Advantages of Panels 

• Very easy to use, the panels slide sideways

• Three stack modes: left-hand or right-hand side split, straight down the middle

• Custom-made according to requested measurements (maximum width of 192 inches)

• Ceiling or wall mounted (interior or exterior mount)

• Safe for children and animals

• Low maintenance materials

Available Materials and Styles

• Vast selection of fabrics with ranging opacity

• Quality materials with a variety of finishes that can be paired with all home decor

• Solar fabric option, blocking UV rays and helping keep the room cool during the summer

• Opaque fabric option to protect hardwood floors and prevent furniture fabric from fading

Decoration Ideas

Panels add elegance and refinement to any home. Courtesy of the wide range of colours, textures, and patterns, they're perfect for just about all home decor. They can be paired with other window treatments to create added privacy and light.

Panel blinds are perfect for big windows, and can also be used to partition rooms around the house or professional spaces.

Curtains and Drapes for an Elegant Flair

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Sheer, light-filtering, opaque curtains make for endless possibilities. New fabrics have remarkable quality, offering an amalgam of linen, silk, cotton, velour, and textured knits. They suit all decors and styles.

Sought-After Window Treatment Fabrics and Patterns

There’s an endless supply of fabrics retailed, including liners (for example, blackout or privacy) and hardware, allowing for a window covering that’s truly unique and personalized. You can add flair by choosing a unique curtain top fold or finish:

• Back tab

• Rod pocket

• Grommets

• Pinch pleat

• Tailored pleat

Choose a Curtain Length and Colour

Curtains can be used as standalone pieces or paired with other window treatments. Below are length measurements to consider for curtains:

• Plan for free space on either side: When the curtains are pulled back, they must fit on the left or right side, otherwise, they’ll block the view.

• Check the clearance above the frame: For a stylish finish, curtains should sit at least 2–4 inches above the window frame.

• Pick the right length: Typically, a half-inch gap between the floor and the bottom of the curtain is preferred, but the curtains can touch the floor too.

Solar Shades

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Solar shades dim bright lights but also limit the amount of heat that can seep through, blocking harmful UV rays. They not only create a more pleasant living environment but also protect furniture and flooring from premature wearing and fading—an added bonus for preserving your space.

How to Style Your Patio Door with Shades

Solar shades are perfect for any decor—they have a certain sleek yet practical appeal. Whether seen from inside or outside, they’re stylish yet still understated, allowing said covering to be paired with just about anything.

You can easily select the amount of sunlight that can seep through the shade: a 1% light-filtering factor will block more UV rays and sunlight won’t seep through as much, whereas a 14% light-filtering factor will allow some sunlight to filter through, but will still block the majority of harmful UV rays.

Other advantages of solar shades:

• Eliminate screen glares

• Retailed in an array of colours

• Compatible with motorized opening and closing mechanisms

• Motorized mechanisms are child- and pet-safe

• User-friendly 

• Solar shades are temperature control, limiting the need for cooling and preventing energy waste

Types of Shades Retailed and Weatherproof Options

Enjoy your patio or deck while staying cool with outdoor solar shades. Such window coverings are energy efficient, block harmful UV rays, and protect furniture from fading.

Maintenance Tips for Window Shades

Shades are rather low maintenance but do require the occasional dusting to maintain their appeal. Use a duster or your vacuum’s soft brush head to remove dust. A hairdryer set on cold is another option as it eliminates the dust that may gather between the fabric folds.

Cleaning Tips

• Don’t apply heat to window shades

• If need be, spot clean with water and a mild dish soap

• Never use bleach or stain removers to wash away stains

How Can I Prevent Sheer Curtains from Fading?

Nowadays, window shades retain their bright white colour for several years, but after a certain amount of time, they’ll inevitably start to fade, turning a yellowish colour.

Regularly dusting the fabric or slats can delay fading. Throughout the day, you can also pull the shades up completely, ensuring the sun isn't discolouring the fabric.

How Can I Wash My Shades?

You can handwash your shades using a microfibre cloth soaked in lukewarm water and dish soap. Afterwards, lay them flat to dry. Never use heat to speed up the drying time and don’t try ironing them either.

How Can I Clean Stains Off My Sheer Curtains?

Gently dab the stain with a mixture of mild soap and lukewarm water. Avoid scrubbing to not damage fragile fabrics.

What Is the Best Window Covering for a Sliding Patio Door?

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To this day, blinds are a simple, durable, and hyper-functional option for dressing up patio doors. They’re versatile and timeless and are now retailed in a more wide-ranging choice of materials, colours, and finishes than ever before.

Opening and closing mechanisms are noiseless, accurate, and robust, and if you’re willing to invest, the slats are also of top-notch quality.

Once closed, window treatments provide the ultimate level of privacy, and the slats can be flipped to get just the right amount of light, easily and in no time.

Types of Blinds: Vertical, Horizontal, and More

The options available are as wide-ranging as it gets for both French doors and sliding glass doors. Choosing the right window treatment can be a challenging feat. Below are some well-placed tips to help you choose the blinds that best suit your needs.

When shopping for window coverings meant for a patio door, start by picking out a material based on your specific needs. Are you looking for a material that shields you from prying eyes, one that blocks or dims natural light?

Versatile, practical, and durable, vertical and horizontal blinds are perfect for high-foot-traffic areas, making them ideal for families. They're user-friendly, simply flip the slats to allow sunlight to filter in or preserve your privacy. You can easily access your backyard by pulling them to the side. 

They’re retailed in a variety of styles and materials, including ranging price points. As a matter of fact, it’s often considered the most cost-effective option.

Looking for something a little different? Bear in mind that blinds are great for pairing with other window treatments, such as sheer or semi-sheer curtains or even blackout panels.

Colours, Patterns, and Materials

New patio door blinds, whether horizontal, vertical, panelled, or roller, are admirably suited to the latest trends in terms of interior decoration.

Blinds are rediscovered in opulent materials and finishes, whether it’s wood or luxurious fabrics, they’re available in a wide range of colours and textures. With an array of possible configurations that meet both your needs and desires, they can easily be slipped onto their support rod.

No wonder designers use them nowadays to conceal walk-ins or partition common areas.

Patio Door Covering: For a Trendy and Elegant Home

A patio door covering makes for the perfect opportunity to revamp your living space based on the latest interior design trends. Using natural materials, bold colours, and different textures, you can create the perfect, cozy and contemporary atmosphere. Adding blinds or smart curtains gives homeowners the possibility of managing the amount of light that seeps in and their level of privacy, adding a practical and aesthetic side to the setup. By embracing such trends, you can transform your patio door into a centrepiece in your home, creating a welcoming environment that’s stylish for you and your guests to enjoy.