What To Wear If You're A Sliding Glass Door
One of the questions we are often asked is: "What window coverings work best on sliding patio doors?" In this instance we are obliged to answer this question with a question, as window coverings have evolved over the years since the original two options of verticals and draperies. Today there are so many inviting ways to cover your sliding doors we are compelled to question your question with: "What do you prefer?"
There Must Be 50 Ways To Love Your Louvers
2. Sheer-wrapped Verticals
A type of vertical you've probably never heard of and second-up in our "verticals" demonstration is the option of a sheer overlay for your vertical vanes. Sheer fabric wraps the PVC vertical louvers for a softened, drapery-look covering.
Pros: Washable, yes! Even the fabrics. Cons: Needs a cornice box or top-treatment to hide the headrail (Not sure that's a "Con")
3. Luminette Privacy Sheers
We could write an entire stand-alone article on Luminette Privacy Sheers.
Pros: A beautiful transformation for any sliding glass door with optimum light control including filtered light or room darkening selections. For whole house solutions coordinate selections with Luminette's horizontal sheer sister the Silhouette Window Shading. No cornice box or topper required. The beauty is in the design of the structured folds at the top. *PowerView motorization available.
Cons: *Larger motorized coverings require a cord. The Luminette is a delicate fabric and gentle care is highly recommended for cleaning.
We're Still Vertical . . .
With The Electric Slide!
The Hunter Douglas DuoLite option features two shades in one application. Select a sheer fabric to slide one-way and a light-filtering or room darkening fabric for the other. Now, slide the sheer vertiglide open a little or slide across to expose the entire window, then slide the room-darkening side for more light control. Add motorization and we're doing the Electric Slide! Coordinate with standard windows as shown in the photo for whole house solutions.
Pros: Lots of options!
Hunter Douglas Duette with Vertiglide options
If you haven't seen your style yet, there's more to come with #12
"The 'other' drapery" is unique as woven wood materials are a type of material that is notably suited for designing drapery, roman-style shades, valances, cornice boxes, placemats, table runners, standing screens, and more. Pros: Woven wood draperies easily slide on a track or on a decorative rod. There are hundreds of styles to choose from along with street side color selections and opacity levels for lining. Cons: Linings are always attached in vertical applications and we would like the option of a separate liner (hint, hint) but you can always go custom if need be. Some styles are limited in widths and lengths.
Horizontal Window Coverings For Sliding Glass Doors?
Yes, Please!
Virtually, any horizontal window covering can be designed to fit your sliding glass door.
Here are a few of our favorites.
Woven Wood Shades that raise and lower over sliding doors are a great selection for smaller openings offering an application for when you don't have an area on the side for stacking. Three things to consider: 1. Be sure to have shades banded on all sides so they won't fray. 2. Go big on valance styles. When the shades are raised they create a hobble-style valance all on their own, when selecting two shades for one opening you'll want a valance covering to accommodate both shades - think cornice box made out of the same material. 3. Woven Wood Shades at this size can get heavy, choose control options wisely. If you love this look and want it on the lighter side, look to Alustra Woven Textures - up next!
Did we mention "Stack"? That available space on either side of the door opening to accommodate window coverings that just happens to be our number one reason for going horizontal.
Please don't have a stack attack! Our feature and star of the stack attack show are Hunter Douglas Duettes. The best part is these shades do not require a lot of stack room at the top either. Top-down/bottom-up, black-out shades are an absolute perfect fit for our #15.
#17
Pirouette Window Shadings feature softly contoured fabric vanes that open and close on a sheer backing providing your desired degree of light filtration. Pros: We absolutely love Pirouettes for their style and ease of operation. Cons: A vertical Pirouette has not been invented - yet! Update! Just premiered for 2020 is the Pirouette ClearView option! Offering a better view-through. Learn more.
Did We Save The Best For Last?
What we love about this space are the possibilities of further treating these beautiful windows! Layering window treatments is truly our first love and specialty. Not only for the scene-stealing beauty it brings to any space, but having the ability to further complement the interior. Picture, if you will, an added layer at the window that provides a diffused view-through on sunnier days when the drapes are open. Choose from any of our featured window covering solutions, or.... Do you have something else in mind?