Hunter Douglas Luminette® window sheers in sliding glass window.
Sliding glass doors, also known as patio doors, are a common element in most homes or condos today. We all love the convenience they provide for easy entry and exit onto our deck, patio, or porch. However, unless you're surrounded by woods or miles from your nearest neighbor, that convenience comes with a loss of seclusion and light control.
Sliding glass doors are also typically in high-traffic areas so the treatment you choose has to be durable enough to handle lots of daily use. You will want to consider fabric or material choice, cleanability, and coordination with other window treatments in the room.
Here we'll take you through some of the various window treatments that not only provide privacy and durability, but will add decorative style to your home. We know it can be tricky to find the best window treatment solution for sliders, so we hope this guide provides you many options and you find the perfect window treatment that suits your home's design aesthetic and your lifestyle.
Vertical Blinds
Vertical blinds are one of the most common window solutions for sliding patio doors because they traverse easily and are suited to wide windows. They can let in as much or as little light as you need and they take up less space when closed (known as "stack-back") enabling you to maximize your views. Vertical blinds also open in the same direction as your sliding glass door for easy opening.
You'll find modern blinds and vertical shades in a variety of textures, styles, and colors in materials ranging from vinyl and fabric, to contemporary aluminum. Many people consider this type of window treatment the best solution for creating privacy but still allowing light to filter in.
First up, let's take a look at Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds from Hunter Douglas. Available in a amazing array of fabrics and eye-catching metals, they allow superior light control and easy operation. The new "Softex" technology employed in the manufacture of the Somner® fabrics helps to reduce noise levels which is particularly helpful if you happen to be near a busy street.
Hunter Douglas blinds also come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, making it easy to fit more difficult sliding-glass doors and bay windows.
You can choose cord or wand operation or Motorized Vertical, which lets you to control your blinds with a touch of a button from wherever you're comfortable, like your couch or bed.
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds by Hunter Douglas with Tilt Control
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds by Hunter Douglas
One of our favorite modern window treatments for sliding glass doors is the Hunter Douglas Luminette® Privacy Sheer, which combines soft fabric vanes attached to vertical sheer panels. The vanes of the Luminette® rotate giving you 180 degrees of light control from fully open to fully closed.
The fabric surrounding the vanes provides the beauty and softness of a sheer drape for the ultimate in elegance. And, the hardware is completely sealed in the headrail for a clean, streamlined look. PowerView® Automation is also an option for even more convenience.
Luminette® Privacy Sheer by Hunter Douglas
Luminette® Privacy Sheer by Hunter Douglas
CADENCE® Soft Vertical Blinds are unique because of their curved vane design. When closed, the vanes mimic the look of a sumptuous, soft drapery treatment.
They also offer superior sound control and are suitable for both residential and commercial blind installations. Choose from a variety of solid and print fabrics.
CADENCE® Soft Vertical Blinds by Hunter Douglas
Sliding Panels
For large expanses of glass such as in a sliding patio door, SKYLINE® Gliding Window Panels are the best contemporary choice for an amazing look. Designed for large windows and sliding doors (but also suitable for small windows) , these expansive door panels create a statement all their own. Sometimes called panel track blinds, this treatment offers you sleek, modern styling, ease of operation and hundreds of fabric choices. Sliding panel shades are made with flat vertical fabric panels that slide on tracks to open or close.
SKYLINE® panels' sleek styling provides unobstructed views when open and show off their rich texture when closed. With hundreds of colors, textures, and opacities to choose from, it's easy to find one that's sure to enhance your décor.
SKYLINE® Gliding Window Panels by Hunter Douglas
Vertical Shades
If you live in a very hot or cold climate, VERTIGLIDE™ Vertical Cellular Shades are a great energy saving choice to cover a slider. These cellular shades feature a unique honeycomb construction that traps air in the cells, creating an insulating effect. They are similar to standard honeycomb shades but the pleats run vertically instead of horizontally.
Featuring child-safe cordless operation, they are available in fabrics to coordinate with any of our Hunter Douglas Duette® and Applause® honeycomb shades. The white on the back fabric means your vertical shades will appear uniform from the outside looking in. Choose from hundreds of colors in both light-filtering and room-darkening opacities to match other cell shades in your home.
They can be ordered with a left, right, or split center slide and have very little stack-back, making them ideal for expanding the view out your slider. VERTIGLIDE™ shades are also available with LIGHTLOCK™, an innovative system designed to trap and absorb incoming light, making them ideal for media rooms or bedrooms.
VERTIGLIDE™ vertical cellular shades by Hunter Douglas
Shutters
Shutters may not be the first option that comes to mind when you're thinking of a window treatment for patio sliders. However, they are durable, energy efficient, classically stylish, and make an excellent choice. And, there are many, many options in terms of styles, colors, and stains.
Choose from high-quality hardwood as found in our HERITANCE® collection, available in unlimited colors and finishes.
For humid environments, you may want to consider a hybrid shutter such as NEWSTYLE® or a polysatin shutter such as PALM BEACH™. Featuring the look of finely painted shutters, they offer the added qualities of resistance to warping, cracking, fading chipping, peeling or discoloring.
Shutters can be made to specifically fit sliding patio doors, so no matter what your door size or configuration, we can provide a perfect fit.
NEWSTYLE® Shutter by Hunter Douglas
Drapery Panels
For an even more decorative effect, drapery panels in combination with a blind or shade add extra sight appeal and the most high-end appearance.
Custom curtains and draperies can be fabricated as stationary panels or traversing drapes for more light control. For light or energy control, add a blackout or thermal insulated drapery liner. A traversing rod makes opening and closing your drape easy with the use of the attached wand. Pinch pleated drapes with rings or grommets are also easy to operate and can be made to operate one-way or split in the middle to slide in opposite directions.
Our designers are experts in finding the right drapery fabric to coordinate with your upholstery, walls, and area rugs and we can customize your curtain to fit any size window or door.
Custom drapery treatment over Luminette® blind in sliding glass window.
Design by Lucaro Studio, Inc.
More Information
We hope this information has been helpful and you now have more knowledge about the different blind, shade, and shutter options available. Our window specialists
are always available to answer any questions or help you select a slider treatment that
you'll love.
Contact us to schedule a complimentary appointment in the showroom or in the comfort of your home. Save up to $150 and more on designated blinds and shades during our rebate sale.