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Choosing a window treatment for a sliding glass or a patio doors can be a bit more involved than picking one for your bathroom window. In bathrooms, usually the main concerns are privacy and moisture resistance. On sliders, privacy and light control can be issues, but how it functions is also important.
You may use the door quite a bit and you might want something that’s easy to operate. Or maybe you don’t use it that often and just want something to block out the sun a little. As far as aesthetics, the sliding glass door is a bigger treatment and is going to make a statement. You want a treatment that is going to go along with your style and your decor. But what’s out there? Maybe you want a soft elegant look or something more rustic. But what about contemporary or even traditional?
In this article, you will find six little known window treatments for sliding glass doors. Some you may be familiar with and some not. But hopefully this article will provide you with the knowledge to choose a treatment that not only looks great but functions great as well.
*Vertical Cellular Shades
This is a cellular shade in a vertical position that slides back and forth on a rod, similar to a drapery rod but on steroids. Many companies make these, each one having a little variance. Most popular is the Vertiglide made by Hunter Douglas and The Ovation made by Comfortex.
I find that there is almost no different between the two except for price and Hunter Douglas puts their name on the handle. Spring Window Fashions, which is the parent company to Bali and Graber, makes Slide-Vue and Verticell. The distinctive feature for these brands is you can slide them either way, left to right or right to left. This treatment offers a clean look and there are no strings, so it is safe for children.
*Vertical Sheers
This is a vertical blind with a sheer material attached over it. Most companies have their own version and they operate just as a vertical blind. The sheer is one piece, so it attaches onto each individual vane.
*Sliding Woven Woods
This is one of my favorites, though not many companies make one. It is a woven wood material in a vertical position that is attached at the top to a rail that allows it to easily slide back and forth. Sometimes you will find them grommeted at the top and it will slide on a wood pole. There are no cords and it operates simply by sliding by hand.
*Panel Tracks
Also referred to as sliding panels or Elance. Panel tracks are strips of material about 18 to 35 inches wide that are hang from a rod and slide like a drapery. There will be several panels depending on the width of your patio door. When you slide them to one side, they stack over one another. As far as material, they are available in a range from woven wood to sun screen. You can find them to fit any decorating scheme. Most companies make their own version and the difference is usually in how the rod is constructed and how the panels attach to the rod (most with Velcro).
*Luminette
Only made by Hunter Douglas. It’s like a very fancy and pricey vertical sheer. It’s kind of hard to describe but I’ll give it a try. Picture a vertical blind with the vanes made out of a firm but soft material, and each vane is connected by a sheer to create a continuous treatment the width of your slider. It has two controls, one to draw it to one side and the second to rotate the vanes to control light and privacy.
*Roller Shades
I mention these because I see more people putting them on their sliding glass doors. Folks are not using the more traditional solid material but rather sun screen fabric. They want to filter out the sun, but still want to see through them. This offers a good solution.
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Well, there you have it, six treatments you can use on patio or sliding glass doors. All of them will work on two, three, or four panes of glass. The only exception to this is roller shades. They are limitations on how wide these blinds can be made. These can only be made to fit over standard sliders (2 panes of glass). And I know, choosing something that is going to make a big statement can be a bit scary. At least now you have some knowledge to make a more informed choice.
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Robert is a window treatment installer, who blogs about all things window treatments at bobtheblindguy.com.
All images via Bob the Blind Guy.