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11 of the Best-dressed Patio Doors on Houzz
Got a gorgeous wall of glazing – but feel a little exposed? Here are some ideas on how to dress your patio doors
Wide glazed doors are wonderful for bringing a feeling of space and light to your home, but what happens when you fancy a more cocooning feel and a dash more privacy? We’ve found some homes that have used window treatments effectively on their bifolds, French windows and sliding doors. Take a look to get some inspiration for your own place.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Line them up
Roller blinds are a brilliantly neat window treatment for a set of bifold doors. Hang one in each pane of glass and roll them up to stay out of sight during the day.
In this bright room you’d hardly notice the roller blinds lined up along the sections, but in the evening they’ll provide some much-appreciated privacy.
Discover expert tips on how to best dress your windows
Roller blinds are a brilliantly neat window treatment for a set of bifold doors. Hang one in each pane of glass and roll them up to stay out of sight during the day.
In this bright room you’d hardly notice the roller blinds lined up along the sections, but in the evening they’ll provide some much-appreciated privacy.
Discover expert tips on how to best dress your windows
Soften with Roman blinds
If you want the neat effect of a blind, but with a softer look, go for Roman blinds. The row of three blinds here gives a gentle frame to the top of these wide bifold doors. In the evening the soft fabric will fall over the windows and give the room an elegant, cosy feel.
The key to making Roman blinds work is to pull them all up to almost the exact same height – this will give a streamlined look, rather than a messy one.
If you want the neat effect of a blind, but with a softer look, go for Roman blinds. The row of three blinds here gives a gentle frame to the top of these wide bifold doors. In the evening the soft fabric will fall over the windows and give the room an elegant, cosy feel.
The key to making Roman blinds work is to pull them all up to almost the exact same height – this will give a streamlined look, rather than a messy one.
Try wide
As mentioned above, the downside of hanging an individual blind in each pane of glass is that you need to pull each one up to an even level for a neat look. If you’re not keen on this idea, how about fitting one big blind across the whole width of your doors? A blind like this would be made bespoke, so it’s not the most cost-effective method. However, the finished look is clean and streamlined, and a lot less fiddly in the long run.
As mentioned above, the downside of hanging an individual blind in each pane of glass is that you need to pull each one up to an even level for a neat look. If you’re not keen on this idea, how about fitting one big blind across the whole width of your doors? A blind like this would be made bespoke, so it’s not the most cost-effective method. However, the finished look is clean and streamlined, and a lot less fiddly in the long run.
Keep it traditional
On classic French windows such as these, blinds might look a little too modern. Instead, go for a traditional feel with curtains on a standard pole. These thick cream curtains are hung with eyelets along the pole and are tied back to expose as much of the glazing as possible. The light, neutral shade helps them to blend in with the frames and wall, so the look is classic, elegant and unobtrusive.
On classic French windows such as these, blinds might look a little too modern. Instead, go for a traditional feel with curtains on a standard pole. These thick cream curtains are hung with eyelets along the pole and are tied back to expose as much of the glazing as possible. The light, neutral shade helps them to blend in with the frames and wall, so the look is classic, elegant and unobtrusive.
Let in the light
For a look that gives you just an element of privacy (and no need for metres of thick fabric) consider using sheer voiles rather than lined curtains.
These doors cover the whole of the back wall, so thicker curtains on a standard pole would have bunched up at the sides and blocked out the light. The sheers, on the other hand, are much less bulky and still allow light to come through.
For a look that gives you just an element of privacy (and no need for metres of thick fabric) consider using sheer voiles rather than lined curtains.
These doors cover the whole of the back wall, so thicker curtains on a standard pole would have bunched up at the sides and blocked out the light. The sheers, on the other hand, are much less bulky and still allow light to come through.
Go round the bend
Don’t want curtains hanging out on your doors and blocking light? How about this clever design? Here, the designers have fitted a curved track that bends round the corners at either side and goes onto the adjacent walls. Rather than a pile of bunched up fabric taking up space on the doors, the curtains can be pulled back completely out of the way.
Find out how to choose the perfect patio doors
Don’t want curtains hanging out on your doors and blocking light? How about this clever design? Here, the designers have fitted a curved track that bends round the corners at either side and goes onto the adjacent walls. Rather than a pile of bunched up fabric taking up space on the doors, the curtains can be pulled back completely out of the way.
Find out how to choose the perfect patio doors
Use double-width fabric
This track is also curved, but this time it’s to accommodate bifold doors that continue around a corner. A design like this is stunning, but bear in mind that it would require more fabric. The designer who fitted these curtains used the nifty trick of choosing a double-width fabric so that she got as much material as possible at a cost-effective price.
This track is also curved, but this time it’s to accommodate bifold doors that continue around a corner. A design like this is stunning, but bear in mind that it would require more fabric. The designer who fitted these curtains used the nifty trick of choosing a double-width fabric so that she got as much material as possible at a cost-effective price.
Stick to one side
Sometimes a wall of glazed doors has an empty space at only one side, which means if you don’t want your curtains taking up space on the glass you’ll need to go for a single drape. That’s OK. Here, the asymmetrical position of the single curtain actually helps to define the seating area in the open-plan space.
Sometimes a wall of glazed doors has an empty space at only one side, which means if you don’t want your curtains taking up space on the glass you’ll need to go for a single drape. That’s OK. Here, the asymmetrical position of the single curtain actually helps to define the seating area in the open-plan space.
Put up some pleats
Pleated blinds are a soft, chic alternative to roller blinds. They can be fitted to any part of the window, and can be pulled up or down along the glass to provide privacy while still letting in some muted light.
These types of blind are often made with a thermal coating, so they can be great for regulating the temperature in a cold room.
Pleated blinds are a soft, chic alternative to roller blinds. They can be fitted to any part of the window, and can be pulled up or down along the glass to provide privacy while still letting in some muted light.
These types of blind are often made with a thermal coating, so they can be great for regulating the temperature in a cold room.
Opt for long and lean
If you like the streamlined simplicity of straight lines, a vertical blind can look striking. Here, the modern space works well with the tall fabric slats of the vertical blind, and the light can still come flooding into the room.
The great thing about blinds like these is that they can be adjusted to be as open or closed as you like. And when you want the window to be uncovered, the slats form a neat pile at the side of the window frame.
Do you have curtains or blinds on your patio doors, or do you prefer them without? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
If you like the streamlined simplicity of straight lines, a vertical blind can look striking. Here, the modern space works well with the tall fabric slats of the vertical blind, and the light can still come flooding into the room.
The great thing about blinds like these is that they can be adjusted to be as open or closed as you like. And when you want the window to be uncovered, the slats form a neat pile at the side of the window frame.
Do you have curtains or blinds on your patio doors, or do you prefer them without? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
A popular choice for windows, if you like the look shutters bring it’s easy to carry it over to your patio doors as well. Here, the white shutters are the ideal way to regulate the amount of light coming into the room without blocking it altogether.
It’s best to go for shutters on a tracking system for patio doors, as this will allow the panels to be folded back neatly.