Sliding glass doors: many homeowners have a love-hate relationship with them. They are great for opening up our world to our backyards, but that means they get a lot of traffic. It also means that any window covering you put on your sliding glass door will be subject to that high traffic. So what is the best window treatment for sliding glass doors? We’ll dive into our top four window coverings and why opting for custom window treatments is the better way to go.

Why Custom Window Coverings are Better for Sliding Glass Doors

You want a window treatment that is going to stand the test of time. Custom window coverings are made from high quality materials that can not only stand up to more use and high traffic, but they also stay looking nicer for longer. So while custom may be a bit more expensive up front, in the long run, you’ll get a better value.

Vertical Blinds

If you like the utility of blinds, then you’ll love vertical blinds for your sliding glass door! There’s a reason that blinds, and vertical blinds by extension, are the most popular window covering. The louvered design allows for full light and privacy control. Vertical blinds are the perfect application for large windows, such as sliding glass doors. The housing that holds the mechanism is more lightweight, ensuring that your window treatment won’t fall down. Vertical blinds also slide to the side in a neat little stack when you want to access your door, keeping them out of the way and protected from dogs and curious little hands. 

Like their horizontal sister, vertical blinds come in a variety of materials, including composite, as well as colors that allow them to match any style. And since they are cordless, you don’t have to worry about pets or small children getting caught up in dangerous cords. 

Vertical Panels

Vertical panels are the bougie cousin to vertical blinds. The wide panels make a statement and catch the eye! They have the same functionality as vertical blinds, where you get control over the angle of the panels to allow for more light filtering or privacy. The housing is also lightweight, making them perfect for sliding glass doors or a large wall of windows. When you are ready to access your sliding glass door, just push your panels to the side. 

Vertical panels come in a variety of materials and colors to match your personal style. They work well in modern style homes, but look fantastic in more traditional styles as well. 

Sliding Shutter Panels

Love the look of interior shutters? Already have interior shutters on your windows but not quite sure what to do with your sliding glass door? Don’t worry! Many brands offer coordinating sliding shutter panels. These two louvered panels slide along a track on your sliding glass door. You get control of the angle of the slats for full light filtering and privacy control. Then to access your door, just slide one of the panels to the side. 

Sliding shutter panels come in both wood and faux wood as well as a variety of colors. Need to custom match the stain of the wood to existing wood in your home? That can be done too! 

We recommend that if your sliding glass door is in the kitchen or other higher-humidity room, that you install faux wood sliding shutter panels. It’s also important to note that with sliding shutter panels, one half of your sliding glass door will always be covered in panels, even when you slide one to the side to access your door. 

Vertical Cellular Shades 

Finally, if the room with your sliding glass door gets a lot of sun, or you just need more insulation on your window, we highly recommend vertical cellular shades. The pocketed design of these shades traps both hot and cold air, helping to keep the temperature inside your home more regulated. Like their horizontal counterpart, cellular shades offer savings on your energy bill! When you are ready to access your door, just slide this shade to the side. 

Vertical cellular shades aren’t your grandmother’s cellular shades! This modern version comes in a variety of fabrics and colors to match your unique style, fitting in well with both modern and traditional home styles. 

Elevate Your View Today

Are you ready to elevate the view through your sliding glass door? Elevated Views offers plenty of styles and options to meet your needs and budget! We help you from start to finish, from measuring your sliding glass door, to helping you select the best options, to installation! Schedule your free in-home consultation and quote today and we’ll bring the showroom to you.