Curtain Options For a Sliding Door

By: Jessica Ackerman

Sliding doors within the home are attractive and functional, but they can pose problems when it comes to window treatments. There are several different, attractive options that you should consider for your sliding door that can really add a nice, finished touch to your room.

Curtains and Drapes

Curtains and drapes are a versatile option when it comes to window treatments for sliding doors. Most sliding doors are not energy efficient, so choosing curtains and drapes made of heavy fabrics like damask is a great way to keep heat in during the winter months and cold air in during the summer. If you have one of the smarter, more energy efficient sliding doors, you can choose simple, lightweight curtains, lace panels, or unassuming drapes for your door that allow more natural light to penetrate the room. The really good thing about curtains or drapes for a sliding door is that you can change your window treatments as often as you would like - and more easily than with other options, like shades.

Shades

Shades can be convenient for sliding doors, but can be tricky if the door is used often. Typically, when hanging shades on a sliding door, you are giving up half of the door's functionality. There are different types of shades that can be right at home in any décor, although the two most popular types that are en vogue right now are bamboo shades and shoji screens. Bamboo is such a beautiful material to work with, and bamboo shades are very trendy right now. Choosing bamboo shades is also an eco-friendly choice because bamboo is a renewable resource. By mounting a shade made of bamboo above each panel of the door, you can leave one shade drawn for extra privacy while rolling up the shade on the side that you use for entry into the room. Bamboo is durable and long lasting, so it makes a perfect choice when it comes to window treatments. Shoji screens are made from rice paper and they are perfect for many decor themes, especially Asian inspired decor. This type of screen slides in front of the door and can be easily adjusted to filter light coming into the room and also provide privacy.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are a classic choice, and with good reason. Vertical blinds can give you the ultimate in functionality for your sliding door, and also optimal privacy by blocking out nearly one hundred percent of the light coming into the room. The new generation of vertical gliding blinds is a good choice. These blinds pull to the side vertically, like a traditional vertical blind, but are made from a special honeycomb fabric so that they are not as clunky as their plastic counterparts. You can find vertical blinds for your sliding door in a plethora of colors from bold colors to barely-there neutral shades, many of them made of fabric as opposed to traditional plastic. Fabric vertical blinds add not only color, but texture to your room as well.

Panel Track Blinds

You might also consider contemporary panel track blinds for your sliding door. These blinds are one piece sliding panels that are available in varying widths to give you the ability to filter as much or as little light as you want. You can find panel track blinds in various fabrics, ranging from paper thin to rich damask.