Accentuate Sliding Glass Doors with Complimentary Curtains
Whether you want to add privacy, adjust light levels, or simply enhance the aesthetic appeal of a room, installing curtains over sliding glass doors can provide multiple benefits. With some careful planning and the right curtain style, you can dramatically transform the look and feel of your space.
Advantages of Dressing Up Sliding Glass Doors
Before selecting your sliding door curtains, consider the advantages you hope to gain:
- Better insulation - Curtains create an air pocket that reduces heat transfer through the glass.
- Improved light control - Sheers filter sunlight while blackouts block it out entirely.
- Visual appeal - Layered curtains frame views and complement room decor.
- Acoustic absorption - Fabric softens sounds from inside and outside the home.
- Privacy when needed - Close lined curtains for seclusion or openness.
Whether your goals include energy efficiency, security, ambiance, or simplicity, curtains can enhance sliding glass doors in customizable ways. Carefully crafted curtains also protect furnishings from sun damage while providing versatility in modulating natural light.
Key Measurements for Proper Fit
When shopping for sliding glass door curtains, arm yourself with a tape measure and notebook. Precision is key for both aesthetic and functional success. Consider the following essential dimensions:
Door Height and Width
Measure the exact height and width of the door opening to determine the necessary curtain panel dimensions. For width, add an extra 4-8 inches per panel to account for stacking space when opening and closing. Jot down these numbers as your baseline.
Distance from Wall or Ceiling
Consider optimal rod placement. Measure the distance from the top of the door frame to the ceiling, and the sides of the frame to any adjoining walls. Standard clearance is 2-4 inches from the ceiling and 4-6 inches extending past the door frame on both sides. Write down the measurements and account for obstructions like light fixtures or wall art when mapping out placement.
Room Size
Factor in the room's dimensions as well. Curtains that are suited to the scale of the space make the biggest impact. Outsized panels in a small room or skimpy fabrics in a large area throw things out of balance. Gauge how the curtains will enhance or detract from existing proportions.
Style and Fabric Considerations
Door treatments run the gamut from breezy sheers to opulent heavy drapes. Choose fabrics and patterns that set the mood you want while addressing practical needs like durability, light control, and ease of cleaning. Determine the sliding door's functionality when making fabric selections.
Sheer Curtains
Breezy, lightweight sheers allow sunlight to filter in gently. Often made of gauzy cotton, voile, or linen, they provide a soft, ethereal look. Sheers come in a spectrum of neutrals and colors to suit your tastes. Pair them with a coordinating blackout liner for nighttime light control.
Blackout Curtains
For bedrooms or home theaters, opt for thick, tightly-woven fabrics like velvet, canvas, damask or layered blackout linings that prevent any light from entering. These room-darkening curtains also aid sound absorption. Look for heavier fabrics in dark hues for maximum light blockage.
Noise-Reducing Curtains
Sliding glass doors provide easy access but also heightened noise transmission from outside. Special sound-dampening curtain fabrics featuring noise-deflecting materials, dense insulation or multi-layer construction reduce unwanted noise disruption. Prioritize acoustics for doors facing busy streets or other loud areas.
Outdoor Curtains
For exterior sliding doors off patios and decks, weather-resistant polyester blend curtains withstand sun, rain, mildew and stains while filtering light and buffering wind. Grommeted tops slide easily across stainless rods.
Recommended Hanging Methods
Installing curtains on sliding glass doors relies on strategic rod placements and secure mountings. Follow these best practices for optimized functionality and aesthetics:
Precisely Mounted Rods
Measure twice and mount curtain rods flush, level, and square to prevent sagging issues. Use the correct hardware like heavy-duty brackets, screws, and anchors for hanging rods securely on drywall, tile, wood, concrete or other surfaces.
Ample Gathering
When opened, curtains should stack with soft visual appeal, not bunching. Allow enough extra width for the panels to overlap cleanly without obstructing door movement. Extend rod ends at least 8 inches past the window frame on both sides for a finished look.
Decorative Valance
For a polished look, add a sleek fabric valance above the curtain rod. This distinctive header trims out the treatment and conceals hardware. Accent with decorative tassels or trim for added style.
Smooth Traversal
For sliding doors, specialized hardware reduces friction and enables easy opening and closing without curtain interference. Options include wheel cups, slides, and lined header slots with minimal resistance.
Fabric & Color Suggestions by Room
From breezy whites to dramatic dark hues, the fabric and color choices for sliding door curtains are endless. Consider the vibe you want to achieve before visiting fabric stores armed with swatches of existing furniture and paint.
Light-Filled Rooms
Sheer linen, textured cottons, soft voiles and lace all provide privacy while allowing plentiful daylight to filter into interior rooms. These airy, lightweight fabrics often feature neutral hues and muted tones. Accent with vivid throw pillows and accessories.
Darkened Bed & Bath Spaces
Thick velvets, dense damasks, double-layered blackout linings and embroidered tapestries effectively block out light in bedrooms and baths. Deep jewel tones, punchy brights, and bold patterns make these rich fabrics pop against dark interiors.
Great Rooms & Living Spaces
In high-traffic common areas exposed to outside noise, tailor fabric selections to handle wear-and-tear while dampening sound. Look for durable yet decorative fabrics like wool blends, densely woven linen, soft chenille, or textured silk in versatile solids and tone-on-tone prints.
Showcase Sliding Doors Creatively
Rather than masking architectural focal points, window treatments can spotlight them artfully. Using your sliding glass doors as a decorative feature allows them to shine.
Vivid Colors & Patterns
Infuse personality by selecting curtains in vibrant, saturated solids or global prints. Contrast white walls with ruby red curtains or underwater blue fabrics. Punchy patterns command attention while framing views and daylight.
Framing Views Artistically
Sheer curtain panels hung wide to meet in the middle put emphasis on garden vistas or waterfront views. This placement frames rather than obscures sight lines. Accentuate outdoor focal points through graceful openings.
Arranging furniture to face - not block - glass window walls keeps the doors center stage. Float seating inward and avoid placement directly in front of openings. Complement transparency with light, open furniture groupings.
With the right curtains, your sliding glass doors can shine while controlling light, sound, and insulation. Carefully crafted curtains keep these high-traffic portals looking lovely for years to come.