Blinds for patio doors: your options
A patio door is a big glass surface you open every day. Here are the window coverings that work best on it, with the strengths and limits of each.
Dressing a patio door is a particular challenge: the glass area is large, you open it often, and you want daylight, privacy and a clear path all at once. Here are the main blinds for patio doors and sliding doors, and how to choose based on how you use the room.
What to think about first
- Traffic: how many times a day do you use the door? A blind that stacks to the side is more practical than one you have to raise every time.
- Light: do you want to cut glare, keep the view or darken the room?
- Privacy: does the door face a fenced yard or an exposed space?
- Style: a patio door is often part of a main living area, so the covering is very visible.
- Clearance: the handle, latch and door swing must not interfere with the blind.
Vertical blinds
The patio door classic. Slats hang from a headrail and open to the left, right or centre.
- Traffic: excellent. The slats stack to one side and the doorway is fully clear.
- Light: slats rotate 180° to adjust light without opening the blind.
- Privacy: good when closed, with fine control from the rotation.
- Materials: PVC, fabric or aluminum, in 3½-inch or 2-inch slats.
See our vertical blinds.
Sliding panels
Wide fabric panels that glide on a track fixed to the ceiling or wall. They look more contemporary and can double as a room divider.
- Traffic: very good. The panels overlap at the side and open the doorway.
- Light: solar, blackout or decorative fabric, depending on your choice.
- Privacy: good, with an opaque or translucent fabric depending on the effect you want.
- Good to know: the track can have 2 to 5 lanes, depending on the width to cover.
Explore our sliding panels.
Roller shades
A roller shade rolls up into a headrail above the door. Neat and discreet, it suits a door that is used less often or a minimalist style.
- Traffic: average. You have to raise it to walk through, unless it is motorized.
- Light: solar fabric to keep the view, blackout to darken, translucent to diffuse.
- Privacy: good with a blackout or translucent fabric.
Browse our solar, blackout and translucent shades.
Shutters
Interior shutters in wood, PVC or aluminum bring an architectural look. On a patio door, they are usually built in sections that fold or slide open.
- Traffic: good if they are configured to open to the side; talk it through with your advisor.
- Light: the louvres tilt for precise light control.
- Privacy: very good, with fine control.
Learn more about our shutters and other custom blinds.
Quick comparison
| Option | Traffic | Light | Privacy | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical blinds | Excellent | Rotating slats | Good | Classic, practical |
| Sliding panels | Very good | Depends on fabric | Good | Contemporary |
| Roller shade | Average | Solar, blackout, translucent | Good | Minimalist |
| Shutters | Good, depending on layout | Tilting louvres | Very good | Architectural |
Everyday living with a patio door
A patio door is often the most exposed piece of glass in the house, and the one you touch most. A few pointers:
- If the door is used all day by kids or pets, a blind that stacks fully to the side is generally easier to live with than one that hangs down to the floor.
- Against strong glare, a solar fabric or a suitable panel fabric helps filter the light while keeping the view of the yard.
- In an open-plan space, sliding panels can also visually separate the dining area from the lounge.
- Think about fabric: a lighter weave lets daylight through, while an opaque one suits a bedroom door.
- Motorized control saves you from pulling on a cord or wand across a wide span.
Measuring a patio door
Wide spans are hard to read accurately with a tape, and a small error becomes visible. Take the full width of the opening and the height down to the floor, and note the handle and latch. Our guide on how to measure windows for blinds walks through each step. On request, an advisor comes to measure each window to the 1/8 inch, and the measuring is included in the quote.
Motorization
For a wide opening or easier access, Somfy motorization is available on request with vertical blinds, sliding panels and roller shades.
Next step
Not sure between two options? Bring a photo of your patio door and we will help you compare. Request a free quote or visit our showroom at 865 boulevard Maloney Est, Gatineau. Our blinds are made in our Gatineau workshop.
What we get asked most
What is the best blind for a patio door?
There is no single right answer. Vertical blinds and sliding panels are the most common because they open sideways and let people through. The best choice depends on how often you use the door, the light you need to manage and the style of the room.
Can I put vertical blinds on a sliding patio door?
Yes, and it is the most common format. The slats stack to one side to leave the doorway completely clear, and they rotate to adjust light without opening the blind.
What is the difference between vertical blinds and sliding panels?
Vertical blinds are made of individual slats that rotate. Sliding panels are wide fabric panels that glide on a track. Panels look more contemporary and can also work as a room divider.
Are roller shades a good fit for a patio door?
They can be, if the door is used less often or you want a minimalist look. The shade rolls up above the door, but you have to raise it each time you go through. A solar fabric keeps the view while cutting glare.
Can patio door blinds be motorized?
Yes. Somfy motorization is available on request for vertical blinds, sliding panels and roller shades. It is handy for wide spans or for operating the blind without crossing the room.
How do I measure a patio door for blinds?
Measure the full width of the opening and the height down to the floor, and note the handle and the clearance the door needs. On request, an advisor can measure to the 1/8 inch, included in the quote.
