Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors

Modern Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors: A Stylish Alternative to Vertical Blinds

Blinds To Go usually provides a wide range of window treatments. Sliding glass door blinds are popular for the natural light they allow in and the unobstructed view of the outdoors that they provide. However, they will need to be covered if privacy or light control is required in the room that features large windows or glass doors. When it comes to finding the perfect window treatment for sliding glass doors, vertical blinds have long been the number one choice until recently. In the quest for a more modern and sleek aesthetic, roller shades have emerged as a stylish alternative to vertical blinds for sliding glass doors. In this blog, we'll explore why roller shades are an excellent choice for covering sliding glass doors. Check out the Blinds To Go catalog for ideas.

Enhancing Minimalist Décor with Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors

Roller shades offer a clean, minimalist look that makes them the ideal fit for modern and contemporary spaces. Their sleek design, and ability to practically disappear in the fully open position, create a visually pleasing and uncluttered appearance. Their seamless and streamlined aesthetic will lend a modern feel to the overall look of any room with a sliding glass door. Unlike vertical blinds, roller shades can be motorized also known as motorized roller shades for voice, smart device, or remote control, which further adds to their modern feel and makes them particularly useful in spaces with multiple large windows or glass doors next to windows.

Practical Benefits of Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors

Roller shades are designed for practicality and durability. They are constructed using high-quality materials, ensuring longevity and resistance to wear and tear. Roller shades are easy to clean, with most fabrics requiring simple dusting or light vacuuming. This low-maintenance feature makes roller shades an attractive choice for busy households. Vertical blinds owe some of their popularity to the ease with which they can be cleaned, so it is nice to know that there is an alternative that will give a more modern look without sacrificing that feature. Vertical blinds are very popular on sliding glass doors because they can open from the right or the left, this allows you to walk through your sliding door blinds without having your window treatment completely open. Roller shades can also partially cover a sliding glass door because you have the option of covering your sliding glass door with one large roller shade or with two side-by-side roller shades. Choosing one large shade will require you to pull the entire shade up to exit or enter through the sliding glass door, whereas opting for two side-by-side roller shades will allow you to have only one open at a time if you prefer to have a bit more coverage.

Light Control & Privacy: Why Choose Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors?

One of the primary functions of window treatments is light control, and roller shades excel in this aspect. With a simple pull on the bottom bar or touch of a button for motorized blinds options, you can adjust the position of the shades to control the amount of natural light coming through your glass doors. Whether you want to flood the room with sunlight or create a cozy ambiance, roller shades offer flexibility in managing light levels to suit your preferences.

Cascade® Sheer Roller Shades

Solar Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors: Reduce Heat & Glare Effectively

If privacy isn’t an issue but UV light or heat from natural light is, consider solar roller shades with a high openness factor to block out some light while you preserve your view. Solar shades can enhance energy efficiency by reducing heat transfer through your glass doors, helping to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors and potentially lowering energy costs. Opt for solar roller shades if you want to block some light and heat but you want to still be able to see your view. This option is especially popular in high rise buildings with floor to ceiling windows.

Best Roller Blinds for Sliding Glass Doors to Darken a Room

Roller blinds come in a wide variety of fabrics, including opaque materials that will darken a room and block all incoming light. Sheer and light-filtering fabrics work beautifully in most rooms but if you need to block light for a bedroom or home theater there are options in our roller shade collection that have blackout roller shades for that situation as well.

Customizing Roller Shades & Motorized Options for Sliding Glass Doors

With roller shades, customization is key. You can personalize your shades by selecting from a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures. Choose transparent solar shades, light-filtering roller shades, or go even darker with opaque black out options. Want solar shades and blackout shades, choose a double roller and hang two separate shades over the same window or door. This versatility allows you to match the roller shades to your existing decor, creating a cohesive and harmonious look. Additionally, you can choose different operating mechanisms, including cordless or motorized blinds for windows options, for enhanced convenience and child safety.

When it comes to window coverings for sliding glass doors, roller shades offer a contemporary and practical alternative to traditional vertical blinds. Their streamlined design, versatile light control, privacy features, and ease of maintenance make them an excellent choice for modern homes. With a wide range of fabric options, customization possibilities, and durability, Blinds To Go roller shades allow you to create a stylish and functional solution that complements your interior design. Embrace the modern aesthetic and upgrade your sliding glass doors with sleek and efficient roller shades. If you are still unsure, please read how to dress your sliding glass doors?

Why Choose Roller Shades for Your Patio or Sliding Glass Doors?

While sliding glass doors have an admittedly different function than windows, when it comes to window treatments, it's helpful to think about your needs in a similar way. How often will you be opening them? Do you want light to come into the room even when the shades are closed? Will you need privacy? Roller shades are a practical option for your patio or sliding glass doors because of how versatile they are. As we've spoken about in this article, roller shades are available with a number of customization options to suit your needs. 

One of the benefits of using roller shades for your sliding glass doors is in the materials themselves. Whether you want a sheer option, light filtering, or blackout, there is a solution that will work. Additionally, the mechanisms that we offer for roller shades are optimized for regular usage. Whether you opt for a chain, cordless mechanism, or motorisation, your design consultant will help you make the right choice. 

Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors: Better Insulation & Energy Efficiency 

If you're looking for a good roller shade for insulation on your sliding glass door, we typically have two options depending on your needs. On the one hand, blackout shades will always provide the highest degree of insulation. Since they are made to block as much light as possible, they are also typically our thickest shade material. These are going to work well to insulate against drafts and heat getting into your home.

On the other hand, we also have solar shades. While these are nowhere near as insulating in the traditional sense as a blackout shade, they do help specifically with excess heat. Solar shades are varying degrees of sheer, which allows you to continue enjoying the view from your sliding glass doors and windows while blocking UV rays. If your space gets a lot of sun, these shades help keep your home cool, and your AC bills down. 

FAQs About Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors

What Other Window Coverings Can I Use for a Sliding Door?

While roller shades are a great option for your sliding door, we have a few other products that we typically reccomend. Similar to roller shades, cellular shades are a handy alternative. Because of their honeycomb shape, these are additionally insulating for patio and sliding doors.

If you like the idea of having a little bit more control over privacy and light, Cascade shades are another modern solution for sliding glass doors. These shades operate like blinds but are made of one continuous piece of material, giving you maximum flexibility.

What Are The Mounting Options for Roller Shades?

Just like any of our window treatments, mounting your roller shades on sliding glass doors will depend heavily on how much depth your door has, what kind of door you have, and a bit of personal preference as well. When we speak about depth, we're talking about the space from the edge of the door frame to the glass of the door.

First of all, if you have doors that open inwards, you will need to outside mount your roller shade no matter what, simply to be able to operate your door. If your door opens outwards, or you have a sliding glass door, next you can check the depth. If you have a lot of depth, you may have the option to choose either an outside mount—placed on the trim or wall above the door frame, or an inside mount—drilled inside the door frame itself. 

What Materials Are Used for Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors?

All of our roller shades for sliding glass doors are made of a PVC material, or PVC blend, making them easy to clean. Depending on what mechanism you choose, your roller shades may also include a metal chain. If you choose a blackout roller shade for your patio doors, which helps with insulation, your shade will be made of two pieces of material bonded together for additional light blocking.

What Blinds Are Best for a Sliding Door?

Typically if you want to choose blinds for a sliding door, the best option is aluminum or mini blinds. These are especially light, making them easy to raise and lower. While you can opt for wood or faux wood blinds, these are quite heavy when used for a full door and are only available with a cordless mechanism so would have to be operated by hand. However, you could always consider Cascade shades, which have alternating sheer and opaque panels on one piece of material, making them operate almost like a blind. 

Should You Choose Horizontal or Vertical Shades for Sliding Doors?

While we have options for both horizontal and vertical shades or blinds for sliding doors, a lot of this decision comes down to personal preference and usage. While horizontal shades and blinds may be more trendy at the moment, vertical shades are convenient for sliding doors where you may be entering and exiting regularly. 

What Is The Most Popular Color for Vertical Blinds?

When it comes to the most popular color for vertical blinds, our design consultants agree that recently neutral off-whites tend to see a slight edge. In warm and cool tones, this color can go with many different styles of decor, while still remaining easy to clean. 

Why Use Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors?

Roller shades are a practical option for your sliding glass doors because of how versatile they are. Available with a wide variety of mechanisms (cordless, chain, and motorized), as well as light filtration levels ranging from sheer, to light filtering, to blackout. 

What Type of Shades Are Best for Sliding Glass Doors?

The best shades for sliding glass doors are going to depend on how you use them. Roller and cellular shades make for a great option due to their insulating properties and light blocking abilities, if you're looking for a window treatment to help with light and privacy. If you're prioritizing visibility, Cascade shades may be a better option. On the other hand, if you want a solution that makes it easy to come and go as you please, a vertical blind may be the best choice.