What are the Best Blinds for Sliding Patio Doors?

Good blinds on patio doors add touch and elegance, enhance the ambiance, and give homeowners more privacy. However, with all the benefits of blinds comes one hurdle—finding the right blind that matches your specific need.

Luckily, we’ve curated a list of the best blinds for sliding patio doors closely considering factors like quality, durability, price, style, and ease of use.   

What are the Best Blinds for Sliding Patio Doors?

Good blinds on patio doors add touch and elegance, enhance the ambiance, and give homeowners more privacy. However, with all the benefits of blinds comes one hurdle—finding the right blind that matches your specific need. Luckily, we’ve curated a list of the best blinds for sliding patio doors closely considering factors like quality, durability, price, style, and ease of use.   

Sliding Shutter Panels

Sliding shutter panels are the most viable way to give your rooms an airy, bright look. Also known as bypass shutters, these panels consist of horizontal slats attached to a track in a configuration that allows them (panels) to slide past each other effortlessly. The slats can be of any material—wood, composite, or vinyl—and custom-made into any size and color.  

Sliding shutter panels are versatile and add elegance with a touch of sophistication to patio doors. You can use them to control the light entering the room or provide privacy.

Sliding Panels

For many years, homeowners have used sliding panels to divide large rooms or windows because of their simple, yet sleek and modern look. It’s for the same reasons that these dividers are finding their way into sliding patio doors. These panels are a unique type of window treatment made of a woven wood or fabric. They’re similar to vertical blinds, with each end attached to a track that allow the fabric to slide back and forth to control the light or air. However, unlike vertical blinds, you can’t rotate sliding panels—they’re either closed or open.  

Sheer Vertical Shades

Homeowners looking for patio door blinds that combine the functionality of vertical blinds, softness of roller drapes, and elegance of sheer curtains have a reason to smile. Sheer vertical shades are a type of window treatment consisting of vertical slats covered in sheer fabric and suspended from a headrail. 

They slide left to right to filter light ambiance, diffuse view from the outside, soften harsh glare, and regulate temperature. Their only downside is that they can absorb scent and create an unpleasant stench if not properly maintained.

Other options

Besides sliding panels, sliding shutter panels, and sheer vertical shades, there are other options you can use for your sliding patio doors. These include:

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are almost similar to vertical sheer shades. They’re vertical slats or fabric louvers suspended from a head rail and which you can twist to allow light and air inside the house. Most homeowners prefer these vanes for their versatility and affordability. They’re also easier to operate as they use a control wand or cord that allows users to adjust their position. There aren’t also limits to what colors and designs you can achieve with this fabric.

However, vertical blinds also come with a limitation. They’re prone to damage, especially if you twist or bend them wrongly. They can also be very noisy when being adjusted, but this isn’t a major concern to many homeowners. Overall, vertical blinds are an ideal option for sliding patio doors because they’re extremely easy to adjust and lightweight.

Drapes

After vertical blinds, drapes are the second most popular alternative for homeowners looking for blinds for sliding patio doors. These are fabric panels typically made of heavy materials like linen, silk, or velvet. Drapes are designed to hang from a head rail in long, flowing folds.

You can find drapes mostly in solid colors. They’re a popular choice for homeowners looking to create a formal look in their sliding patio doors. Drapes are also a staple choice for complementing a traditional décor.

The only downside of drapes is that they’re higher maintenance. For a luxurious look, drapes require frequent dry-cleaning and not machine-washing. Drapes may be hard-to-install, so we don’t recommend DIY installation. Otherwise, they’re luxurious and can last you years of use when you maintain them properly.   

Curtains

are similar to drapes, only that they’re lighter and often cheaper. These are fabric panels made from lightweight materials like polyester, linen, and cotton. Curtains are available in a variety of designs, patterns, and colors, and are a staple choice for those looking for affordability and versatility. They filter light for ambiance, provide privacy, and add a decorative element to home décor.

Unlike drapes, curtains are low-maintenance as they’re machine-washable. They’re also easy to install since they work with many hanging options including metal rings, metal grommets, and fabric rings. Otherwise, the only downside of curtains is that they wear quickly, especially when used in places where they experience frequent friction.

Roller Shades

They may come last, but if you need a sleek shade that provides an unobstructed view, roller shades will top your list of options. A roller shade is typically is a single sheet of fabric designed to roll up and down on a tube to adjust the amount of light and enhance privacy. These shades are simple, affordable, and highly functional.

On the downside, roller shades can be noisy when adjusting them. Additionally, most designs are super thin fabric and may not provide much privacy compared to other blinds for sliding patio doors in this list. That’s why we recommend that you do your research well before splurging.