Sliding Glass Doors

What to do with a sliding glass door? Just about everyone agrees that it is the least attractive feature in the room. On top of that, it most likely is the most highly trafficked entry in the house leading from the kitchen/family room into the backyard.

Kids go in and out, pets claw at the door…what can we put on there that won’t be destroyed in a matter of minutes? Well there are a few things you can do to dress this poor window up. Your choice will depend on your lifestyle and how active the doorway is. Suffice it to say that just about any kind of window treatment can be applied to a slider but that the treatment chosen should be appropriate for the needs of those that live there.

Complicating the issue is the one of vertical clearance...whatever goes above the slider must be carefully calculated to clear the window but not reveal the top of the moulding.

Draperies have a tendency to get pulled out through the window from negative air pressure, someone closes the door behind them along with the drapery in the door...ouch! In this instance, the draperies should draw one-way if the slider opens in one direction. If it is a triple wide with a center opening, then a center draw is in order. Whatever the directionality, the draperies should be easy to maneuver so that rapid entry and exit is possible. Traverse rods...no, not here. Who's going to stand at the door while they pull that cord? My favorite here is a decorative metal pole, draperies hanging by rings, and a wand for easy maneuvering.

For more options on these difficult windows, see the link below for valance ideas.

Valances for Sliding Glass Patio Doors