Any window treatment ideas for sliding doors besides the usual vertical blinds? I have a sliding door in my living room and in my bedroom that both go out to a terrace. Thanks for any ideas.
By Georgianna from Queens, NY
I've heard that shower curtains (nice fabric kind) will fit a sliding glass door. You should be able to hang a tubular curtain rod above the doors to hang the shower curtain from.
Lace makes everything look nicer. If you windows look out into someone else's balcony or a scene that isn't too pretty, this will help. If it's privacy you want, go to a local fabric store and you will no doubt find 5' rolls of clear and special effects plastic.
When we took our vertical blinds down, I had wanted to put up a curtain. I wanted a curtain that would block light in addition to looking nice. I was tired of the vertical blind look.
Curtains made for patio doors started at about $130.00 and went way up from there, if I could find them at all.
I found light-blocking curtains at Wal-Mart for around $20 each. I had to buy three of them and hem them up so they wouldn't drag the floor, but the final cost was around $60 and you could even sew them together to make one big panel if you wanted to, but I haven't done that.
There are also window cling treatments in rolls with various designs that are applied with soap, water and a squeege to the glass and you then cut the excess edging with a razor blade or exacto knife. I've used them before and they give privacy but still let the sunlight in. I've even used them in a bedroom because even at night it's not too bright for sleeping from the light of the street lights.
You can get them at any store like Lowes or Home Depot.
I know they are more expensive, but plantation shutters are great. I have them on all my sliding glass doors and many of my windows. I got tired of changing drapes when I changed my decor, for the shutters go with everything. It's easy to control the amount of light you let into the room, plus you can direct the light so that it is indirect.
I needed some as well years ago and what I did was find pretty queen sized sheets. I bought three, cut the side of the hem for an opening, hand stitched them around the opening so they didn't fray, ran the rod thru them and put them up over the doors. It did a good job with several bunched together for keeping out light for me.
