Key Takeaways
- A growing number of people are using sliding glass doors because they save space. Find out why Roman shades work well on these doors.
- Roman shades combine the elegance and softness of draperies with the functionality of shades. Follow these easy instructions to pick Roman blinds for sliding glass doors.
- See why the Creative Windows and Graber Fresco Roman shades are among our top picks for Roman shades for sliding doors.
How do you choose Roman shades for sliding glass doors?
Top Reasons to Choose Roman Shades for Sliding Glass Doors
Roman shades are an attractive option for sliding door window coverings. They also create elegant décor elements due to their faultless beauty and the unlimited creative possibilities that only fabrics can offer. The following are the benefits of Roman shades on sliding glass doors:
- Elegant and Stylish: Roman shades add flair to any room. They range from a basic piece of fabric that needs to be folded by hand to a motorized hobbled shade. You can create Roman-style shades out of almost any fabric.
- Energy Efficiency: Roman shades keep heat out in the summer and warmth in the winter. Thus, it may help insulate sliding glass doors and improve energy efficiency.
- Light Control: Roman shades provide excellent control over natural light, letting you block or filter it to suit your needs.
- Space-Saving: Roman shades are an excellent option for smaller spaces or when you prefer a sleek, minimalist style because they occupy less space than traditional shades.
- Ease of Operation: Roman shades are easily opened or closed, even for big sliding glass doors. They come in manual and motorized variations.
- Durability: Well-manufactured Roman shades, particularly those constructed of quality materials, are sturdy and durable enough to withstand the regular usage of sliding glass doors.
- Privacy: Roman shades are a stylish and private option with blackout linings.
Benefits of using Roman shades for sliding doors
How to Choose the Right Roman Shades for Sliding Glass Doors?
Roman shades are the preferred option for anyone seeking to add style beyond the practicality of blinds. Adhere to the following steps to choose the best option for your house.
Step 1: Select Fabric and Color
First, choose the fabric type for your Roman shades. Opt for sheer Roman shades that let light through to enjoy daylight. Opaque shades are better for places where privacy is most important, whereas blackout shades will withstand more heat.
Depending on your taste and style, you can choose from various fabrics, including velvets, cotton, silks, and blends.
Select fabric and colors
Remember to consider the Roman shade’s color palette. In addition to following the color scheme, consider how light colors contribute to a sense of openness and dark colors to a sense of confinement.
Choosing a patterned or solid shade depends on how you use patterns throughout the rest of the room’s decor. Solid shades are timeless and simple, while patterned shades add style to a space where plain surfaces dominate.
Step 2: Consider Fold Style
Most types of Roman shades are designed to meet specific requirements.
While relaxed shades are suitable for windows that are not in use frequently, flat-fold shades are perfect for windows that you will use often. Moreover, relaxed shades include a softly scalloped bottom that provides a decorative aspect, while flat folds offer a tailored appearance and a practical orientation.
If you like flat-fold shades, there are usually two kinds available. The front-slatted shape works particularly well with solid-colored shades because the slat hemlines create a unique pattern. The back-slatted style suits patterned fabrics that require a continuous surface for a distortionless appearance.
In addition, faux Roman shade valances are an excellent choice if you seek only functional shades as decorative elements.
How do you select Roman shades on sliding glass doors?
Step 3: Think About the Level of Light Control and Privacy
Choose Roman shades for sliding doors with thicker or lined materials, such as blackout or room-darkening alternatives, to minimize natural light in your space while preserving privacy. They are perfect for bedrooms or living rooms where you wish to reduce the quantity of sunlight and block off the external view.
Conversely, lighter materials strike a mix between brightness and seclusion if you want to let gentle, filtered light into the space while still retaining some privacy. If you want a gentler ambiance in dining rooms or kitchens, semi-sheer or linen fabrics offer moderate light dispersion.
Furthermore, top-down/bottom-up alternatives can provide flexible privacy solutions by enabling you to change the shade’s position to allow light to enter the room from above while covering the lowest portion of the door.
Consider the level of light control and privacy
Step 4: Consider Ease of Operation
Window coverings for sliding doors must be simple to open and close, preventing obstructions and making them unwieldy. Motorized Roman shades are ideal for convenience, as you can close and open them with a simple button press or even via a smart home system.
If you’d rather operate your shades by hand, search for shades with a sleek, cordless mechanism. Consider the shades’ weight and size as well. Sturdier hardware may be necessary to ensure the smooth operation of larger or heavier shades.
Step 5: Consider Durability
The best Roman shades for sliding glass doors must withstand sliding doors’ constant openings and closings without breaking or wearing out.
Thus, choose Roman shades made of solid and long-lasting materials like linen blends, heavy-duty fabrics, or reinforced natural fibers like cotton, which are meant to withstand regular usage.
Consider durability when choosing Roman shades for sliding doors
In addition, consider how long-lasting the operational mechanisms and hardware will be, as constant adjusting might eventually wear down cords or motors. Purchasing well-made shades with robust mounting mechanisms will ensure they remain intact and retain their visual attractiveness.
For further safety, you should use cordless designs or stain-resistant fabric treatments if you have kids or pets.
Step 6: Be Mindful of the Stack
The stack, or the amount of fabric that gathers at the top of the shades when fully raised, is crucial. Roman shades neatly fold as they are raised, so much fabric may gather at the top and obstruct part of the light or view.
To reduce the stack effect on sliding glass doors, select a lighter fabric shade or a flat Roman shade type that lies closer to the door when open.
In addition, consider mounting the shades above the door frame to ensure the stack doesn’t obstruct the view or door operation. This will maintain the room’s beauty and the sliding doors’ functionality.
Step 7: Internal or External Doors
Internal or external doors
Depending on whether your sliding doors are part of the house’s outside walls or serve as partition doors between rooms, it is crucial to consider the Roman shade’s rear side view carefully.
When it comes to lining the shade, beige or gray for a blackout lining and white for a privacy lining will be the colors visible from the rear. Unless you are lining the shade, the other side can see the back of the face fabric. If the wall does not cover the hardware, consider its visibility from the opposite side.
2 Best Roman Shades for Sliding Glass Doors: Our Recommendations
Roman shades work well with sliding doors because of their sleek design, fashionable folds, and simple operation. Yet, it is crucial to remember that certain Roman Shades are more valuable than others when considering them for sliding glass doors.
But fear not—we have selected the two most excellent Roman shades for sliding glass doors: Creative Windows Roman and Graber Fresco Roman.
Creative Windows Roman Shades
Creative Windows Roman Shades
Creative Windows Roman shades are a classy and adaptable window covering choice that combines traditional design with contemporary functionality. Notably, they are available in 1,000’s fabrics and colors, enabling smooth integration into any design style.
Because they are made to fit various window sizes, these shades are appropriate for bigger windows, such as those in living rooms, bedrooms, and even sliding glass doors. They offer excellent light control, allowing you to either entirely block out natural light or filter it with blackout fabrics.
Moreover, you can position the shades above the door frame to ensure the door stays wholly functional and the view is unhindered. Doing so helps reduce the fabric stack when you fully lift it.
Roman shades from Creative Windows may also be cordless or motorized, making it simple to open and close them without manual adjustment. This feature is handy for big sliding doors.
Graber Fresco Roman Shades
Graber Fresco Roman Shades
With Fresco Roman shades, you can enhance the appearance and functionality of your windows. The softness of drapery combined with the functionality of a shade makes them ideal for any space. You can select from various fabric types, hues, and textures to achieve the perfect atmosphere in your space, ranging from sheer to room-darkening.
There are two types of Fresco Roman Shades: flat shades with a simple, classic panel shape or looped shades with folds of cloth for a more dimensional appearance. Both designs include ornamental alternatives, such as ornate pulls, tapes, and trims, to complement any interior style and give your shades the ideal finishing touch.
When the shades are fully raised, the Fresco collection’s lightweight fabrics reduce the fabric stack, preventing obstructions to the view and tampering with the door’s functionality.
Graber also offers the option of installing the shades above the door frame, eliminating any further obstruction the stack can cause. These shades can be motorized for convenience, which is especially useful for sliding doors as it removes the need to adjust large panels manually while opening and closing the shade.