15 Sliding Glass Door Curtain Ideas

Sliding glass doors often offer a beautiful view, but sometimes for privacy or insulation we need to cover a sliding glass door.  Whether you like blinds, curtains or shades, we provide great options below for sliding glass doors.  The key is to provide light control and privacy without hindering the view or the function of the door.  Having the option to cover the door can also help with furniture fading from light and keep heat or cool air in. 

Window treatments around your sliding glass door in the kitchen soften hard lines and add character to your kitchen.  Keep reading for some great window treatment options for sliding glass doors.    

Related: 10 Inspirational Ideas for Kitchen Window Treatments
Related: French Country Kitchen Window Treatments: Top Picks and Designs

Curtain Options for Sliding Glass Doors

• Sliding Glass Door Drapes or Curtains – Jinchan Linen Textured Curtains
• Sliding Glass Door Drapes with Grommets – H.VERSAILTEX Sliding Glass Door Curtains with Grommets
• Insulated Sliding Glass Door Drapes – NICETOWN Patio Sliding Door Curtain
• Sliding Glass Door Vertical Blinds – CHICOLOGY Vertical Blinds
• Sliding Panels for Sliding Glass Doors – GoDear Design Deluxe Adjustable Sliding Panels
• Vertical Cellular Blinds for Sliding Glass Doors – Vertical Honeycomb Blinds
• Sliding Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors – SunCraft Interior Shutters
• Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors – ZY Blinds Roller Shades

If you are looking for a window treatment for something other than a sliding glass door, check out our related article – 10 Inspirational Ideas for Kitchen Window Treatments.

Sliding Glass Door Drapes or Curtains

One of the most traditional covering for a sliding glass door is a set of drapes or curtains.  Easy to find and match to your kitchen, this option offers an interior design element to your kitchen. 

You will need some space above the window to mount a rod and to the sides of window for stackback (where the curtain stacks when open).  With curtain panels, you can also vary the amount of light that the curtain lets in.  You can choose very sheer panels or complete blackout panels.

Sliding Glass Door Drapes with Grommets

Grommets are metal rings in the top of the curtain that allow the curtain to slide easily on the rod.  This type of curtain is great for a sliding glass door for several reasons.  First, a sliding glass door curtain is a high traffic curtain – meaning that it is opened and closed a lot.  Grommets will hold up to this traffic.  Second, grommets are great for a wide curtain.

Wide curtains can be heavy and the grommets will allow the curtain to slide easily.  Since grommet curtains are made of so many different types of fabric, this type of curtain also is easy to incorporate in just about any type of kitchen.

Insulated Sliding Glass Door Drapes

Are you looking for some insulation near your sliding glass door?  An insulated sliding glass door drape can really help keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Often lined, an insulated drape is usually available in just about any color and style that you prefer.

Since it is insulated, it can also cut down on noise.  Insulated sliding glass door curtains are also effective room darkeners when closed.  If you are looking for thermal efficiency for your sliding glass door, an insulated curtain might be what you are looking for.  

Sliding Glass Door Vertical Blinds

A set of vertical blinds for a sliding glass door is the traditional option.  Although maybe not as trendy and stylish, they are an easy practical solution.

Vertical blinds do offer a pro that other solutions do not.  They allow you to control the amount of light let in.  It is not all or nothing like some other window treatments.  You can stack your vertical blinds all to one side.  Or, split them in the middle.  Vertical blinds are available in many different colors and fabric applications.

Sliding Panels for Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding Panels for sliding glass doors can be mounted to the wall or ceiling and work really well for an oversized window like a sliding glass door.  They are available in fabric, screens or woven natural materials.  This makes it easy to match many different kinds of decor.  They also can be semi transparent in case you don’t need 100% light control. 

Each panel glides on its own track for easy operation and privacy control. They slide in many different combinations across the window or can stack completely to the side of the window when in the open position.

Vertical Cellular Blinds for Sliding Glass Doors

Vertical cellular blinds are a great solution for a sliding glass door.  The blinds are honey comb shaped which forms an insulation barrier against the window.  They offer a bit more insulation than the traditional vertical blind.  Vertical cellular blinds are usually available in more solid colors with coordinating valances. 

You can also coordinate a vertical cellular blinds on your sliding glass door with horizontal cellular blinds on near by windows.  You usually can choose to split them in the middle or have all one panel.  For a more minimalist look, vertical cellular blinds might be an option that you want to consider.

Sliding Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding shutters are a great look for a sliding glass door.  Shutters provide privacy and you can filter the light using the louvers or open them up entirely.  A bit more difficult to install than other options, rolling shutters are installed on a track that hangs above the door.

They are easy to clean.  Just wipe them down.  No trips to the dry cleaners for dusty curtains.   Shutters require very little space in front of the door, offer durability and that classic plantation look.  

Roller Shades for Sliding Glass Doors

Roller shades might not come to mind when it comes to sliding glass doors, but yes, this option is a great, minimalist option that works for almost any kitchen sliding glass door.  Rollers shades are easy to use and safe for pets and kids because most are cordless. 

This type of window covering disappears almost completely when up and takes up very little space around the window.  So, it can be a great option if you have limited space around your window. They come in a variety of light filtering options.  You can even make them black out if you want to eliminate all light.  

Blackout Options for Sliding Glass Doors

If you are looking for the ultimate light control so that you can black out all light from your sliding glass door, there are various options.  The best choice would be roller shades for your door.  Roller shades come in a variety of light blocking options. 

You can also get a well insulated curtain for you sliding glass door.  A blackout, insulated curtain will block out most of the light from a sliding glass door.

How to Buy Curtains for Sliding Glass Door

Buying curtains or drapes for a sliding door can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.  Sliding glass doors are an outside mount.  That is, the curtains hang above and outside the frame of the window. 

First, you must consider access, size and insulation.  Near the entry point of the door, make sure the curtains can be pulled back enough to easily enter and exit the door.  Next, you must measure the width and height of your door precisely.  Then, determine where you would like to place your rod above the door (8 inches is common if you have the space) and measure this vertical distance between the top of the door (not the frame) and your rod.  This distance plus the height of your window will be the height of the curtain you need to buy if you would like to have the curtain reach the floor.  If you don’t want it to reach the floor, subtract a couple of inches to your liking.

As far as the width of the curtain that you need to buy, lets assume you are doing one panel for now (not as common for sliding glass doors because of the size, but for explanation purposes).  We will go on in the next section to see how many panels you might want for your door.  So, add 12 inches (at least, more if you want to push the curtain further off the side of your door when open) to the width of your door.  Then, multiply that number times 2.  Multiplying by 2 gives you the fullness in the curtains.  So, the width of the panel is (width + 12) x 2.

How Many Curtain Panels for a Sliding Glass Door?

To determine how many panels you will need, you will first need to measure the width of your door.  A standard patio door has a width between 60 and 70 inches.  Then, to cover your entire door, you would need curtain(s) to cover (width + 24) x 2 inches (TOTAL WIDTH NEEDED). Please refer to the section above for more information on this calculation.  We are using 24 here for the stackback on 2 sides.  For example, if your door is 60 inches wide, the TOTAL WIDTH NEEDED = (60 +24) x 2 = 168 inches.

So, if you are looking at purchasing 50 inch wide curtain panels – 168/50 = 3.36.  So, you would at least need 3 panels.  If you want a fuller look, then round up to 4 panels.  For sliders, it is sometimes convenient to look at the wide curtain panels available.  In my kitchen, I went with a 100” wide curtain that enabled me to have a full look with only 2 panels.  It is really your choice.

What is the Best Window Treatment for Sliding Glass Doors?

Out of all the window treatments mentioned above, our pick for the best window treatment for a sliding glass door would be two wide width curtain panels.  Two curtain panels in a wide width are nice and full and look gorgeous.  Also, curtain panels are available at many price points.  You can choose to go super luxurious or budget and both will look great.  Curtain panels also function well at a busy door.  Fabric as opposed to a hard panel is available is many different colors and styles.  The softness around your door from a curtain will warm your kitchen up.

We hope that you have found a window covering solution for your sliding glass door with this article.  If you are looking for character and style for your kitchen slider, just about any of the above options will work.  We also provided some options for heavy insulation and light control.  Whatever your needs are for your kitchen, there is a window treatment that will work for your door.