Best Patio Door Curtains for Privacy and Energy-Efficiency
Besides being visually unappealing, blinds on a patio door are a lot less functional than curtains. Patio doors are all about showcasing a bewitching view from the inside. And, you need equally elegant window and door treatments for privacy and other concerns to complement the view.
For that, there’s a huge variety of patio door curtains, from different styles, lengths, paneling, colors, patterns to multiple useful features. You can get door curtains that can completely block out light or noise from the outside. Some offer impressive thermal insulation properties while some are water and mildew-resistant.
Choosing from a myriad of options and features can get tough. To help you with that, we’ve compiled our top picks for the trendiest patio door curtains in 2022 in this article.
Five Top Patio Door Curtain in 2022
H.VERSAILTEX Patio Blackout Curtains
– Best Overall
These versatile blackout curtains are perfect for sliding doors, patio windows or doors, bedrooms, living rooms, or any place you wish to separate. It’s available in a variety of different colors. They’re made from a polyester blend with three layers that provide optimum protection. All the panels can be hung from any decorative or basic curtain rod as the 16 metal grommets come with a universal rim size of 2.4”.
Moreover, magical thermal insulation blocks out 99% of sun rays while being completely free from PVC and vinyl. These patio blackout door curtains will also block 100% UV rays in a way that the curtains are still breathable enough to not make you feel suffocated inside. The thick triple woven microfiber fabric makes sure the room is dark, protected, energy-efficient, and away from the noise.
- Energy-saving curtains
- Free from chemical coatings
- Triple thermal technology
- Gets wrinkly
Sun Zero Sliding Patio Door Curtain
– Runner Up
Sun Zero offers a practical solution to insulate your room without losing its aesthetic beauty. These curtains are designed to help with reducing energy, light, and noise loss. They’re made from 100% polyester which means the patio curtains need no extra chemical coating to make them opaque. They feature a room darkening technology that blocks out almost 80-90% of the incoming light.
Moreover, you can expect the curtains to prevent up to 25% of energy loss through the patio window or door. There is a detachable pull wand that makes the drapes ideal for large windows and sliding doors. They’re safe for machine washing as well. The thermal technology makes sure your rooms are cold in the summer and warm in winters by containing the cold/hot air inside.
- Up to 42% noise reduction
- Built-in durable grommets
- Machine washable fabric
- Front and back come in different colors, back is darker
NICETOWN Sliding Patio Door Curtain
– Honorable Mention
These patio sliding door curtains are meant for a complete blackout effect. Made from durable, high-quality polyester, the blackout patio door curtain features fourteen silver top grommets. The silver and sleek-looking polyester front gives the patio drape a nice modern touch. The heavy yet super soft triple-weave innovative polyester fabric makes sure most incoming light and noise get blocked.
Further, these patio curtains are energy smart. This means that the triple weave insulates the inside from heat and cold by restricting airflow. You’ll observe a huge difference in your air conditioning and heater bills. Also, the fabric is wrinkle-free and thread-trimmed which makes the curtains ready to be hung.
- Triple-weave polyester fabric
- Blocks UV rays and sound up to 70%
- Stays free from wrinkles
- Not machine washable
RYB HOME Patio Door Curtains
– Also Consider
These blackout curtains are designed specifically for large windows, sliding doors, glass doors, or to be used as a separator. These patio door panels are thick and thermal insulated. They can block light and balance the room temperature by restricting wind and heat flow. The curtains will block about 80-90% of incoming and outgoing lights due to their triple weave technology.
These features ensure great privacy for your space. They’re made from a 100% durable polyester material that gives the curtains a sleek look and makes them soft to touch. They can ensure privacy and insulate the rooms for maximum energy efficiency. You can also choose the waterproof curtain option if you’re using it outdoors.
- Easy to maintain and install
- Blocks about 70% of incoming light
- Silver grommets and durable stitching
- Fabric attracts pet hair
These curtains are made from durable, high-quality polyester material. They’re designed specifically for glass doors and come with matching tiebacks as well. The fabric composition includes triple blackout material layers that block noise and light. Blocking UV rays can significantly improve energy consumption indoors and reduce your heating and cooling bills.
Along with reducing the costs of maintaining temperature indoors, these curtains are super adaptable as well. You can simply adjust the tie to allow as much light you want to come inside. They feature a unique design with rod pockets on top as well as the bottom. This makes installation and usage a lot easier. Moreover, you can adjust these curtains from the top, middle, and bottom to adjust lighting and privacy as needed.
- Dual top and bottom rod pockets
- Easy length and exposure adjustments
- Easy to maintain, wash and install
- Panels are narrow, not suitable for covering large windows
Best Patio Door Curtains Buying Guide
Here’s a comprehensive buying guide to help you pick the perfect patio drapes.
Different kinds of patio door curtains
Here are a few curtain ideas that cater to different tastes and needs:
Indoor/Outdoor curtains
If you leave your patio doors open often to allow air circulation, an indoor/outdoor patio curtain is the best option for you. These curtains are designed and composed to withstand all harsh elements of nature. They’re resistant to water, mold, mildew, and they offer excellent UV protection as well.
Blackout patio curtains
While sunlight can light up every corner of a room, it can also increase the temperature and cause damage to delicate items from the UV rays. This is when blackout curtains come into play. These curtains are designed to block about 90% of the incoming sunlight.
French patio door curtains
French door curtains can restrict up to 95% of unwanted light from streets and the sun. They’re treated for UV protection and feature thermal fabric technology that will insulate your house from the heat and cold. This kind is available in a variety of colors and patterns.
Sheer waterproof patio curtains
This is for people who like to leave their patio doors open for the breeze or light rain shower. These curtains are waterproof which means you also don’t need to worry about mildew or mold formation on them.
French patio door panels
These panels are semi-sheer and allow some light inside from the sun and the street. They give the patio doors a tidy and contained look. They’re easy to hang and wash as well. They offer a satisfactory level of privacy and insulation.
Things to consider when buying curtains for patio doors
Here are a few important considerations:
Size
You need to carefully measure and note down the size of the curtain rods to get the right fit. Make sure that your curtain rods don’t end at the door frame’s edge as it can cause the curtain sack to hinder the door passage.
For the right size, ensure that the curtain rod is extending sufficiently enough beyond the door so it can allow the curtains to fully open up and expose the door. Carefully read the dimensions of the curtains you’re getting to make sure they’re able to completely close without seeming taut on the glass.
Avoid horizontal arrangements
Curtains, panels, and blinds that fold up over the top of the door horizontally should be avoided. This is to simply avoid overhead clearance problems you might face. You or a tall guest could be bumping their head into the curtain fold-up when passing through the door. Thus, pick a vertical treatment or curtains for your patio doors to avoid dunking every time you need to go out/in.
Avoid pocket style curtains
Pocket style curtains might be a popular curtain style for many windows, they should entirely be avoided for patio doors and windows. This is because they don’t close or open easily. For smooth handling and operation, always opt for pinch pleat or grommet style curtains.
Material
Before looking at the pattern or color of the curtain, consider what or how it’s been made. Patio door curtains are usually made from polyester and polyester blends. For a more formal look, you can also go for velvet or silk curtains with a thermal backing. As for the style, you can pick between single, double, and triple panels.
Your requirements
What do you need the most from your patio curtains? Do you want to improve the aesthetics? Or need better insulation?
If you wish to make the indoors more private, pick a blackout patio curtain. They block light from coming in and going out. If you want to improve energy efficiency, get insulated, heavier and UV treated patio curtains. Similarly, you can narrow down your search by looking for curtains that target specific needs.
How to measure a glass door for patio curtains?
Some simple steps are:
- Measure the height of your sliding door and add 4-inches to it. For standard-sized doors, this height is usually 80-84-inches.
- Measure the width of the door. It could be around 60-72-inches. Add 4-inches to each side that’ll make it around 80-inches for a 6-foot door.
- Now divide the width by the number of panels you’re planning for. Multiply the answer with the fullness you desire. It’s usually 1 for regular and 2-3 for pleated drapes.
Types of curtain rods to choose from
Curtain rods should mainly relate to the curtain kind and the décor of the room. Some common options are:
The classic rod
Classic or basic rods feature caps or ornamental caps at both ends and they attach to the wall behind them with the help of brackets. They’re made from metal and come in different colors. You can double them up as well if you’re incorporating a sheer layer underneath blackout or darker curtains.
The track rod
This rod can be attached to a wall or the ceiling with brackets. There is a track where the drapery hooks attach with the pulley that glides smoothly across it. All the small moving parts are concealed inside the pole and give a sophisticated look to the room.
The return rod
This is a U-shaped rod that is completely adjustable to the needs of the user. They are installed with screws directly into the wall. The curtain panels will wrap around the sides that curve towards the wall. This rod is perfect for covering every bit around the door to block all the light coming in.
The tension rod
This is the cheapest and perhaps the easiest rod design option to handle. This kind will adjust to fit into the window frame without any additional hardware. But, they’re only meant for café curtains or super lightweight options.
Conclusion
Patio doors let in a lot of bright sunlight. Which is perfect most of the time, but can be problematic if you’re aiming for a nice cozy vibe.
Adding curtains can greatly reduce the light, heat, and/or cold these large sliding doors let in. This article suggests the best patio door curtains in 2021 and a guide to get the right ones as well.
Best Patio Sliding Door Curtains FAQs
A: Blackout curtains are best for blocking noise and light both.
A: Yes, thermal door curtains reduce heat gain by reflecting rays from the sun and restrict airflow to maintain the hot or cold temperature inside.
A: Polyester or polycotton sateen are durable and don’t wrinkle that easily.
