Best Patio Door Curtains for Privacy and Energy-Efficiency

While vertical blinds are the best option for your sliding glass doors, most people love installing a fully lined door curtain on their patio doors. 

Here’s a comprehensive buying guide to help you pick a perfect patio door curtain.

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, and mildew, and they offer excellent UV protection as well.

Blackout patio curtains

While harsh 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

While roller blinds are considered best for french doors, you can also go for full-length curtains for your french doors. 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. Considering the standard size of french doors, the curtains measure 72 inches by 84 inches in size. This kind is available in a variety of solid 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 solid colors 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.

However, before ordering curtains, make sure you take the measurement professionally. Check the video from 'Uptown Drapes' for tips on taking curtain and rod measurements.

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 but harsh 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.