Choosing patio door window treatments isn’t just about style — you should also focus on insulation and the amount of light blockage each treatment provides
Patio Door Window Curtains
Style: From Victorian ornamentation to spare, heavy cloth, curtains come in all styles for virtually any look or atmosphere you want to create in your home.
Insulation: Curtains offer the best insulation of any form of window treatments for patio doors, primarily because they can lie flush against the glass and the outer frame of the window. Because curtains can also be made from heavy cloth, insulation is wonderful for both cold winter night and hot summer days.
Light Blockage: Curtains are an effective patio door window treatm
ent for blocking light. Unlike blinds or cellular shades, curtains have the capability to be 100% opaque. If your patio doors are located off your bedroom, curtains will allow you to sleep in total darkness while still having the option of walking on the deck.
Price: Curtains are usually far more affordable than cellular shades, and comparable to the price of vertical blinds.
Patio Door Window Blinds
Style: Vertical blinds are a modern invention, and correspondingly provide a sleek, compact look.
Insulation: Compared to curtains or flush-mounted cellular shades, vertical blinds offer fairly good insulation. For patio doors, vertical blinds should be installed as close to the doors as possible in order to trap the most heat or keep out the cold. The blinds should also be fully closed to maximize insulation.
Light Blockage: Blinds provide fairly solid light blockage, although invariably they will produce a slight glow during the height of the day. For patio doors that are next to a kitchen or dining room, this amount of light is perfect, but is not necessarily recommended for a bedroom where total darkness is preferred.
Price: Vertical blinds are usually about as much as curtains, although the higher end versions are about as much as cellular shades.
Cellular/Honeycomb Patio Door Window Shades
Style: Elegant and unobtrusive, cellular shades function as wonderful decorative elements.
Insulation: Curtains and cellular shades tie for providing the best insulation for patio doors. Cellular shades can also be specifically tailored to the patio doors so that the door handles are always visible. Because cellular shades are usually flush mounted to the window, they provide excellent insulation.
Light Blockage: Depending on the material from which patio door treatments are manufactured, cellular shades usually produce an ambient light effect. This common window treatment for patio doors is not recommended for bedrooms, but a great choice for other parts of the house.
Price: Cellular patio door shades tend to be the most expensive patio door window treatment, but are also the most decorative.
Browse: Patio Door Window Treatments
