Finding the Right Shutters & Blinds for French Doors

Inspiration

BY Abi Clewley

Published: 03 October 2023 Updated: 25 March 2024

Inspiration
Tags: Blinds, Shutters, Door

French Door Solutions - Blinds and Shutters

French doors are a timeless addition to any home, offering an easy transition between indoor living spaces and the outdoors while still allowing your interior to benefit from natural light. They bring a touch of classic elegance, but to truly make the most of these doors, you need the right window treatments to allow the doors to be both beautiful and practical. French door blinds and shutters are ideal solutions, providing both functionality and style. In this buying guide, we will explore the benefits of French door blinds and shutters, factors to consider when choosing them, and the best options available.

Benefits of French Door Blinds & Shutters

You may think that you'd prefer to keep your French door clear of any type of covering, to really see the door in all it's glory, but don't underestimate the multitude of benefits that blinds and shutters can bring to your French door.

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Benefits of French Door Blinds

1. Light Control
French door blinds allow you to adjust the amount of natural light entering your home. You can enjoy a sunny ambience during the day and create a cosy, private atmosphere in the evening. Light control is always a major consideration in any room but it's a different kind of challenge with a door. Although the door frame may take up as much wall space as a full height window you may only have a fraction of that area with actual glass, dependant on the style of your door, so you need a blind that offers a greater degree of flexibility and versatility than at a standard window.

2. Privacy
They offer excellent privacy, making them perfect for bedrooms or rooms that require seclusion. While French doors tend to look out over our gardens and feel less exposed than the windows at the front of a house, for example, it doesn't necessarily mean they won't be overlooked and with a door you also have that additional requirement for it to feel secure as well as private.

3. Energy Efficiency
Well-designed blinds can help regulate the indoor temperature by providing insulation against heat and cold. This can be even more important at a door than a window as the door frame can often be more draughty, be opened more frequently and in some cases have a larger expanse of glass to cover.

4. Style
French door blinds come in various materials and styles, allowing you to choose the one that complements your interior décor. From fabric to colour, texture to operation, there's a French door blind that's perfect for you.

Benefits of French Door Shutters

1. Durability
Shutters are built to last and can withstand wear and tear, making them a long-term investment, so while the base cost may be higher, factored out year on year they probably cost less.

2. Light and Privacy Control
Like blinds, shutters offer excellent control over light and privacy. You can adjust the window louvres to direct light where you want it for a softer filtering of the light, or you can fully open the shutter to allow light to flow fully into the room.

3. Insulation
Shutters provide excellent insulation, keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and they create a visual warmth in winter when they're fully closed, creating a snug and secure feeling.

4. Style
Shutters add a touch of sophistication and elegance to your French doors, enhancing your home's overall aesthetic. Depending on the shutter you choose, you can opt for a wide range of colours, paints, stains or natural oils to create a look that's individual and stylish.

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Factors to Consider When Choosing French Door Blinds and Shutters

When selecting blinds or shutters for your French doors, keep these factors in mind:

1. Style: Consider the overall style of your home and choose blinds or shutters that complement it. Whether your interior is traditional, modern, or eclectic, there's an option for you.

2. Material: Blinds and shutters come in various materials such as wood, faux wood, and vinyl. Each blind and material has its unique qualities, so choose one that aligns with your preferences and needs.

3. Light Control: Think about how much light you want in the room. Blinds with adjustable slats and shutters with movable louvers provide the most control.

4. Privacy: Consider the level of privacy you require in each room. Bedrooms and bathrooms typically need more privacy than living areas.

5. Energy Efficiency: If you're looking to improve energy efficiency, select blinds or shutters with insulating properties.

6. Maintenance: Consider the ease of maintenance. Some materials require more care than others.

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The Best Blinds for French Doors

It's virtually impossible to say that one single blind style is best for French doors, because really the best blinds are those that work for you as an individual and in the specific setting that you're in. That being said, some blinds are more suitable than others for a variety of reasons, so lets take a look at them below.

Duette® Honeycomb blinds

Known for their energy efficiency, Duette® blinds trap air thanks to their design structure and stop it escaping at the window, providing insulation. These blinds can reduce heat loss by up to 55% through a double glazed window so if this is an important factor for you then these may be the best choice. Whether you have upvc French doors or real wood can determine the way in which the blind is attached and also whether you choose a manual or an electric option, as only manual blinds can be fitted to the recess.

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Roman Blinds

Roman blinds are quite a traditional look, and offers the greatest choice in fabrics, colours, textures and patterns. Fitted outside the recess, you'll need to raise the blind fully to open the door, so bear this in mind when making a decision. You also need to factor in what's called the "stack" - the depth of the fabric folds when its all concertinaed together at the top, and the longer the drop on the blind the thicker the stack. If you opt for a Roman blind with a thermal lining, known as an interlining, this will also make the stack thicker, as it's essentially more fabric. The payoff to that is that come the winter, when you're less likely to be using the door regularly, the lining will add extra insulation for a warmer room.

Pleated blinds

Pleated blinds are a great choice for your French door blinds if you're looking for a slimline style. They're a manual blind that can be fitted inside or outside of the recess for greater versatility too. Some pleated blinds have a special solar reflective coating that stops the heat penetrating the room in summer too, so if this is a challenge for you it's a great solution.

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Roller blinds

Roller blinds are a comparatively budget-friendly choice, while still offering quality and that blend of practicality and style that's required. With a choice of manual or electric your main consideration is the clearance height above the door, as this is where it would be mounted. As with a Roman blind you've got a wealth of choice when it comes to patterns and colours but because it simply rolls up into a cassette you don't have the stacking issue that you get with a Roman blind. For total ease opt for Google and Alexa smart blinds which can be controlled by voice command.

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Other blind styles

Vertical Blinds: A classic choice for French doors, a vertical blind offers good levels of privacy. French door vertical blinds are a great way to filter harsh light. Venetian blinds and wood venetian blinds tend not to be a viable option for French door blinds due to the sheer weight of the blind, and the force required to raise them to clear the door frame and allow the door to be functional.

The Best Shutters for French Doors

Shutters come in a variety of different materials and styles, and again it's less about the best shutter than the right shutter for you and your space.

Types of Shutters

Wooden Shutters: These bring a touch of natural beauty and warmth to your home. They're available in every style, including solid shutters.

Vinyl shutters: These are a practical option, with a wipe-clean finish that shrugs off moisture, so an ideal choice for doors that are open and closed frequently.

French door shutters: We offer vinyl shutters specifically crafted for French doors, with a cut-out around the handle so you don't have to open the shutter in order to open the door.

Tracked door shutters: As the name suggests, these run on a track top and bottom and simply fold back to the side along the tracks, to reveal the door. They create a nice visual and an expansive air, as long as you have clearance on either side.

Why Choose Thomas Sanderson

At Thomas Sanderson, we've has been crafting high-quality made to measure blinds and shutters for over 30 years. Our bespoke solutions are tailored to fit your French doors perfectly, ensuring a seamless and stylish look. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we provide not only window treatments but also a promise of quality, durability, style and service.

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Summary

In conclusion, French door blinds and shutters are essential additions to enhance the beauty, functionality, and comfort of your home. By carefully considering your needs and style preferences, you can select the perfect window treatments for your French doors. Whether you choose blinds for their versatility or shutters for their timeless elegance, these solutions will transform your living space and make your French doors even more enchanting. And with Thomas Sanderson, you can trust in our expertise to deliver window treatments that exceed your expectations.