Patio Door Blinds and Shutters Buying Guide

Before diving into the specifics of blinds and shutters, let's first consider the key factors to keep in mind when choosing window coverings for patio doors:

Size and type of Patio Doors
The size, style, and type of your patio doors will influence your choice of window coverings. Sliding glass doors, as they're also know as, have unique requirements themselves, with additional requirements depending on the setting and surrounding areas.
Light control
Determine how much natural light you want to allow into your space. Some patio doors need to maintain a view even when closed, while others require higher levels of light control.
Privacy
Consider your level of desired privacy, both during the day and at night. Your choice of window coverings should offer the right balance between visibility and seclusion.
Traffic and usage
Evaluate the frequency of use of your patio doors. Heavy foot traffic doors may require more durable and easily operable window treatments.
Interior décor
Ensure that your choice of blinds or shutters complements your interior décor and enhances the overall aesthetics of your home.

Blinds are a versatile choice for patio doors, offering a range of benefits:

Privacy: Blinds can be adjusted to provide varying levels of privacy, from fully closed for complete seclusion to partially open for filtered light and views, dependant on the style of blind used.
Light control: Blinds allow precise control over the amount of natural light entering your space, while some blinds can protect your furniture and flooring from harmful UV rays.
Easy operation: Various blind types, such as vertical blinds, are designed for easy operation with sliding patio doors. They can be effortlessly pushed aside when you want an unobstructed view.
Temperature control: Depending on the material, blinds can provide insulation, helping to regulate temperatures and improve the energy efficiency of the room.
Aesthetics: Blinds can come in a wide range of colours and materials, making it easy to find options that match your interior décor.

Pleated blinds are ideal for those many homes where patio doors are found in the busiest spaces, especially kitchens or extended kitchen-dining or living. These areas demand a hard-working blind that’s pleasant to look at but needs to be practical too. Many pleated blinds have specialist coatings that can protect them too, plus coatings to help reflect the suns' rays and reduce UV damage.

If your patio door is situated with your living room then you may want something with a softer, more relaxed look and a Roman blind is a great solution here. In these spaces, your blinds need to function as night blinds as well as day so there's greater considerations to make.

It may be tempting to consider wood venetian blinds or faux wood venetian blinds, as they offer a great blend of light and privacy control but due to the length of the door drop the weight of the blind makes it almost impossible to raise and lower the stack of vanes easily. However if your door is very narrow and with a reduced head height it may be a viable option.

Plantation shutters have wide louvres that allow precise control over privacy. You can close them entirely for complete seclusion.

Vinyl shutters are durable and resistant to moisture, making them a practical choice for patio doors that experience heavy use, say those leading out into a garden from a kitchen. They have a wipe clean finish to keep them looking pristine.