You close doors to create a barrier between one room and the next. But when these entry points have windows, any chance of privacy gets shut down. Enter: window treatments for doors. These coverings not only serve as a protective layer from the outside, but they offer a special design value on the inside. Dressing your doors with window treatments adds color, texture and dimension to the room. And, no, you don’t have to be an interior decorator to get it right. Simply follow this guide to the best window treatments for doors and you’ll open your home to a world of possibilities.
The Best Window Treatments for Doors
The first thing you should know is not all window treatments work with all doors. For instance, your front door gets a lot of foot traffic. A door that opens and closes frequently will not take well to drapery, because you would be adjusting the fabric panels constantly. That said, drapes do have their place, which is why these types of coverings – and a few others – make the list of best window treatments for doors.
Drapes
Indeed drapes are some of the best large window coverings. Historically speaking, though, drapes and curtains have been blocking doorways for centuries. Long before homes were well-insulated or had central heat, portieres were hung to prevent draftiness between rooms. (“Portieres” is just a fancy term for doorway drapes, derived from the French word for door, “porte.”)\
Not surprisingly, the concept has held steady over the years. Even in modern homes, drapes that fit the door and kiss the floor still serve as an effective insulator. When covering the entire door frame, drapes block winter air from seeping through the jamb and summer’s bright rays from overheating your house.
From a design perspective, you can depend on doorway drapes to cozy up a room. The flowy fabric feels like a warm blanket, tucking you in and making you feel safe. And if you have a large door to cover – like wall-to-wall French doors – you can expect custom drapery to bring a dramatic elegance to your interior.\
The Best Doors for Drapes:
- Sliding glass doors
- French doors
Roman Shades
Roman shades have also been around for a while – several centuries, in fact. And while their structure has evolved over time, these shades still function as effective light-blockers. What they don’t block are door handles, hinges or bolt locks. If fitted properly, Roman shades cover the entire width and length of your door’s window pane and nothing more. When you choose Everhem Roman shades, you can be sure your window treatments are custom cut for the perfect amount of coverage.
You can also customize your Roman shades to provide more privacy, in case your front door is overly exposed. Everhem offers privacy and blackout linings, which can be added to almost any of our window treatments. For more on that, check out our tips for choosing the best fabric for Roman shades.
The other benefit to adding Roman shades to your doors is versatility. Depending on your home’s overall design style, you might go with a tailored flat Roman shade or a relaxed shade with a little more flair. Either way, these window treatments look clean, modern and sophisticated whether they’re pulled up or drawn all the way down on your doors.
The Best Doors for Roman Shades:
- Front doors
- French doors
Woven Woods
Like Roman shades, woven wood shades can be custom-fitted to your door, creating a streamlined appearance. Because of their woven construction, these shades do tend to let in more light than their Roman counterparts. But they also infuse texture and color. In a sense, woven woods symbolize the natural elements that lie just behind a door – something you can’t get from any other type of window treatment.
Besides, if you want more privacy from your woven woods, it’s as simple as adding a lining. Or, if you have French doors, consider layering your woven woods with drapery. This will give you double the coverage, so you can adjust your level of privacy, as needed. More on layering below.
The Best Doors for Woven Wood Shades:
- Front doors
- French doors
Layered Glass Door Treatments
Layering window treatments for doors involves two different types of coverings: shades and drapery. This is not a new design technique, but these French door window treatments can offer great perks. (Note: layering is not recommended for single-frame doors.) First of all, the combination of shades and drapery gives you greater insulation; it’s literally two layers of fabric, which creates a thicker barrier.
This double layer also means more privacy if and when you want it. You can open both coverings for full exposure, close one and not the other or pull them both closed and block out the world completely. It gives you a range of options, which is especially helpful in a bedroom. This kind of versatility will also serve you well in a room that gets a lot of natural sunlight, because you can more easily adjust the temperature.
Last but not least, layering adds interest to your home’s design. Pairing a textured treatment with something solid and flowy is an eye-catching choice. It delivers dimension and color, certainly. But, more importantly, layering helps complete the look and makes your space feel welcoming.
The Best Doors for Layered Treatments:
- French doors
