Patio Door Blinds – Your Guide to the Best Options

Patio doors are a delightful feature in any home, flooding your space with natural light and creating a lovely connection with the outdoors. However, deciding how to dress them can be a bit tricky, especially if you want to maintain your privacy and minimise heat loss without losing the view.

The tangle of cords, fiddling with slats, and ensuring nothing snags can sometimes make using your doors more of a hassle than it needs to be. That’s why it’s essential to choose the right blinds, tailored to how you use the space, so you can enjoy both style and convenience. 

Let’s explore the best blinds for patio doors, from integral to face-fixed options, that will add a touch of elegance, control light beautifully, and still allow you to use your doors with ease.

Things to consider

Whether you’re dressing patio, bifold, French, or sliding doors, a few key factors will help you make the best choice. Consider how you use the doors and the space around them, as this will guide you to the most practical style. Your budget, design preferences, and how the blinds will be mounted are also important to bear in mind.

Style: Think about whether you want the blinds to complement or contrast with your room’s décor in terms of colour and pattern.

Budget: Custom blinds can be more expensive than ready-made ones, and additional features like remote controls or unique designs may increase the cost.

Light Control: If total darkness and privacy are your goals, blackout blinds are the way to go. For those who prefer a bit of sunlight, fabric or slatted options like Venetian or wooden blinds might be better.

Installation: Patio door blinds are often installed with an outside mount, attached to the wall or ceiling. This allows the blinds to open fully, making it easy to pass through. Integral blinds, which sit between the panes of glass, make access even easier.

Types of Blinds 

Integral blinds 

Blinds are brilliant, but they do have their downsides—cleaning can be a chore, cords tend to tangle, and they might not be the safest option for homes with children or pets. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could enjoy all the benefits of blinds without these inconveniences? Well, integral blinds are here to save the day!

Integral blinds are cleverly designed to sit between the glass panes of your double glazed windows. Instead of traditional cords, they’re operated with a discreet magnetic mechanism mounted on the frame. Not only does this keep the blinds out of reach of curious little hands and paws, but it also gives your windows a sleek, low-maintenance finish.

For patio doors, integral blinds are a far more practical solution than traditional ones, which can sometimes get in the way. Because they’re housed between the glass, they won’t interfere with the door’s operation. Plus, they highlight the beauty of your patio doors without obscuring any of the frame, unlike standard blinds.

Integral blinds – options 

There are some fantastic options when it comes to integral blinds, including Venetian and pleated styles, with the possibility of adding blackout features if needed.

Integral Venetian Blinds: These give you excellent control over light, allowing you to adjust the slats to let in just the right amount even when the blinds are closed. They come in a wide variety of colours, making it easy to match them to your décor. And since they’re sealed within the glass, cleaning is virtually unnecessary!

Integral Pleated Blinds: Made from a single layer of fabric, pleated blinds create a soft diffusion of light when lowered. They’re available in a range of shades, from timeless neutrals like White and Fawn to bolder colours like Anthracite Grey and Black. You can choose between translucent or opaque options, and for a budget-friendly blackout effect, an extra light-blocking layer can be added. With their neat concertina folds, they tuck away nicely, offering you clear views of the outside.

Integral Blackout Blinds: Sometimes, only complete darkness will do! Pleated blackout blinds offer a reliable solution. Encapsulated within a double-glazed unit, these blackout blinds use advanced fabric and technology that almost entirely eliminates light bleed from the edges and corners. The fabric also boasts high thermal resistance, helping to keep your room cool during the summer months.

What about other blinds?

Vertical Blinds are an excellent choice for patio doors, especially in a busy household where practicality is key. With slats that run vertically rather than horizontally, they’re easy to open and stack neatly out of the way—perfect for high-traffic areas. Vertical blinds are great for controlling light, softly diffusing natural light to maintain a comfortable temperature while also ensuring privacy, particularly if your space is overlooked. They’re especially suited to large patio doors, as they can be custom-made to fit almost any width.

Roller Blinds are another superb option for busy homes and frequently used patio doors. This classic choice consists of a single piece of fabric that rolls up and down on a headrail. Roller blinds offer a clean, streamlined look and are ideal for sliding patio doors. Available in a wide range of colours and patterns, you can even opt for waterproof designs, making them perfect for kitchens and bathrooms.

Venetian Blinds remain a timeless classic that suits both modern and traditional homes beautifully. With horizontal slats, they offer a sleek and elegant look that instantly adds a touch of refined charm to any room. They strike the perfect balance between style and practicality, allowing you to adjust the slats to achieve your preferred level of brightness with just a twist of the wand.

Conclusion

When choosing the perfect blinds for your patio doors, it’s important to think about your specific needs. Consider how much privacy and light control you require, how you use the space, and how the blinds will complement your interior style. Patio doors are a wonderful way to bring natural light into your home, and the right blinds will enhance their appearance while ensuring they remain functional. If you need more advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team—we’re here to help!