Window Treatments for French Doors

French doors are an elegant alternative to sliding glass doors. But where sliding glass doors are often dressed with vertical blinds, the inset windows in French doors require a more selective treatment. You not only want the french doors to remain accessible, but you also want them to remain visible, all the while adding treatments to the windows so as to adjust the light and privacy as needed.

Function

Windows treatments for French doors need to accent the doors while still allowing them to be used as doors. Any treatment you select, then, should be confined to the height and width of the window. Because the windows are flush with the door's surface, however, you need to mount the treatments outside of the windows' frameworks.

Slatted Blinds

Slatted blinds can add a bit of rustic elegance to the room. Available in wood and faux wood, slatted blinds can be sized to fit the necessary width and length. You do need to take into account, however, the type and the position of your doorknob. If the doorknob is a lever type and there is a minimum distance between it and the window's frame, a 2-inch slatted blind may interfere with the knob's operation.

Cellular Shades

Sometimes referred to as honeycomb shades because of their honeycomb design, cellular shades work well as treatments for French door windows. They have a slender silhouette, no more than an inch and a half for most styles. They also rest close to the door, do not rattle when the door is opened or closed and provide a soft, natural appeal without overwhelming the design of the door.

Natural Shades

Grass or bamboo roll up shades are casual and do well in family rooms and kitchens. On French doors, their reedy construction makes for interesting patterns of light and shadow. They can be rolled up to allow for full light, and if you should wish to forgo the light patterns and opt for full privacy, these shades can be lined on the exterior facing side.

Curtains

Lightweight panels can be installed on French doors with curtain rods and decorative supports. Such panels, though, cannot be raised and lowered; they are stationary and so light that they can only be controlled through decorative tie-ups. Shirred curtain panels, usually made from sheer panels or other translucent material, can be installed using curtain rods on the top and bottom of the window. The fabric is pulled tight and tightly bunched across the rods. A matching tie-up is used to create an hourglass look.

Considerations

Shades and blinds have chain or string controls for raising and lowering, and in the case of blinds, tilting the slats. Before purchasing shades or blinds for your French doors, consider the position of your doorknob in relation to the controls. The controls should be on the opposite side of the doorknob to avoid interference and entanglement. A practical solution to this is cordless shades or blinds, though these are generally more costly.

Misconceptions

You may think you cannot use draw drapery with your French doors. Although this is not a common window treatment for such doors, drapery can be used under certain conditions. There needs to be sufficient wall space to each side of the doors to accommodate the open drapery panels. The drawback is that the drapery needs to be fully opened whenever you wish to use the doors.