Your Guide to Dressing French Doors
There’s no denying it: French doors are gorgeous. They fill a room with light and create a sense of grandeur. But they can also leave you scratching your head when it’s time to choose a window covering. We’re here to help you solve that puzzle. Think of this as a conversation where we’ll walk through everything you need to know.
Why Can It Be So Hard to Find Coverings for French Doors?
The very things that make French doors so beautiful also make them a unique design challenge. You have expansive glass panes that need coverage for privacy and light control, and most importantly, you have handles that need to operate without being blocked.
Finding a solution that looks intentional and beautiful without sacrificing the door’s function is the goal. As a family-owned business, we’ve spent over 25 years helping people find that perfect balance. We believe the right window treatment can take a space from tired to inspired, and we’re excited to share what we’ve learned.
What’s the Real Story with Shutters on French Doors?
This is one of the most common questions we get, and it makes sense. The crisp, architectural look of plantation shutters is a timeless choice. However, when it comes to doors you use daily, there’s a practical hurdle to consider.
Will Shutters Interfere with My Door Handles?
In most cases, yes. Standard shutters for French doors are mounted directly onto the door, and the frame can obstruct the lever or knob, preventing it from turning. While some companies offer custom cut-outs to accommodate handles, this is a highly specialized feature.
Here at Blindsgalore, we handcraft every product to your exact measurements, but we don’t offer these specific cut-outs for our shutters. Because we want you to love both the look and the function of your window treatments, we often guide people toward other fantastic solutions for high-traffic doors.
If your heart is set on the look, you can certainly explore our full range of custom shutters to see if they might work for another spot in your home.
What Are the Best Coverings for Doors I Use Every Day?
For a door that opens to your patio or garden, you need a covering that is as functional as it is beautiful. These are our top recommendations that our customers have loved for their own French doors.
How Can Cellular Shades Help with Insulation?
Cellular shades for French doors are a brilliant all-around choice. Their magic is in the honeycomb-shaped pockets that trap air, acting like a layer of insulation for your window. This helps keep your room more comfortable year-round and can even help you save on energy costs. Their slim profile fits neatly on the glass, staying clear of the handles.
- Light-Filtering Fabrics: These spun-lace materials gently diffuse sunlight, protecting your furniture from UV rays while filling your space with a soft glow.
- Blackout Fabrics: Lined with a layer of mylar, these fabrics block 99% of incoming light, making them perfect for bedrooms or media rooms.
When Should I Choose Roller Shades?
If you love a clean, uncluttered, modern look, roller shades for French doors are an amazing option. They consist of a single piece of fabric that rolls up to virtually disappear, giving you a completely open view. They are incredibly easy to care for and operate. Our Envision collection features a beautiful fabric-wrapped bottom hem for a seamless, high-end finish. You can explore everything from calming fabric finishes to dramatic, eye-catching styles.
How Can I Add a Softer Look with Drapes or Roman Shades?
To introduce texture and elegance, fabric shades are a wonderful choice. Many people ask us, “are Roman shades still in style?“, and the answer is a resounding yes. They bring a timeless, tailored look. For a more dramatic effect, an outside mount for Roman shades above the door frame allows the shade to act like a curtain, beautifully framing the doors.
Hanging drapery on a decorative rod high above your French doors is another classic and elegant approach. This allows you to pull the curtains completely clear of the doors for easy access. They are a fantastic way to bring a touch of drama, making them one of the most popular choices for modern window curtains for your living room. For an even more polished look, you can explore the difference between a cornice and a valance to see if a top treatment is right for you.
What Makes Sheer Shades So Flexible?
Can’t decide between a blind and a shade? Sheer shades, often called zebra shades, give you the best of both. They have alternating horizontal bands of sheer and solid-colored fabric that glide past each other. Aligning the light-filtering material will provide added privacy, without losing the soft glow of light. You can open the bands for a filtered view, close them for privacy, or raise the shade entirely. Our Boutique Serenity Light Filtering Dual Sheer Shades are a luxurious choice for this modern, flexible style.
What Details Should I Consider Before Buying?
Once you have a style in mind, a few final details will ensure you get the perfect window treatment for your home.
How Do I Find My Perfect Fabric Match?
The material you choose sets the mood. Do you envision airy cotton-like textures or bold, modern designs? The best way to decide is to see them in your own space. We’ll happily send you up to 15 free samples so you can see how the colors and textures look in your home’s unique light.
How Much Privacy and Light Control Do I Really Need?
Think about how you use the room. For a living room, soft, filtered light might be perfect. For a bedroom, a blackout roller shade that blocks nearly all incoming light is likely a better fit. Many of our most popular products, like cellular shades and roller shades, are available in both light-filtering and blackout versions, so you never have to compromise.
Why Is the Lift System So Important?
For any home with children or pets, how your shade operates is a crucial safety decision. We strongly recommend cordless and motorized lift systems. In fact, traditional corded window coverings were recently banned for sale in the US and Canada to eliminate safety hazards. Cordless and motorized options are the safest, cleanest, and most modern choices. Their durability also makes many of them fantastic cat-proof blinds.
We especially encourage our customers to consider motorization. It’s the ultimate upgrade in convenience and adds a touch of everyday luxury. With options like a rechargeable motorized wand or a remote control, you can adjust your shades with the simple press of a button. Many of our systems can even connect with smart home hubs like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, allowing you to control your shades with an app or your voice.
Can I Really Install These Myself?
Yes, you absolutely can! Whether you’re a DIY expert or not, installation will be a breeze. All you’ll need are a few basic tools like a drill, screwdriver, and tape measure, and about an hour. Instructions are included and available on our site. No guessing, no stressing! And if you have a question, our in-house team of experts is just a call or text away, ready to help.
A Crucial Note on Keeping Your Shades Clean
Maintaining your new shades is simple. For most fabrics, regular dusting or a light pass with your vacuum’s upholstery attachment is all that’s needed to keep them looking fresh.
However, there is one thing we would never advise: do not submerge your blinds or shades in water. This applies to all our products, including light-filtering, blackout, and motorized treatments. Soaking them can cause permanent damage to the fabric, internal parts, and electronic components.
What Happens if I Make a Mistake?
We’re a family business, and we want you to feel like part of the family. That means we stand behind our products and your satisfaction. Every custom window treatment we make is backed by a free 3-year warranty, with an option to upgrade to a 5-year warranty on our Blindsgalore-brand products. Please note this does not cover fading from sun exposure.
We also offer what we believe is the best guarantee in the industry. If you’re not 100% happy with your order for any reason, you can exchange it for a new product within 30 days. Measured wrong? Don’t love the color in person? No hassle, no stress. We’ll help you get it right.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Fit?
Choosing the right window treatment can elevate your French doors from a simple entryway to a stunning design feature. With an array of custom options, you can find a solution that perfectly balances beauty, privacy, and ease of use. And if you’re also looking for solutions for other large doorways, our guide on how to install blinds on a sliding glass door might be helpful.
Explore our collections of cellular shades, roller shades, and drapery today. Don’t forget to order your free samples to see how our beautiful fabrics can bring your vision to life. Our family of experts is here to help you every step of the way.
FAQs
Our No-Drill Shades are the perfect tool-free solution. They use a tension mechanism to fit securely inside your window frame for a damage-free installation.
Absolutely. Many of our most popular styles, including Cellular Shades and Roller Shades, are available in blackout fabrics that block nearly all incoming light.
Our customers certainly think so! While it’s a premium feature, motorization adds an incredible amount of convenience, safety, and modern luxury that most people find is well worth it.
Your shades are handcrafted to your exact specifications. Many ship in as little as 5–7 business days, and shipping is free across the continental U.S.
Cordless and motorized shades are always the safest choice. They have no accessible cords, which eliminates safety hazards for children and pets.