8 Stunning Front Door Window Treatment Ideas To Try If You're Over Basic Curtains

Front doors with windows are a coveted design element in homes of all architectural styles. They increase natural light in the entryway, provide gorgeous views, and improve curb appeal, ultimately adding more value to your property. However, as beautiful as they can be to look at, they can also come with challenges, namely privacy and light control. That's where window treatments come in. While curtains are one of the most common options to cover up windows around the home, they can look old-fashioned and be a nuisance in an area of such high traffic as the front door.

Luckily, there are a few more practical window treatment options that add privacy and style to front doors. Fans of smart home solutions will love built-in blinds, while homeowners who value style will certainly find interest in the timelessness of roman shades or the organic feel of wooden blinds. There are also some great tips for those who would prefer to skip bulky coverings altogether and opt for a cleaner look with frosted or stained glass. 

Once deemed an overly ornamental historical feature in homes, stained glass has been experiencing an exciting comeback in interior design. Homeowners, architects, and decorators appreciate this window treatment's level of craftsmanship and personality, not to mention those gorgeous, colorful patterns that it paints the walls with when the sun hits at just the right angle. These panels can be commissioned to professionals or DIYed at home, but what matters most is their ability to protect your space from onlookers while adding a gorgeous, customizable detail to your entryway. 

Roman shades are the classic curtain alternative that makes a perfect front door window treatment. Incredibly versatile, they're neither as minimalistic and streamlined as roller shades, nor as stiff as wooden shades. Instead, their gentle folds and flexible fabric bring a touch of softness without the trouble of drapes. In fact, they can be mounted inside the door frame for extra convenience and discretion, or outside for a more heightened look. Similarly, roman shades can vary in material and pattern depending on your personal style and the specific needs of your space. 

If stained glass is a little too Victorian for your taste, but you like the idea of foregoing window coverings for a subtler glass treatment, then you can always opt for frosted or opaque glass. This solution will ensure that a good amount of light enters your home at all times, while concealing the interior from the outside. It's a style that fits both traditional and modern properties. Additionally, avant-garde homes are now adding smart glass tech to their windows, where the opacity of the glass can be controlled with a flip of a switch.

Of course, not everyone can afford to switch out the glass in their front door. A budget- and renter-friendly alternative is window film. This chameleonic adhesive is easy to install and can mimic the look of stained glass and frosted glass of all patterns. Some films can even shield your home against harmful UV radiation that damages your skin, fades furniture, and heats up the room. Because it can be cut to size and tailored, film is also a great option for people with multiple window panels in their front door, as well as transoms and side lights.

Roller shades are the perfect front door window treatment for a modern home. Their sleek, minimal appearance blends seamlessly with clean-lined front doors and side lights. Instead of pooling like roman shades or some other blind types featured on this list, roller shades disappear into a tube that's placed above the window, creating minimal visual and physical interference. When they're rolled down, they block excessive light and prying eyes. The shades can come in different materials, colors, and transparency levels, with some models also protecting against UV rays.

Built-in blinds are the best window treatment for your privacy needs and peace of mind. This innovative solution inserts the once pesky venetian blinds in between window panes so they can be protected from the never-ending dust and destructive actions of curious humans and four-legged friends. This way, you get all the light and privacy control that only these blinds can provide without the issues that give the traditional version a bad reputation. Built-in blinds are operated through a mechanism mounted inside the door frame that lets you lower, raise, and turn them, so no jumbled cord, either.

For all the headaches that venetian blinds cause, it's hard to argue against their versatility and aesthetic appeal, especially when they come in a rich, warm wood design. Wooden blinds have been a staple in homes for generations, and can still look incredibly elegant in both modern and rustic homes today. When installed on the front door, whether inside or outside, they allow the user to control just how much of the exterior view they want to see as well as how much light they want to let in. 

Last, but not least, opting for cellular shades over your front door can offer an understated, streamlined look while providing exceptional temperature control. Their unique honeycomb structure traps the air, keeping heat from both entering and escaping the home, depending on the season. This makes them one of the most energy-efficient window treatments available, which can be particularly convenient for properties in extreme climates. After roller shades, they're the most minimalistic window covering on this list, bundling up into a small stack when raised.