The Biggest Problem When Choosing Curtains For Sliding Glass Doors (And It's Avoidable)

You can spend hours trying to decide what sort of curtains you want to hang in front of your sliding glass doors. They're an important part of a room's decor, something you see every time you're in the room. It's not just color, fabric, and pattern you have to consider, it's also the length and the hardware you're going to use to hang them. Before you're stymied by all the decisions, you can solve the biggest problem by asking yourself what the curtains are for. Are they for privacy, or are they to let light in or keep it out? Are they simply a design statement, or do you want to lower your heating and cooling costs by making the sliding doors more energy efficient?

Deciding on your priorities before choosing the curtains will prevent regret later. If you need privacy, even the prettiest sheers on a bedroom door facing the neighbor's yard won't do the job. Meanwhile, if you work the night shift, you'll need blackout curtains help you sleep during the day.

Curtain length for sliding glass doors and what room the door is in go hand in hand with the curtains' purpose. While you may want curtains that let in a lot of light in the eat-in kitchen, you need a durable fabric that won't get dirty as you, the kids, and the pets go in and out to the backyard. The type of drapery hardware you choose should complement the curtain, the room's decor, and how often you use the slider.

Privacy curtains are opaque — they block the view through the sliding glass door from the outside, even when the interior lights are on at night. You may find that the curtains or drapes need to serve multiple purposes, like providing privacy while also letting natural light in. Privacy curtains can be fully opened in the daytime, or you can hang a set of sheers between the door and the privacy curtains for a daytime covering that lets light in but still restricts the view into the room. Heavy, floor-length fabric blocks the view and also has some soundproofing qualities. If you're looking specifically for blackout curtains rather than privacy curtains, make sure you're buying ones with tightly knit fabric and a blackout lining. Simply hanging dark-colored curtains won't keep enough light out.

Curtains whose only purpose is to look pretty while they hang in front of the slider shouldn't be an afterthought. A solid-colored drape will match the decor in your midcentury modern living room, but one with bold colors and geometric shapes makes a statement. Sheer curtains with a neutral print add the suggestion of sunny breezes in a sunroom filled with plants and rattan furniture. If your tastes are formal, a more structured drapery with a balloon valence and braided tiebacks brings elegance.

For energy savings and curtain hacks to keep your home warmer, choose a fabric with a closed weave and hang the curtains as close to the sliding glass door as possible, with the fabric touching the floor. The right curtain can reduce the amount of heat you lose in the winter by 10%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. And in the summertime, closing the drapes during the daytime can reduce heat gains by 33%.