When it comes to choosing window treatments for doors, doors are simply a different animal. Doors present a unique set of challenges compared to standard windows. They’re different sizes and are usually taller and more narrow than normal windows, so window treatments on doors will look different than those on other windows. In addition, unlike typical windows where there is usually depth to mount window treatments inside of the window frame, doors have a flat mounting surface. The shade has to be mounted in such a way that the valance will be completely exposed and will not sit inside of a window casing.
The roller shade valances on this customer’s Berkeley Lake, GA home mount just above the window on the door.
Roller shades are well-suited for doors. Unlike many other window treatments, roller shades offer a sleek profile that complements the appearance of most doors. They can be customized to fit a variety of door sizes, ensuring a seamless look that enhances the door’s aesthetic rather than detracting from it.
Design & Privacy
One major advantage of roller shades on doors is the design of the valance. Roller shades have a minimal valance that is fixed to the top of the door and the shade raises and lowers from the back-side of the valance. This feature is particularly important for doors, as it ensures the shade remains close to the glass. The proximity to the glass is crucial, as it leaves almost a minimal gap between the window and the shade, making it very difficult for anyone from the outside to see into the home.
Roller shades raise and lower from the back-side of the valance, keeping the shade very close to the window for this Duluth, GA customer.
Other alternatives such as roman shades and woven shades have bulkier headrails that are attached to the top of the door. This results in a noticeable gap between the window and the shade that can sometimes be 2-3 inches. The larger gap reduces privacy, allows more light to enter the home along the edges of the shades, and can interfere with your door lever, making it difficult to open and close the door. Our customers are frequently dissatisfied with this gap.
The roller shades on this Alpharetta, GA customer’s front door fit seamlessly behind their door lever when they are lowered.
Unobstructed View
Roller shades excel in providing privacy while maintaining a minimalistic design. They roll up tightly at the top, allowing homeowners to enjoy unobstructed views and natural light when the shade is raised all the way up. This ability to ‘disappear’ into the headrail is a stark contrast to other treatments that stack and consume part of the glass area at the top of the door.
This Duluth, GA customer is able to tightly roll their roller shades full retracted, providing the customer with an unobstructed view of Berkeley Lake.
Lightweight and Functional
Due to their lighter weight, roller shades tend to move seamlessly with doors as they are opened and closed and typically do not flop or bang around. For taller doors, options like a chain lift can be secured directly to the door, preventing the shade from swinging and ensuring smooth operation. In addition, roller shades can be equipped with hold down clips that attach to the bottom rail. This is particularly useful as it keeps the shade taut and prevents it from banging or getting caught when the door is opened or closed.
Roller shades come in three different lift options that all work great on doors, cordless, continuous loop, and motorized. As the industry moves towards cordless systems, all three lift options offer easy-to-operate mechanisms that enhance child and pet safety.
Design Versatility
Roller shades have a simple design that tends to not clash with other window treatments in the same space. This allows homeowners to have other types of window treatments, such as plantation shutters, roman shades, and woven shades throughout the home on regular windows and roller shades on their doors without making their spaces look inconsistent.
For all these reasons, roller shades are a great choice for covering your doors. They combine functionality with aesthetics, providing an efficient, elegant solution that addresses the unique challenges presented by doors.
