Sliding Glass Door Curtains: Tips & Ideas to Manage Light, Privacy & Style

Sliding glass doors have come to be staples in modern interiors—framing sun-drenched patios and elegantly dividing open-plan spaces. They’re favored for their ability to create separation without sacrificing natural light or visual connection. But it’s not without a few trade-offs: privacy, insulation, and sometimes a lack of softness with all that glass. That’s where sliding glass door curtains pitch in not just to bridge the practical gaps, but also to elevate the overall look. 

From blackout curtains that block harsh light to delicate sheers that offer semi-privacy, and all in between—custom curtains can be tailored to meet every requirement and taste at Sewn, where the choice range runs beyond 2,000 fabrics. However, before you start browsing our catalog, take a few moments here to explore recommendations from our drapery experts so you can choose curtains for your sliding glass doors that are as functional as they are beautiful.

One Story, Two Perspectives: Consider the View from Both Sides

If the sliding glass doors serve as room dividers or are connected to an outdoor living area, the curtains must look good from both sides. Besides having to complement the decor scheme and palette on both ends of the room, this calls for deeper thought on several design decisions, such as:

FABRIC: The fabric must be presentable on the rear side, if not the same as the front. So, one-sided velvets, embroidered fabrics, one-sided printed fabrics, and so on call for a deeper consideration. Instead, look for fabrics that look presentable on both sides, whether plain or printed. 

Furthermore, turning a limitation into an opportunity, you can consider double-sided curtains too, where you can curate the drapery to diverse tastes by choosing two distinct fabrics. You can pair a solid and a pattern, or a linen with a velvet, or a color with a neutral—creating an entirely different aesthetic on either side with the same drapery. Note that sticking to light-weight fabrics will be beneficial for this approach - especially over-wide doorways - as double-sided curtains can otherwise get quite heavy to operate. 

LINING: Although we recommend lining drapes for aesthetic and functional benefits, internal glass door curtains are an exception. Consider whether the flat look of the lining will tally with your desired aesthetic on the other side of the room, and avoid lining if it doesn’t.

HEADING STYLE: The design of the top header of a curtain panel is referred to as heading style. While heading styles like pinch pleats look elegant from the front, they are less appealing on the back. Where the headers will be visible on both sides, choose styles like rod pockets, flat panel tops, grommet tops, tab tops, and hidden back tab tops that look (almost) equally good from front and back.

HOMESEWN HANDBOOK: Drapery Headings Style Guide

Light, Mood & Ambiance: Pick the Right Fabric & Lining

Fabric is the most important component that you have to get right when it comes to glass door curtains. Alongside aesthetics, two other aspects have to be considered: the composition and the opacity, all within the context of whether the doors are internal or external.

COMPOSITION: Curtains are the mouthpieces of your decor style and instantly set the tone of the room. The composition, weave and finish of the fabric ideally have to go with your aesthetic. Silk and velvet curtains are the topline choice for formal areas as their lustre brings a sense of occasion. Cotton and linen curtains are considered ideal for semi-formal and informal rooms as their homespun textures ground the space in a homely charm. 

OPACITY: The curtains’ opacity will directly impact light control and privacy. So, choose the opacity level based on how much light you want to let in and the privacy guards you want to have in place: 

• Semi-sheer and sheer curtains are ideal for patios where you want the light to filter in gently throughout the day, and for internal glass doors where the goal is semi-privacy.

• Non-sheer curtains are apt where the goals are round-the-clock privacy and enhanced light control—the kind that sheer curtains can’t meet.

• Blackout curtains block light and noise, making them ideal for bedroom patios and internal glass doors where flawless privacy and room-darkening are desired.

LINING: Curtains on external sliding glass doors benefit from lining as they are continuously exposed to sunlight. Especially fabrics like bright cotton and pure silk, which are prone to sun damage, find lining a necessity, not a luxury. Depending on whether you’re looking for room-darkening or merely a layer of protection, choose between our privacy and blackout linings. Head to Sewn’s Lining Options to discover the benefits and key considerations for each choice.

Color Story & Theme: Choose Palette & Pattern with Intention

Unlike industrially fabricated blinds whose choice range spans not more than a few plain neutral hues, curtains hold a huge promise with their vast range of choice.  So, use the opportunity to choose colors and patterns that forward your decor style and add personality to your space. 

Floral curtains add a layer of vibrance and an outdoorsy feel well-suited to cottagecore themes and nature-inspired decor styles. Plaids and stripes ground the space with their straight lines, contrasting the embellished silhouettes of classical design styles, and complementing the sleek features of minimalist interiors. Geometric and abstract patterns have a pronounced modern edge that instantly blends with bold contemporary interiors. Let your overall aesthetic guide the choice of palette and pattern for your sliding glass door curtains.

HAUL 'EM HOME: Check Curtains | Plain Curtains | Geometric Print Curtains

Pleats, Folds & Beyond: Choose a Befitting Heading Style

The structure of the curtain header impacts both the visual appeal and functional ease of the curtains. That’s why Sewn offers more than a dozen heading styles to cater to the distinct settings and decor styles. Explore these in our Drapery Headings Style Guide as you evaluate them on these parameters:

AESTHETIC: Each heading style creates a distinct look—pinch pleats bring tailored elegance to formal spaces, tab tops carry a casual flair, ruffled rod pockets infuse a cottagey vibe, and back tab tops offer a crisp modern edge. Choose the heading style that rhymes with your aesthetic.

EASE OF GLIDE: Curtain styles with rings/pins/grommets offer an effortless glide, making them perfect for curtains that will be frequently adjusted to the shifting light. But for privacy curtains that must hold their positions rather than move easily with the winds, pick curtains with fabric pockets or tabs.

LIGHT BLOCKAGE: In sleeping areas and entertainment rooms with blackout goals, go for styles that offer full coverage headers, such as the pinch pleats and flat panels. And, in places like the kitchen patio that love a breezy touch, opt for styles with semi-coverage headers like tab tops, tie tops, and so on. 

HARDWARE: If your sliding glass doors are already furnished with drapery hardware, make sure that your curtains are compatible with it. Because while most heading styles can go on both tracks and poles, some are designed specifically to work with one or the other.

HomeSewn Wisdom: Heading styles for curtains of interior glass doors have one more criterion to fulfill; they must look neat on the reverse side as well. So, avoid styles like pinch pleats, which do not present quite as well on the reverse. Instead, opt for headers such as rod pockets, tab tops, grommet tops, flat panel tops etc. that look ‘almost’ the same on both sides. 

Style, Balance & Functionality: Determine the Number of Panels

Whether to go for a sweeping single-panel curtain or the standard double-panel drapery style is a decision that hinges on your doorway’s width and the aesthetic you’re after.

A single-panel, one-sided pull curtain is most apt for a narrow doorway where leaving one side free for passage makes for maximum practical ease. A lush curtain gathered like a swag to one side and tucked in a fancy hold-back is an aesthetic statement befitting the grandeur of glazed doorways.

Double-panel curtains suit a wide doorway where single-panel curtains may look out of balance. Curtains framing the doorway on both sides ring in harmony and symmetry. Distributing the weight also makes it easier for the drapery to operate. 

Hemlines, Fullness & Coverage: Tailor the Length & Width

Curtains perform their aesthetic and functional roles best when sized correctly, especially when it comes to glass door curtains, where privacy, insulation, and light control enjoy prominence. Hence, keep the following in mind when finalizing the length and width of your sliding glass door drapes:

LENGTH: That glass sliding door curtains have to be floor-length is a given, but their start and drop are two details that need to be considered carefully. We suggest mounting the curtains at least 6-12 inches above the door trim for a well-finished look and to contain light leaks. If you’d like to emphasize the vertical span of the room, mount the curtains as high as possible or onto the ceiling itself. 

Decide the exact drop point based on how you plan to use the drapes. Extravagant puddling suits for decorative drapes that are not expected to be operated. But for functional curtains that you will draw open and close every day, the ‘float’, ‘graze’, and ‘break-puddle’ positions are ideal to ensure a smooth glide on the pole. To explore these drop points further, visit our blog 'How Long Should My Curtains Be?'

WIDTH: Curtain width and fullness directly impact insulation and privacy. The more the width, the better the curtains’ thermal performance, and the more sumptuous their appeal. So, if you’re looking for top-notch insulation and blackout, opt for 2-3x fullness levels to get dense pleats and lush gather. And, if you’re aiming for an airy look, stick to 1.5x-2x fullness to feature shallow pleats and low-bodied gather. More on what ‘fullness’ means and how it is calculated in our Drapery Measurement Guide.

Tracks, Rods & Placement: Mount Hardware Correctly

Hardware decisions impact the overall look of your curtains. And how the hardware is positioned will affect light inflow and coverage. So, whether you choose a sleek, minimalist curtain track or a traditional decorative drapery pole, position it in a way that favors your settings. 

First of all, mount the pole/track as close to the ceiling as possible, or on the ceiling itself. This thoughtful placement will make the curtains a visual connection between floor and ceiling, drawing the eye upward and making the ceiling look taller. It’s a small detail that will go a long way in adding a note of grandeur to the overall room.

Secondly, extend the track/pole 6-12 inches beyond the trim on either side, so the curtains can slide off the doorway and stack on the wall. So, size the pole generously, and enable the curtains to clear the doorway to make the most of your sliding glass doors.

Shop Sliding Glass Door Curtains at Sewn

Sliding glass doors are heartwarming architectural features, but with the right curtains, they become nothing short of showstoppers. From adding privacy and enhancing insulation to setting the tone of the room, sliding glass door curtains are about elegance as much as about functionality. So, scroll through Sewn’s expansive collection and find that piece of marvel that will best frame your glass doors and endorse your aesthetic today.