Sliding glass doors are excellent for allowing natural sunlight and providing a wide-open view of the outdoors. However, the downside to this beautiful view is the lack of privacy. Thankfully, there are numerous ways to cover glass windows and maintain the privacy of your home life. Options include blinds, curtains, shutters, window films, and other products that conceal your home interior without obstructing the door.
Below are 13 alternative window coverings you can install to add privacy to your sliding glass door. There are numerous options available. Products like panel blinds offer complete privacy, while decorative window decals only distort visibility. Many of these products also bring additional benefits, such as providing shade from sunlight and enhancing your interior design. You can find sleek, modern window glass treatments and options with more traditional or rustic designs. No matter your budget, there is a viable option for any homeowner or renter. Some products cost hundreds of dollars and require professional installations, while others can be DIYed with discounted Amazon supplies. Read on to learn more about how these items provide privacy, where you can find them, and how to install them.
Install vertical faux wood blinds that emulate a wall when rotated
Faux wood vertical blinds function like traditional window blinds but offer a more luxurious look and greater privacy. They are available in split-stack or one-way draw forms. The first option splits down the middle, while the latter gathers all the blinds to one side. The vinyl or composite wood material is completely opaque and resembles hardwood, costing around 40% less than genuine lumber. These blinds often have louvered slats for light filtering, which you can rotate open or closed for privacy.
Standard sliding doors are approximately 6 to 7 feet tall by 5 to 6 feet wide, but you should measure your door to ensure you get the correct dimensions. SelectBlinds suggests adding 4 inches to the maximum width to ensure more light coverage and privacy. When measuring the height, add two to three inches for where you plan to place the headrail. Reduce this measurement by a half-inch so the blinds hang just above the floor.
Amazon’s BrylaneHome Embossed Vertical Privacy Slat Blinds cost $126.99 and come in a textured light taupe color, with customers praising their beauty and light-blocking capability. However, you may find custom blinds from places like SelectBlinds more appealing, though they are significantly more expensive. SelectBlinds offers a Select Faux Wood Vertical Blinds collection, allowing you to customize the size, mount type, and stack location. Various faux wood patterns are also available.
Put in plantation shutters that fully obscure a glass window side when closed
Plantation shutters suit traditional interior designs and completely block the view from outside when closed. These shutters are wood-style louvered blinds assembled within a frame on one side of your sliding door. They are controllable by a hanging stick that rotates to open or close the wood slats, providing full light and privacy control. They can be positioned vertically or horizontally, covering your entire door or sitting café-style, based on your preference.
Since these shutters are fitted over sliding doors, they are often custom-ordered. You can personalize LEVOLOR’s Classic By-Pass Shutters through Home Depot or Lowe’s, with costs varying depending on your choices. Hiring professionals for installation is costly, but you can save money by following tips for DIY plantation shutter installation. Online retailers specializing in blinds and window coverings also sell plantation shutters. If you like the look, you can also install these shutters as partitions for privacy in your entryway.
Put Roman roller shades side-by-side over a sliding door
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Vertical roller shades are ideal for sliding doors and offer extra aesthetic value when made Roman-style. These shades roll up or down from the ceiling, allowing you to hide and show your window as needed. Using one large shade has limitations since the entire shade must be rolled up to enter and exit the sliding door. Installing two shades allows the glass window portion to remain covered while rolling up the door side for access. Some roller shades are connected to an automatic button, but many styles are manually operated with a bottom rail. The fabric of roller shades is often thick enough to filter light or block it out completely.
Roller shades are available for windows of all sizes, but options become more limited as the size increases. You’ll find more success searching for a narrower pair of side-by-side shades, which will also be more convenient for daily use. Passenger Pigeon’s Cordless Blackout Bamboo Window Shades are approximately $92.99 each if ordered in sizes large enough for most sliding doors and are manually operated. Motorized roller shades like Eclipse’s Drewton White Cordless 100% Blackout Motorized Roman Shades are easier to fit to sliding doors if custom-ordered, costing around $196.91 each if ordered in the same dimensions as the previously mentioned manual shades.
Get solar shades to indirectly tint one or both sides of the glass
Solar shades are another type of roller shade, prioritizing function over aesthetics. This screen-like contraption sits above the sliding glass door and extends up or down to block light as needed. Instead of rolling down from bunched or folded fabric layers, these shades extend from a board above the sliding door. They come in a light or dark-tinted tightly-woven fabric with varying degrees of “openness,” with 10% openness being more transparent and 1% openness blocking most light and visibility. Shades with 1% to 3% openness are recommended for more privacy.
When ordering solar shades, ensure you’re selecting the correct openness percentage and size. Persilux Custom Size Cordless Solar Blinds are available on Amazon, offering full customization like many online window covering retailers. You can choose between 1%, 2%, and 3% openness, fabric color, mount type, and the exact width and height needed. Prices start at $42.99 but can rise much higher if you cover your entire sliding door. Like Roman shades, order two so you can keep one side closed while accessing the door.
Hang a sliding curtain from the top of the wall above a door
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Traditional window coverings also work well as covers for sliding glass doors. Try a standard sliding curtain, a dynamic alternative to vertical blinds. The curtain rod should be placed a short distance above the door and extend several inches wider on either side to ensure it functions smoothly and fully covers the glass. Order a curtain rod roughly 4 inches longer than the door frame, so it extends about 2 inches on either side. Install the rod horizontally about 4 inches above the sliding door, and you’re ready to order the curtain of your choice.
A curtain that slides to one side will be more practical since it hides a glass window without blocking the other side with the door. Avoid sheer, light-colored fabrics, which become more translucent in bright sunlight. The NICETOWN Total Shade Patio Door Curtain is long and wide enough for a standard sliding glass door and comes in over 20 color options. It’s only $30 for one, and if paired with Zeerobee’s Industrial Wrap Around Black Curtain Rod, the entire installation can be kept under $100.
Use specialized panel blinds that attach to a sliding track in front of a sliding door
Panel blinds have a modern look and cover windows similarly to plantation shutters. This product includes large fabric panels that slide along a track, stacking to one side and folding out as needed. The rolling track stretches the entire length of the sliding door, offering full or partial obscurity. The panels are usually made of woven fabric thick enough to filter light or block it out completely. The panels slide open and closed via a pull wand or motorized system, depending on your budget and preference.
GoDear Design’s Adjustable Vertical Blinds block visibility but still allow natural sunlight to shine through. They cost between $149.99 and $189.99 depending on the color, and the fabric is trimmable to fit most sliding doors. You can also get custom Bali Sliding Panels. These are more expensive, but you can customize the color, mount type, size, and other details to best suit the door and surrounding interior design.
Install smart drapes that are controllable via a mobile app or remote
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Smart drapes resemble standard curtains but offer significantly more convenience through smart technology. These curtains are motorized and controllable with remote controls, a mobile app, and other smart devices. You can set a schedule to open and close your curtains, automatically providing sunlight during the day and privacy at night. This makes it easy to move the curtains aside when using the sliding door.
Smart curtains are available at many retailers nowadays. Amazon offers an extra-large chargeable or hardwired Graywind Smart Curtains for Sliding Doors for $338.99. This curtain attaches to your ceiling or wall and covers 40 feet by about 18 feet, so you’ll likely need to order more than one to cover the entire width of a sliding glass door. If you already have a curtain setup, you can install a standalone remote control device like Silky Rider’s Smart Remote Control Motorized Automated Power Curtain for $245. This device may work in tandem with other window coverings on this list. Double-check with the manufacturer and search the product specifications before buying, as some window coverings may not be compatible.
Hang a sliding DIY macrame curtain
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Fans of boho-esque decor can take a unique approach to cover their sliding glass door. Attach a curtain rod above the door frame and start a custom macrame curtain. Macrame is a relatively easy weaving technique to learn since you only need the fabric and your hands to create it—no fancy sewing needles or hooks are required. Weave a denser design with more fabric to make a thicker curtain that provides more privacy.
If you lack the skills or time to create a macrame curtain by hand, there are ready-made options available. Amazon offers a Lush Decor Boho Macrame Tassel Cotton Window Curtain long enough for most sliding door designs for $54.99. However, you’ll need more than one to fit the entire width of most doors. To weave it yourself, you’ll need fabric supplies. You can use virtually any kind of cord, rope, or yarn if the fabric is pliable. Just ensure the cord has a width of around 3 millimeters to 5 millimeters for durability when sliding back and forth on a curtain rod. You’ll need a substantial amount of material for this project, and each cord should be at least four times the length of your desired curtain. Online blogger A Beautiful Mess provides a handy tutorial for beginner macrame curtains.
Apply one-way mirror film to the exterior of sliding door glass
One-way glass is commonly used in commercial buildings but is also an option for residential homes. One-way mirror films can be applied to one side of the window, making it impossible to see through. This glass cover is ideal because it reduces heat and glare from sunlight while still letting natural light in. It provides privacy without obstructing the view from inside. Keep in mind that this glass film is less effective when it’s brighter indoors than outside. You might need to pair this method with another window covering for privacy at night.
Mirror film can be ordered in bulk-size rolls from companies specializing in window coverings, such as Two Way Mirrors. You can also order a static cling, non-adhesive film on Amazon. WPCTEV’s Window Privacy Film One Way Daytime Mirror Tint is $74.99 for a roll approximately 3 feet by 16 feet. Depending on the size of your door and how much you plan to cover, you may need more, and it’s recommended to order the “black silver” color to best emulate a one-way mirror glass look.
Emulate frosted glass with a renter-friendly static cling film
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If you don’t mind obscuring the glass from both sides, there are numerous frosted, non-adhesive window options. A “frosted glass” window film mimics etched or textured windows at only a fraction of the cost. Instead of spending $250 or more for a professional installation, you could spend less than $200 using Amazon products. Faux frosted glass clings are renter-friendly, as they peel off without leaving any adhesive behind when removed. This option also adds a modern aesthetic and blocks some sunlight and heat, making it both decorative and functional.
The largest size of Coavas Window Privacy Film Frosted Glass Static Cling is approximately 4 feet by 26 feet, costing about $163.79. Depending on the size of your sliding door, you may be able to cover the entire surface. Even if you need to order a second static cling film, you won’t require as much, and it will still be significantly cheaper (and less permanent) than a professionally installed glass replacement.
Hang decorative stained glass tile decals on one side of the glass
Stained glass decals add a whimsical look while obscuring the view through glass doors. The colors and designs in these decals transform glass into an art piece that also provides sun protection and privacy. Use individual peel-and-stick tiles or a static cling roll to mimic the extravagant look without the cost of true stained glass. Sliding doors adorned with true stained glass can cost upwards of a thousand dollars, whereas doing it yourself with decals or cling sheets could keep the budget around $100.
Order two or three of Artscape’s Magnolia Window Film for $17.99 each, though you’ll need to cut and interrupt the pattern to cover the entire sliding glass door. If you prefer a more tiled look, use S&S Worldwide Repositionable and Reusable Stained Glass Pack of 12 Window Clings. Keep in mind that installing individual squares requires more effort than long strips of window film, as each one needs to be placed individually. Whether you install a sheet of film or individual tiles, use a level and squeegee for best results to transform your ordinary doors into an enviable work of stained glass art.
Eclipse an interior with a rainbow peel-and-stick suncatcher
Another window film that distorts interiors without blocking all light is a rainbow suncatcher. These long peel-and-stick decals block the sun while dispersing its light into a rainbow effect, illuminating a room in vibrant colors. Even small versions of these decals emit rainbows, so a full sliding door creates a larger and more magical effect. These films are renter-friendly, as they use static cling to stick, and they distort the view from both sides of the glass.
The Dwersty Rainbow Window Privacy Film 3D Decal Suncatcher comes in a large 4 by 17-foot roll for only $89.99. An additional purchase may be necessary to fully cover a sliding door. Other suncatcher window films, like Rainbow Symphony Diffraction Window Film for $44.95, are available, but be aware that larger-scale designs offer less privacy.
Frost windows with specialized glass spray
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There’s a third option for installing frosted sliding glass doors. In addition to professional glass replacements and window clings, specialized spray paint can emulate frosted glass. Although not renter-friendly, it effectively obscures windows while adding a modern look. It diffuses light without blocking it entirely, providing privacy while allowing natural sunlight. The downside of a spray solution is that it won’t last forever and may fade over time. It should only be sprayed on the interior side of the door, as it isn’t designed to withstand constant water exposure. This frosted glass method won’t last as long in homes with poor humidity control and condensation.
Before spraying the door, tape off all areas you don’t want to be touched by frosted paint, including the rolling tracks and door frame. Lay a tarp down and apply the paint following the product-specific instructions. One of the most highly reviewed and popular frosted spray paints is made by Rust-Oleum. One can of Rust-Oleum Frosted Glass Spray Paint, 11 oz, covers up to 7 square feet, so you’ll need at least six cans for full coverage. Whether purchased at Amazon, Home Depot, or Walmart, expect to spend about $7 per can.
