Alternative Window Coverings For Added Privacy With Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding glass doors are great for letting in natural sunlight and giving a wide-open view of the outdoors. The caveat of having a beautiful view is that you might also have no privacy. Fortunately, there are many ways to cover glass doors and keep your home life private. You can opt for blinds, curtains, shutters, window films, and other products to conceal your home interior without obstructing the door.

Below are 13 varying window covering ideas that will add privacy to your sliding glass door. There are a plethora of options. Products like panel blinds offer complete privacy, while decorative window decals distort visibility while letting light through. Many of these products have other benefits, too, such as providing shade, UV protection, and enhancing your interior design. You can find sleek, modern window glass treatments as well as options with more traditional or rustic designs. No matter your budget, there is a doable option out there for any homeowner or renter. Some products cost hundreds of dollars and require professional installations, while others can be DIYed with discounted Amazon supplies. Learn more about how these items provide privacy, where you can find them, and how to install them by reading on below. 

Imitation wood vertical blinds operate the same as traditional window blinds but have a more luxurious look and offer more privacy. They come in split-stack or one-way draw form. The first option splits down the middle, while the latter pushes all of the blinds to one side. The vinyl or composite wood material is completely opaque and looks like hardwood while costing roughly 40% less than genuine lumber. These blinds often have louvered slats for light filtering. You can rotate them open or closed for privacy as needed.

Standard sliding doors are roughly 6 to 7 feet tall by 5 to 6 feet wide, but you should measure your own sliding door to ensure you get the right measurements. You should also add 4 inches to the maximum width to ensure more light coverage and privacy. When you measure the height, add two to three inches to account for where you plan to place the headrail. Cut this measurement by a half-inch so the blinds hang just above the floor.

Amazon's BrylaneHome Embossed Vertical Privacy Slat Blinds are only $126.99 and come in a textured light taupe color, and customers say they look beautiful and are great at blocking light when you want it. However, if your sliding door is a non-standard size, you have kids, or want the blinds to stack in a specific way — you may have better luck investing in custom blinds from somewhere like SelectBlinds, even though they cost significantly more. SelectBlinds has a Select Faux Wood Vertical Blinds collection where you can customize the size, mount type, and stack location. There are also various imitation wood patterns to choose from.

Plantation shutters befit 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're controllable by a hanging stick, which rotates to open or close the wood slats and give you full light and privacy control. They stand vertically or horizontally, and can cover your entire door or sit café-style, depending on your preference.

Since these shutters sit in a frame fitted over a sliding door, they are often custom ordered. You can customize Levolor's Classic By-Pass Shutters through The Home Depot or Lowe's, and the cost varies depending on your personalization choices. Hiring workers to do a professional installation is expensive, but you can follow helpful tips for a DIY plantation shutter installation to save money. Online retailers that specialize in blinds and window coverings also sell plantation shutters. If you like the look, you can also have these shutters installed as partitions to create privacy for your entryway.

Vertical roller shades or Roman shades are a great option for sliding doors. These shades roll up or down from the top of the window, allowing you to increase privacy as needed. Using one large shade has limitations since the entire thing must be pulled up to enter and exit the sliding door. If you install two shades, the glass window portion can stay covered while rolling up the door side for entry access. The open and close function is sometimes connected to an automatic button, but many styles are rolled up and down by hand with a bottom rail. The fabric on these shades is often thick enough to filter light or block it out completely.

Roller and Roman shades are made for windows of all sizes, but options get more limited the larger you go. You'll have a lot more luck 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 around $92.99 each if you order in sizes large enough for most sliding doors. They're manually operated. Motorized roller shades like Eclipse's Drewton White Cordless 100% Blackout Motorized Roman Shades are easier to fit to sliding doors if you custom order them. These motorized window coverings cost around $196.91 each if you order in the same dimensions as the previously mentioned manual shades.

Solar shades are another type of roller shade, but they prioritize function over aesthetics. Like regular roller shades, they can be mounted above the sliding glass door and extend up or down to block light as needed. They are made from UV and glare-blocking fabric with varying degrees of "openness." For instance, a 10% openness is more transparent, and 1% openness blocks most light and visibility. Shades between a 1% to 3% rating are recommended for enhanced privacy.

When ordering solar shades, ensure you're ordering the right openness percentage as well as the correct size. Persilux Custom Size Cordless Solar Blinds are available through Amazon and offer full customization like many online window covering retailers. You can choose between 1%, 2%, and 3% openness, the fabric color, the mount type, and the exact width and height you need. Prices start at $42.99 but will rise much higher if you cover your entire sliding door. Like with the Roman shades, you should order two so you can keep one side closed while accessing the door.

Curtains are a dynamic alternative to vertical blinds for sliding doors. They can add softness, texture, sound absorption, and complete privacy. The curtain rod should be several inches wider than the door on either side (some designers even advise you go as wide as 10 to 15 inches on either side) so there is room for the curtains to hang without obscuring the door when pulled back. How high to mount the curtain rod can depend on a couple of things. If you don't want to have to hem your curtains, use their length as a guide and mount the rod at a height that will allow them to almost touch the floor, but not quite, and definitely don't let them pool. One of the reasons you shouldn't go for the puddling curtain look here is that the extra fabric could catch in the track and get dirty in this high-traffic area. If you want to create the illusion of extra ceiling height and a grander sliding door, consider installing the curtain rod a good few inches up from the top of the door — or even close to the ceiling.

Double curtain panels will give a balanced look, and you're more likely to be able to cover a sliding door properly with two panels. The accepted rule of thumb is that curtains should be one and a half to two times wider than the window they are covering. This ensures that they drape properly and don't leave awkward gaps at the edges (which looks terrible and isn't great for privacy). Avoid sheer fabrics which don't offer much privacy at night. The H.Versailtex Blackout Linen Curtains from Amazon come in a variety of widths and lengths (the widest options could even cover a sliding door with a single panel, which could be handy if you don't have enough wall space on the door side to fully push the curtain open). If you pair it with Zeerobee's Industrial Wrap Around Black Curtain Rod, you can keep the entire installation around $100.

Panel blinds have a modern look and cover windows similarly to plantation shutters. This product includes large fabric panels that slide along a track, and stack to one side and fold out as needed. The rolling track stretches the entire length of the sliding door, offering full or partial obscurity, and 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're only $149.99 to $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.

Smart drapes look like a standard pair of curtains but offer extra 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 giving you sunlight during the day and privacy when night falls. 

You can find smart curtains at many retailers nowadays. Amazon carries the extra large chargeable or hardwired, Alexa-compatible Graywind Smart Curtains for Sliding Doors for $338.99. This curtain attaches to your ceiling or wall, and the size is customizable, ranging up to 220 inches wide and 110 inches tall. 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. Right now it isn't directly compatible with any smart home hubs, but can work in tandem with various window coverings. Double-check by asking the manufacturer and searching the product specifications before you buy since some window coverings may not be compatible.

Fans of boho-esque decor can take a unique route to cover their sliding glass door. Attach a curtain rod above the door frame, and start a custom macramé curtain. Macramé is a relatively easy weaving technique to learn since you only need the string and your hands to create it — there are no fancy sewing needles or hooks involved. Used in this way, it creates an airy look that still keeps out prying eyes, but you can also weave a thicker curtain that provides more privacy.

Like most things in today's day and age, you don't have to handmake the macramé curtain if you lack the skills or time to complete it. Amazon carries a Lush Decor Boho Macrame Tassel Cotton Window Curtain that is long enough for most sliding door designs for $54.99, but you'll need two panels. To weave it yourself, you can use virtually any kind of cord, rope, or yarn, as long as it is pliable. Just make sure the cord has a width of around 3-5 millimeters, so it's more durable for sliding back and forth on a curtain rod. You'll need a lot of material for this project, as each cord should be at least four times the length of your desired curtain. 

One-way glass is common in commercial buildings, but it's also an option for residential homes. There are one-way mirror films that paste over windows, making it impossible to see through. Also known as privacy film, it reduces the heat and glare from sunlight, but still lets natural light in, while providing privacy — all without impeding the view looking out. Keep in mind that this glass film isn't as effective when it's brighter indoors than it is outside. You might need to pair this method with another window covering for privacy at night, opt for a more highly reflective film, or install outdoor light features to reflect light off the exterior of the sliding door.

You can order mirror film in bulk-size rolls from companies that specialize 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 roughly 3-foot by 14-foot roll. You may need more depending on the size of your door and how much you plan to cover.

If you don't mind obscuring the view through the door from both sides, there are many frosted, non-adhesive window options. A "frosted glass" window film emulates etched or textured windows at only a fraction of the cost of the real thing. Instead of spending up to $1,000 or more to replace the glass with a frosted version, you could spend less than $200 using Amazon products. Imitation frosted glass clings are renter-friendly, as they peel off and don't leave any adhesive behind when removed. Frost films can also add a modern aesthetic and block some sunlight and heat, making this option both decorative and functional.

The Coavas Window Privacy Film Frosted Glass Static Cling comes in a range of sizes — but for a 60-inch wide sliding glass door, the best option will probably be two 29.5-inch by 118.1-inch panels (one for the door and one for the stationary part). This will work out to around $100. However, before you order, measure the exact dimensions of the glass sheets in your door so you can get the size that's closest and avoid spending extra on over-large panels of film that will have lots of excess. 

Stained glass decals add a whimsical look while obscuring the view through glass doors. The colors and designs in these decals turn glass into an art piece that also provides sun protection and privacy. Hang up individual peel-and-stick tiles or a static cling roll to emulate the extravagant look without paying the price of true stained glass. Sliding doors adorned with true, custom stained glass can cost a few thousand dollars, whereas doing it yourself with decals or cling sheets could keep the budget around $100.

To cover a sliding door, you could order two or three rolls of something like of Artscape's Magnolia Window Film for $17.99, or a similar product with a repeating pattern. If you prefer a more tiled look and just want a slight feeling of added privacy, use S&S Worldwide Repositionable and Reusable Stained Glass Pack of 12 Window Clings. Keep in mind that it might be more work to install individual squares than long strips of window film since you have to place each one 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.

Another window film that blocks other people's view into interiors without stopping all light is a rainbow suncatcher. These long peel-and-stick decals block the sun, but disperse its light into a rainbow effect, illuminating a room in vibrant colors. These films are renter-friendly since they use static cling to stick, and they distort the view from both sides of the glass — ideal if you don't want people to see in, and don't enjoy the view outside your sliding door.

The Dwersty Rainbow Window Privacy Film 3D Decal Suncatcher comes in various sizes, but for a 60-inch wide sliding door, the 29.5-inch by 157.4-inch panels will probably work best. They cost $89.99 and you will need two to fully cover a sliding door. There are other suncatcher window films, like Rainbow Symphony Diffraction Window Film for $44.95, but be warned that larger-scale designs don't provide as much privacy.

There's a third route for installing frosted sliding glass doors. In addition to professional glass replacements and window clings, there's a specialized spray paint designed to emulate frosted glass. This is not renter-friendly but effectively obscures windows while adding a modern look. It diffuses light without blocking it entirely, ensuring you have privacy but don't lose natural sunlight. The only downside of a spray solution is that it won't last forever and can wear away over time. It should only be sprayed on the interior side of the door since it isn't designed to withstand constant water exposure.

Before spraying the door, tape off all the areas you don't want 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 fluid ounces) covers up to 7 square feet, so you'll need five or six cans for a sliding door. Whether purchased at Amazon, Home Depot, or Walmart, expect to spend about $7 per can.