Ditch Curtains For An Even Better Sliding Glass Door Window Treatment

Sliding glass doors are perfect for blending an outdoor patio area with your indoor living space. They provide a great view, let in lots of natural sunlight, and they take up little space in a room. However, some of these benefits are the very same reasons that sliding glass doors can be a bit of a pain. For example, they do not offer much privacy, and they are often not very energy efficient compared to regular doors. There are some window covering ideas that will add privacy to your sliding doors, but they may not be the aesthetic you want to add to your home. Plus, options like curtains can be quite bulky. If you want to add some serious style to your home while making your sliding glass doors even more practical, then you should consider ditching the curtains and adding a sliding barn door as an alternative window treatment.

Although this double-door design may sound a bit strange, it truly is functional. For this trend, you install a sliding barn door inside your home so that it covers your sliding glass door when closed. When opened, the barn door slides completely out of the way and gives you full access to your door while being more visually appealing than curtains or blinds. When closed, it blocks light and adds privacy. There are endless style options, and sliding barn doors are fairly easy to install on your own. 

Similar to how closing exterior shutters on windows can help insulate your home better, a barn door can help make your house more energy efficient by blocking light and preventing hot air or cool air from escaping so easily. So, while you could choose a thermal curtain or even DIY a heat blocking curtain for lower bills this summer, a stylish barn door installation can also get the job done.

If you have a rustic or farmhouse aesthetic in your home, it is probably easy to imagine how a barn door will complement the look. Any type of wood doors can look great, and the contrast with darker hardware is homey and picturesque. For those with different tastes, though, there are many ways to make this trend work. For a modern or industrial look, experiment with a black door. Frosted window panels make it look sleek and contemporary, and the right hardware can make the barn door suit your room. If you are after more of a glamorous style, then white doors with gold hardware and mirrored accents or panels will look super luxurious. In addition to the colors on the doors, you also must consider the layout. Ideally, the barn door will be able to cover the entire glass door when closed, and you will have enough space to move the barn door to completely expose the glass door as well. This can be achieved with a single barn door, but using at least two doors might be better for maneuverability.

To install a barn door, you need the door (or doors), a barn door hardware kit, wood for a backing board, a stud finder, a level, and a power drill. The simple process can be completed alone. First, make sure there is room on the wall for your door and that the door will cover the sliding glass door and hang over a couple inches on either side. The door should also have a couple inches between it and the floor once installed. Using the stud finder, mark the locations of the studs on the wall and copy those locations on the backing board. Then, use the drill to create two holes where each stud will be on the backing board. Copy and drill the holes from the barn door's track onto the backing board as well. 

Once this is done, you can use wood screws to attach the backing board to the wall, and follow the door's instructions to attach the track and stoppers. Finally, attach the wheels to the door before lifting and hanging the door or doors on the track. It is important to use the level throughout the process, as any crooked parts could make the door roll autonomously or otherwise not stay in place. Make sure you learn the average cost to install a barn door if you do not want to tackle a DIY. Whether you choose to hang the door up yourself or hire someone, this trend is a great way to improve the functionality and style of an old sliding glass door.