The best blinds for French doors

French doors have been a mainstay in home design for decades. With versatile options to suit modern or traditional styles, they create a lovely sense of indoor-outdoor flow and always feel elegant. Curtains are a common choice for controlling light and privacy when it comes to French doors, but blinds can be a sleek option, especially in more modern rooms.

Choosing blinds for French doors is a little more complicated than for sliding doors - you need to consider an option that won't get in the way of the door's functionality. And the best way to avoid your blinds getting in the way is to attach them to the door itself rather than the frame.

By attaching your blinds to the 'frame' of the window within your French door, they still provide all teh light blocking and privacy benefits, but they'll move seamlessly with the doors and not block access to handles.

The best blind options for French doors

Roman blinds

Roman blinds are a great customisable option for French doors as you can choose the fabric style to suit. They also create a smooth look when lowered and emphasise the surrounding details of the doors. A graceful style that adds a touch of class, while protecting your living areas from harsh UV rays and glare, roman blinds are best in the lounge or kitchen where complete light blocking isn’t necessary, although you can line more of our fabrics with a block out liner if you want to incorporate this look in the bedroom as well.

Honeycomb blinds

Visually honeycomb blinds are a more modern look than roman blinds, but they can still suit a range of styles. Honeycomb blinds also have the added benefit of good insulating properties and a very slim profile. They can be made to smaller proportions as well, making them a great choice for narrow doors. And with dual opening options, you have plenty of control over light and privacy.

Other blind options for French doors

If you’re looking for an option to cover the full French door, rather than mounting the blinds to the windows within the door, you will need to consider how far out the handles of the door come and where to mount the blinds so they don’t get in the way of the doors opening.

Some options for fully covering French doors are roller blinds or vertical blinds. Both are stylish, economical options that will help control light and privacy.

For roller blinds, make sure to install them above the door frame to ensure they can be rolled up out of the way of the doors, especially if your French doors open inward. Roller blinds can be a good option when paired with curtains, especially in bedrooms as they can block most light when down and then be rolled up out of the way with a lovely sheer curtain for an easy, breezy feel on hot days.

For verticals, makes sure there is enough space to the side of the door for the slats to stack when open without getting caught up in the French doors. Verticals can be a good option for French doors that don’t get used on a daily basis and act more like full length windows.

Are shutters a good option for French doors?

The short answer is no. While shutters are a beautiful option, they aren't practical for most French doors. They are heavier than other blind options and there needs to be a decent amount of space for the slats to guide seamlessly - most French doors have handles that impact this. While they might work for you, be sure to carefully consider both the weight and functionality of the doors before choosing shutters.

If you're not sure what kind of blind will best suit your French doors, book a consultation with one of our expert consultants. They'll come to you anywhere in New Zealand and bring plenty of samples and advice to make sure you get the perfect fit.