Best Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors in Florida

What makes sliding doors tricky

A sliding door is a large piece of glass you walk through every day. The covering has to cut glare and heat, give privacy when you want it, and not get in the way of the door. Many people also want to keep the view of the pool, lanai or yard.

Your main options

• Solar shades: keep the view and cut glare and heat, best for daytime use
• Sheer vertical shades such as Norman SmartDrape: easy to walk through and soft in appearance
• Plantation shutters on a track: a built-in look with tilting louvers for light control
• Banded shades: switch between view and privacy by sliding the bands
• Motorized shades: make very wide or tall doors simple to operate

Choosing by how you use the door

If the door is a main route to the patio, choose something that stays out of the way, such as a vertical shade or a track-mounted shutter. If the view matters most, solar shades are the usual answer. If privacy at night matters, pair a solar shade with a second shade, because a solar shade lets people see in once the lights are on.

Very wide doors are often split into more than one shade so each one stays easy to operate.

See it at your door

The right choice depends on the sun, the view and how you use the door. We bring samples to your home, measure the door and show you the options in place. The visit is free.

Products mentioned in this guide

• Solar Shades
  Cuts heat and glare while you keep the view outside.
• Sheer Shades
  Diffused daylight with privacy when the vanes are tilted.
• Plantation Shutters
  Timeless, durable and easy to clean. A permanent upgrade to the house.
• Banded Shades
  Slide the bands to open the view or close it off.
• Motorized Roller Shades
  Raise and lower by remote, app, voice or a daily schedule.

Common questions