French Door Blinds and Shades

Premium Wood Blinds

One-inch American basswood blinds are the most popular French door treatment. The 1″ slat and low profile headrail slip behind most standard door handles with no interference. Precise light adjustment all day long with tilt control. In a variety of stains and painted finishes to match door trim and interior decor. Cordless lift is highly recommended to avoid the risk of the cords swinging into the door opening when the door is opened.

Sheer Shades

Sheer shades have sheer fabric vanes between two sheer panels – open vanes allow soft diffused light to enter the room, closed vanes offer privacy without taking away the airy and light passed French doors. The thin frame is ideal for French door shallow mounts. Ideal for interior French doors between rooms, as well as exterior French doors for which complete blackout is not necessary.

Plantation Shutters

Roman Shades

Add a Custom Fabric Warmth to French Door Glass. Door mounted applications benefit from flat and pleated fold styles as these styles stack neatly at the top when opened with little headrail bulk. Light and blackout lining options available. The French door Roman shades should be mounted using a low level mounting bracket and hold down brackets so that the fabric panel will stay parallel with the door while in operation.

Cellular Shades

Cellular honeycomb shades are the most energy-efficient French door treatment and one of the most practical for day to day use. The slim headrail profile fits nicely behind most door handles, and the fabric cells provide insulation of the glass panel which minimizes solar heat gain in MD summers and heat loss in exterior doors during winter in the DC area. Available in light filtering and blackout fabric.

Aluminum Mini Blinds

One-inch aluminum mini blinds are the smallest and most affordable French door blind. The ultra-low profile headrail offers the smallest mounting width available—the ideal headrail for doors that have limited space for the handle or a very shallow glass depth. Frequent contact and motion of daily door use is provided by durable aluminum construction. In various colour options. Call for cordless operation.

Custom French Door Blinds and Shades – Wood Blinds, Cellular, Roman, Sheer, Plantation Shutters and Mini Blinds for Maryland, Virginia and DC Homes

French doors are one of the most elegant elements of any home, and one of the most difficult windows to adorn properly. Normal window shades have several requirements which are not met by a full length glass panel, inward swinging door hardware, shallow mounting depth, or the constant motion of daily use. The only thing that looks good, performs well and lasts is custom French door blinds and shades with the proper hardware and correct glass panel measurement.

BuyHomeBlinds offers French door blinds and shades custom made and installed to homeowners in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. Each product is custom made to the exact size of your glass panels, supplied with hold down brackets and designed by our staff with the correct low profile mounting hardware for your door. All orders ship free of charge. All products are covered by limited warranty. In-home consultation is free and is available in the DC metro area.

Check our French door blind and shade selections below, request free samples or call us 301-847-7000 to consult with a window treatment professional today!

Three Things Every French Door Window Treatment Must Do

Each French door treatment needs to meet three requirements that are not applicable to normal window installations.

Clear the door handle

French door treatment failure usually happens due to the handle or the lever. Shades or blinds in front of the handle cannot be lowered. Treatment should be provided with a low, shallow headrail that does not obstruct the glass from the inner edge of the handle. The majority of 1-inch wood blinds, cellular shades, and roller shades will fit behind standard door handles and will allow for at least 1-inch clearance. Spacer blocks may be required for faux wood blinds or heavier headrails. Handle projection is a measurement made by our specialists at each French door prior to the product specification.

Mount on the door, not the wall

French door blinds and shades attach directly to the door panel and open and close with the door panel. For nearly all French door uses, the standard is an outside mount with a headrail bracket attached to the surface of the door over the glass. Treatment is applied on the entire glass surface and follows the door at all times.

Use hold-down brackets

Any treatment installed without hold down will swing, rattle and knock against the glass with every swing of the French door. Hold-down brackets are small brackets installed on the bottom of the glass panel on the door surface. These are then attached to the bottom rail and secure the treatment flush to the door. Unlike some French door blind distributors, BuyHomeBlinds does not charge an extra fee or sell hold-down brackets separately; they are standard with all French door blind and shade orders.

How to Measure French Doors for Custom Blinds and Shades

Measure only the glass panel, not the width or height of the entire glass door.

For width: take the widest width of the glass at the top, middle, and bottom, and then add 1 inch on both sides of that width. Ensure the final width is not at the door handle on either side.

For height: measure the glass at left, centre, and right, then add 3-4″ above the glass for the mounting bracket and 2-3″ below the glass for the hold-down bracket position.

Prior to ordering, measure how far the door handle extends from the glass. When the handle extends over 1″, most 1″ wide wood blinds, roller shades and cellular shades will work. Spacer blocks are necessary for wider-headrail products; our team checks for clearance during the no-cost in home consultation.

Schedule a no-cost in-home visit – our expert will inspect each and every French door in your Maryland, Virginia, or DC home and ensure a perfect fit for all custom treatments we install.

Room-by-Room French Door Recommendations

Why Maryland, Virginia, and DC Homeowners Choose BuyHomeBlinds

We are located in the Washington DC metro area (Beltsville, MD, Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Reston, Herndon, McLean, and Washington DC). All French door treatments are manufactured to accurate glass panel sizes, with the appropriate mounting hardware and are standard with hold-down brackets.

Handcrafted to precision French door glass panel dimensions
Hold down brackets are supplied free with all orders.
Purchase quantity required.No minimum purchase required for free shipping.
Limited lifetime warranty on all products
Specialist measures all doors, checks handle clearance and provides samples for free – in home consultation
Cordless and motorized solutions for all 6 product types.
Warranted to be installed professionally throughout MD, VA, and DC

Schedule a free in-home consultation online or call 301-847-7000 today.

Frequently Asked Questions About French Door Blinds and Shades

What makes French door blinds different from standard window blinds?

French door blinds are installed directly on the door panel, so they open and close with the door. They need a low level headrail to pass over the door handle, the standard mount is outside and hold-down brackets at the bottom to ensure the treatment is flat against the door during operation. The normal window blinds are not built to meet these needs and will not perform properly without the proper hardware on a French door.

What are hold-down brackets and do I need them?

Hold-down brackets are small clips attached to the bottom corners of the glass panel in the door surface. The bottom rail of the blind or shade fits into the blind or shade so that it stays flat against the door and won’t swing or rattle as the door opens and closes. They play a crucial role for any French door blind or shade installed on a moving door. Hold down brackets are standard on all French Door orders with BuyHomeBlinds.

Are cordless blinds better for French doors?

Yes. All French door applications are strongly recommended to be cordless blinds and shades. Cords that are on corded treatments swing out when the door opens and can become entangled with the hardware, which can cause the treatment to be pulled out of alignment. This is completely avoided with cordless lift which is controlled by a push or pull applied to the lower rail. All cordless products provided by BuyHomeBlinds are also in accordance with the latest federal window covering safety standard, ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Which product gives the best privacy on a French door?

Blackout shades are the most private shades, blocking nearly all light by closing fully.Blackout cellular shades and blackout Roman shades are the most private shades, offering the best blocking with complete coverage. Blackout lined Roman shades work well also. Any one of these three will give complete coverage to French doors on an outdoor patio that need privacy at night, and have a close fitting door mount and hold down brackets. Sheer shades and plantation shutters with open louvres provide privacy during the day but not on the night.

Can plantation shutters be installed on French doors?

Yes. Shutter panels are attached to a hinged frame that is secured to the door and open against the door’s surface when the door is open and closed over the glass when privacy is desired. Not necessary to use hold down brackets – hinged frame holds the shutter. For exterior French doors that receive direct sunlight and are subject to humidity, composite (or faux wood) plantation shutters are recommended.

How do I measure my French doors for custom blinds?

Only measure the glass panel. To measure the width, use the widest measurement at the top, middle, and bottom of the glass, add 1 inch on each side, and make sure this is not the widest part of the glass at the handle. Measuring for height – Use the greatest left, centre and right measurement plus 3 to 4 inches above and 2 to 3 inches below the glass. Check the length of the handle projection for clearance. Our in-house professionals take measurements of all doors and ensure the proper fit of each custom treatment.

What is the best French door treatment for an exterior patio door?

The most practical option is cellular shades, which are energy efficient, come in blackout or light filtering options and fit over most door handles. Long term, plantation shutters are the most weather and sun-resistant choice. A 1” width of wood blinds is a classic look with a thin design that will work for door-mount applications. All 3 come with hold down brackets, and free installation measurement from BuyHomeBlinds.

Do you install French door blinds and shades in Maryland, Virginia, and DC?

Yes. BuyHomeBlinds serves the following areas in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC: Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Reston and more. For motorized treatments, we install all mounting and hold down brackets, confirm clearance and integrate them into your smart home. All installs come with a limited lifetime warranty. Schedule an in-home consultation, free of charge.

Cover Your French Doors With Treatments That Stay in Place

Whether you’re looking for a custom French door blind or shade for your door, BuyHomeBlinds has the right window blind for every door in every room of your Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC home, including premium wood blinds, cellular shades, Roman shades, sheer shades, plantation shutters, or aluminum mini blinds. Shipped with custom fabricated hold down brackets, Lifetime Warranty.

Shop our French door collections above, order free samples, or call 301-847-7000 to book your free in-home consultation today.