Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Help me decide what I should do. We have a sliding glass door from our kitchen onto our deck. I am buying a valance to go along the top, and was planning on buying vertical blinds to use at night if we wanted.

The truth is, we really don't need to cover the doors for privacy....there is no one behind us and how our fence and shed are situated, the only way someone can look into our doors at night is if they were standing on our deck (and in that case, our security lights would go on anyway )

So I'm wondering if I should even bother with blinds? The previous owners had them, but we rarely closed them at night for the reasons I just mentioned.

The only reason I'm questioning this is because if we only hang the valance, it would be lower on the wall than if we had to put up verticals as well. I don't want to have to make anymore holes in the wall than we have to, since it was just painted.

What would you guys do?

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

I would not put up blinds right away. Live without them for a while and see if you like it. Once you purchase blinds you can't return them if they are custom made.

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

I HATE verticals. We have dramatic window treatments on our sliders.

Message edited 4/10/2006 1:12:15 PM.

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

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Message edited 4/10/2006 1:31:39 PM.

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

I lived in an apt. where sliders were my entrance in and out. There were verticals and I would have to close them and then try to get out. JMHO but they are a pain in the @#$ because they always get caught. Of course, they were my landlords so I couldn't take them down.

I'd put up sheers, drapes or leave them w/ just a valance.

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

I hate verticals too and recently took ours down on the sliders from DR to deck. I put up curtains with a sheer underneath so if I WANT privacy -- or that cozy feeling -- or just to help with the draft and chill in winter -- then I close the curtains. When it's daytime, sunny, I open them. The sheers give me privacy (my neighbors can see in from their upstairs).

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Message edited 1/30/2009 2:07:53 PM.

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Hey Teri!

I'm partial to drapes and nice hardware.

I'm not a fan of verticals to begin with, but I feel like when they take a beating...it shows. It's easier to clean drapes too...just throw them in the laundry or take them to the cleaners (I prefer the latter. )

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

I hate verticals too. We have those curtains that look like an hour glass figure.

Message edited 4/10/2006 5:23:43 PM.

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Thanks everyone!!

I'm glad to read the responses....my DH doesn't want the verticals but I guess I just figured it would look naked without it.

I'd love a more formal drape but I think it'd be in the way where the sliders are....it's still a pretty busy area of the kitchen. So I think a valance would be simple and out of the way



Jen - do you know I only JUST "recognized" you from photos you posted from your LR about a week ago

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Teri, we got rid of all the vertical blinds in the hosue when we moved in and what a difference it made! I hate verticals, and when you have a door that your using, it gets in teh way more often than not.

I think a valence on top would be more than perfect for your sliders. You know that we have those white drapes on ours, that we cinch in the middle to give us some view out back. But since we live up against a hill, no one can see in either. they are really there for show. I just slide them to the side in the summer when and if we open up the french doors for some air. But since that is your access to the deck, I'd go for just a valence.

I know you said you painted, any recent updated pics? What color did you end up with? I just love your new kitchen

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

Posted by chmlengr

I know you said you painted, any recent updated pics? What color did you end up with? I just love your new kitchen

Re: Should we get verticals for sliding glass doors that don't need privacy?

We got long drapes like the pic Kate posted, but we actually put up 2 panels on each side so we can slide them across the door when we need privacy.