If you have sliding-glass doors you’re likely considering vertical blinds. While vinyl, aluminum, and wood are common choices, fabric vertical blinds are gaining popularity.
Sometimes people are also interested in exploring vertical fabric blinds for floor-to-ceiling windows or just any particularly large window.
The Appeal of Fabric Vertical Blinds
What do homeowners like about vertical fabric blinds? Here are a few benefits!
Sleek, Soft and Elegance
Vertical blinds that trended in the 90s were rigid, typically made of aluminum. They were prone to damage and deformation. When a dog scratches at a window to get outside, the blinds could easily get bent. Plus, the hard materials looked industrial. They even sounded noisy when you opened or closed them, making your home a little less homey.
While aluminum vertical blinds are still available, today’s vertical blind trend is to use fabric vertical blinds. They don’t get damaged or bent as easily. They’re quieter to operate. And they look like they belong in cozy home.
Light Control
Some homeowners try leaving their sliding glass door uncovered. They love their view and they plan to enjoy it.
They usually come back to us! The reasons are pretty simple.
- Sometimes you want to watch a movie during the day, and you need to block glare to stop reflections on your screen. With today’s dark scenes in movies and TV, that’s especially important.
- You may need to block harsh light from hitting your eyes at certain times of the day. You’re not going to enjoy your room if you’re blinded or overheated.
- Other times you want privacy, and you can’t afford to leave a large window exposed.
UV Protection
What about when you’re not at home?
UV light will do serious damage to your furniture, flooring, wall coverings, artwork and more. (Check before and after pictures on Google Images.)
You can do 10 years worth of sun damage in less than a year if you have a big enough window and enough direct light hitting your room.
For this reason, when you’re not at home, it’s wise to keep your windows covered to keep your interior looking fresh instead of faded. Today this is easier than ever to do with home automations.
Modern Design Options
Most of the time, our customers use vertical fabric blinds for patio doors, but they also work for floor-to-ceiling windows, or extra wide windows.
Here are our top picks for vertical fabric blinds. We hope you enjoy our picks!
Skyline Panel Track Blinds
If you like minimalism, take a look at Skyline® Panel Track Blinds. These vertical blinds use sliding-panels that are extra wide and made of fabric. This gives you a whole new look compared to traditional narrow aluminum vertical blinds.
Here are some of the things we like about these blinds:
- Bold look and clean lines
- Available in over 600 fabrics with different colors, textures, and opacities
- Minimal setback and tight stack, giving you an unobstructed vieew
- Great for large windows and sliding doors
- Coordinate well with roller shades
- Two panel widths: 11.5″ and 17″
- Can cover spaces up to 384″ wide and 168″ tall
- Rich fabric and texture adds depth to your room design
- Interlocking bottom weight ensures smooth operation without tangling
These panels also work great as ceiling-mounted room dividers. This is especially useful if you have an open floor plan but you sometimes want privacy or noise control.
Luminette® Privacy Sheers
If you like soft drapery but you want more control over light and privacy, take a look at Luminette® Privacy Sheers.
Privacy Sheers combine sheer fabric panels with vertical vanes that can rotate up to 180º. This design lets you control the amount of light that enters you room. You can filter the light for a warm glow or block it out completely.
Here are some features that make Luminette® Privacy Sheers a great practical choice:
- Small vane size of 3.5″ give you a balanced look
- Can cover widths from 8″ to 192″ and heights from 24″ to 120″
- Wide fabric selection with different colors and textures, light filtering and room-darkening
- Concealed hardware with SofTrak™ hiding the headrails when sheers are closed
Cadence® Soft Vertical Blinds for a Unique Twist
Cadence® Soft Vertical Blinds use curved vanes that mimic the folds of drapery. These add a sophistication to any room.
Their headrail reduces light gaps and ensures a symmetrical fit, making them a practical choice for rooms with lots of natural light.
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds
If you have unique window shapes or specific design needs, Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds could be a fit for you.
We can customize these to fit arches, skylights, and unusual angles. They also minimize light gaps with a headrail, so you’ll maximize your light blocking.
Practical Considerations
Ease of Maintenance
A common concern with fabric blinds is maintenance. However, they are surprisingly easy to clean. Most fabric vertical blinds can be vacuumed or lightly wiped with a damp cloth. This makes them an excellent choice for high-traffic areas or homes with children and pets.
Convenience with Sliding Doors
For those worried about the practicality of vertical blinds with sliding doors, consider custom options. You can have separate blinds for different sections, making it easy to open just the part you need. Smooth gliding mechanisms ensure easy operation, even with frequent use.
Roller Shades vs Vertical Fabric Blinds
If you’re covering a sliding glass door or a wide horizontal opening, a roller shade is usually going to be the less expensive option. Vertical solutions are just inherently a little bit more expensive.
We really only recommend using a vertical system with slats if you’re working with a standard slider that’s about six or seven feet tall. On shorter doors like that, you have to think about head clearance. You don’t want a big overhang at the top that someone could bump into when they’re walking through.
If your door or window is eight feet tall or taller, you have a lot more flexibility. You can use horizontal roller shades without worrying about anyone hitting their head, and it usually gives you a cleaner, more modern look.
Coordinated Look with Whole House Solution™
Hunter Douglas’s Whole House Solution™ simplifies the process of matching horizontal and vertical window treatments. This ensures that all your window coverings harmonize, whether you’re using them for bay windows, sliding-glass doors, or any other large openings in your home.
This approach allows you do mix window treatments while coordinating with the same colors. For example, you could mix Sillhouette and Luminette in the same room while keeping a consistent design appearance.
Elevate Your Home’s Style and Functionality
Vertical fabric blinds are more than just a practical solution for large windows and sliding doors—they’re a stylish addition that can enhance the beauty and functionality of your home. Ready to explore the possibilities for your Idaho home? Contact us today to schedule a design consultation and discover how fabric vertical blinds can transform your living space.
Schedule your free design consultation today and see firsthand how vertical fabric blinds can elevate your home’s style and functionality.
