How to Hang Curtains Over Sliding Glass Doors: The Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking for a way to hang curtains over sliding glass doors, you’ve come to the right place.

This ultimate guide will show you everything you need to know, from how to hang curtains to how to hang curtain rods and the types you should use.

By the end, you’ll be an expert on the subject. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Sliding Glass Doors: What Are They?

A sliding glass door is a large window that functions like a door—sometimes referred to as patio doors, door walls, or even door walls.

Sliding glass doors are broken down into two parts. The first of them is a single, sizable window that takes up the majority of a wall. The second element is that the building also functions as a door. It can be opened and closed by allowing a piece of the glass to move in and out so that people can enter and exit.

How Do Sliding Glass Doors Operate?

There are two ways that sliding glass doors are often designed and constructed. The technique with two panes on the glass doors is the most popular. The glass doors can glide open and shut through the other panel, which is fixed in place.

It is intended to be used as a door. The panel may be opened and closed. The alternative is that there are two movable panels (slide open and close). There will be these movable panels on both sides of the glass door. Between them will be a fixed panel that serves as the strong window. These panels provide two ways to enter and exit the chamber.

What Are Sliding Glass Doors’ Benefits and Drawbacks?

Sliding glass doors are an essential addition to a home since they have many advantages. They are powerful solar sources. There is a lot of sunshine since sliding glass doors cover the majority of a wall’s surface area. Vitamin-rich natural sunshine also serves as a source of ambient lighting in a space.

Due to the availability of sunlight, it might be quite helpful to install indoor plants within the room.

Let’s talk about these drawbacks now. Sunlight is beneficial, but not always. It is very pleasant in the evenings and early mornings. But when it is harsher, the temperature rises significantly. The glare irritates the eyes, and it becomes difficult to focus. Nobody wants this.

Additionally, the strong sunshine may damage the furniture. Health issues can result from UV radiation (this is rarer though). Last but not least, sliding glass doors do not provide the privacy that a home dweller might desire. A sliding glass door that takes up the majority of one wall is exposed to peering by onlookers.

Why Are Curtains Required for Sliding Glass Doors?

Many people are surprised by how much a curtain can do to solve a sliding glass door problem.

They are excellent at keeping sunshine out, to start. Darker curtains can completely obscure the sun if that’s what you want. On the other side, you can get lighter curtains that filter the sunshine. This makes the light illuminates the space while being less intense.

You might even take it a step further and buy both light and dark curtains. Having this two, you can switch them out according to the season. They help to prevent heat gain and loss by acting as excellent insulators in the summer and winter.

This not only means that the temperature in the room becomes bearable. But you would also need to use less energy for heating and cooling.

They provide you with the privacy you require. When necessary, you can draw the drapes open.

Options on How to Hang Curtains

Curtains are versatile and essential in dressing up your home. You can use them for purposes of privacy, decoration, or shading. There are many different types of curtains and various ways to mount them.

Ways of hanging curtains will depend on the style and purpose it serves.

How to hang sheer curtains differs from that with eyelets. At the same time, mounting curtains with tab tops are different from those with pleats.

You can also use two types of material to hang them: curtain tracks or curtain rods. Tracks are lightweight and offer a minimal look. Yet, they require a skilled installer to mount. Rods, on the other hand, are long, rigid, and easy to install.

So it is essential to know the curtain type you want to hang and what style you prefer to put over a sliding glass door.

Preparing for the Work

Before going into installation details, let us lay out all crucial considerations. Take note of the door dimensions, which will determine the proper curtain and rod measurements.

Select the right curtain you need and the size to match your door entry. Ensure the curtain is 16 inches wider and 6 inches taller than the window frame. You will use the allotment to cover the window completely.

Now, choose the hanging rod to match the diameter of your hanging pocket and the length of the curtain. Consider the curtain weight when selecting the rod material and thickness.

Determine the type of hangers the curtain will use.

Also, pick the correct screw size and the anchor it needs. This will add safety in holding the brackets to the wall.

Before going into the installation details, prepare all materials you will need.

• Curtains
• Curtain rods and brackets
• Tape measure
• Screws
• Level
• Screwdriver
• Pencil
• Drill
• Drywall anchor kit for screws

Marking the Bracket Positions

Let us begin by marking the position where you will mount the two brackets supporting the rod.

From the top left corner of the door frame, make a 6-inch measurement above the top edge. Then from that point, measure another 8 inches outside the left edge. Mark the spot to be the center alignment of the left wall bracket.

Then hold the left bracket on the wall by aligning its center with the marked spot. Use a level to check if the wall anchor is perfectly vertical. Then trace its two screw holes using a pencil point.

Now, make another 6-inch marker above the top edge of the top right corner of the door frame. Then move 8 inches to the right beyond the right edge. Then again, hold the right bracket in position with its center aligned to the marked spot. Again, trace its top and bottom screw holes.

Finally, draw a line between the two end bracket points. Then get to the middle of the halfway point. Hold the center bracket along that point, then trace its screw holes with a pencil.

Before proceeding to fix these brackets, make a visual inspection. Check if the level of their horizontal alignment is correct. Try to make a few adjustments to each bracket position if necessary.

Mounting the Brackets Into Place

Select the drill bit size that will fit the bracket screw holes, then fix it on an electric drill. Starting with any marked screw spots, position the drill perpendicular to the drywall. Drill up to at least an inch deep.

Repeat the process for the three other marked spots. Then fill each drilled hole with drywall anchors to prepare for the screws.

Get the left bracket and hold it in position with its screw holes aligned with the drilled holes. Then apply one screw at a time using a manual or an electric screwdriver. Again, ensure that the anchors are in a vertical position. Follow this same procedure for the right bracket.

Once the brackets are in position, do a second inspection. Temporarily place the curtain rod over the brackets to check its horizontal position.

Fixing the Curtain

Remove one end cap of the rod before inserting it into the curtain rod pockets. Adjust the rod length, if possible, to give enough space for the wall bracket and the curtain. Return the other end cap once the rod has fully passed through the curtain rod pockets.

Now, with the curtain fixed on the rod, mount the rod on both the left and right wall brackets. Then visually inspect again how the work turned out.

Try opening and closing the curtain to test how it glides on the curtain rod.

Also, try moving the sliding glass doors to see if the curtain interferes with its movement. Do this check, especially for sliding and French patio doors.

You can adjust the bracket placements in case there is a need. Simply create other screw holes an inch to the left or right. But move it a few inches outward so the curtain can cover the previous holes.

You Are Now Covered: How to Hang Curtains

It can be a bit of a puzzle how to hang curtains over sliding glass doors. We hope that this ultimate guide made it easy for you! You can achieve the look you want in a few simple steps without any issues If you follow the tips mentioned above.

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Kenneth

Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].