Window Treatments for French Doors

By: Natalie Elmhurst

Updated: 6/1/2026

If you have French doors in your home and feel like something is missing, you may want to consider installing high-quality window treatments over the window panes. Without window coverings for French doors, you may struggle to maintain privacy in your living space or grow tired of the direct light disrupting your family dinner. With high-quality blinds or shades, you can block out harsh daylight without disrupting your interior design.

What are the best window treatments for these doors and window panes? In this article, we'll explore the many benefits of French door window treatments and take a closer look at our top three favorite styles. Here's everything you need to know:

What are French Doors?

What are French Doors? By definition, a French door is a slim, usually wooden door with glass panes extending for most of its length; the doors usually come in pairs. Originally, French doors were crafted with the idea of merging the benefits of a window, creating an open, airy feel, with the function of a doorway. Interestingly, the idea of incorporating windows into doors also addressed the 17th century problem of bringing daylight into a room for more hours, before there was electricity! With its enduring blend of beauty and practicality, the French door never went out of style.

Another plus: in interior settings, French doors can bring light into hallways and other rooms that do not have windows, while still offering the ability to close off a room when needed.

Tips for Choosing Window Treatments for French Doors

Because French doors offer the look of a paned-glass window and the function of a solid door they present a few logistical challenges. But with a little bit of know-how, they're easy to overcome:

Stick With a Slim Construction: The best window treatments for French doors should have a slim construction. A bulky valance, headrail, or fascia at the top—or wooden blinds with slats larger than 1”—are likely to hit the wall when you open and close the door. For similar reasons, make sure the blind or shade itself is not too thick; it should be able to slide up and down without hitting door knobs or handles.
Install Hold Down Brackets: To avoid any hazards when doors open and close, you’ll want a ‘hold down’ bracket installed at the bottom of the window treatment. As its name implies, this small piece of hardware holds the blind or shade neatly in place, so it won’t go flying up or banging against the glass when the door is moved.
Avoid cords: Not only are they unsightly and unsafe around young children, but dangling cords can potentially hit and break the glass when the French doors are in motion.

Three Window Covering Ideas for French Doors

There’s a wide range of window treatment styles to choose from, but not all of them are made to fit wooden doors with glass panes. If you’re struggling to find the right style for your space, here are our top three picks for French door window treatments:

Roller Shades

Roller shades for French doors have the sleek lines and slim construction that work particularly well with these doors; go with the ‘open roll’ design rather than a bulky valance. With a wide selection of fabrics, colors and textures available, it’s easy to find that ‘just right’ look for any decor. If privacy between rooms is a concern, you can opt for roller shades in semi-opaque or blackout fabrics—or, go with a sheer choice to let light shine through.

Cellular Shades

Cellular shades for French doors offer benefits similar to those of roller shades, with a broad choice of fabrics and opacities. Plus, honeycomb shades with a small cell—3/8 or 9/16—combine a graceful, airy look with slim dimensions, an ideal combination for French doors.

Wood Blinds

Wood blinds with 1” slats are lean enough to fit handily on French doors. They can bring a sleek, contemporary look to a room, while addressing any practical needs for total privacy or light filtering. It’s important to keep in mind that natural wood blinds can be expensive. If you’re looking for a low-cost alternative with the same level of durability, consider faux wood blinds.

The Best Modern Upgrade: Motorization

If your French doors are in a high-traffic area or out of reach during your day-to-day, consider investing in motorization. Motorized shades for French doors can bring a new level of functionality to your space. Being able to tilt, raise and lower them remotely with the touch of a button is not only easier, but it eliminates any potential concern about hitting that breakable glass by moving the shade manually.

Shop Custom-Made French Door Blinds and Shades

Are you looking for new blinds and shades for French doors? Stoneside is here to help. We specialize in custom-made window coverings for windows and doors of every size, including French doors. Our designers are here to walk you through the options available, offering expert recommendations based on your interior design and functional needs. Once you've customized the perfect window treatment for your space, we’ll send our professional installers to complete the job.