French Door Blinds

French doors open inwards or outwards on hinges, so a blind has to move with the door or stay well clear of it. Handles, door clearance and how often the doors are used decide which option works.

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Blinds fitted to the doors

For most glazed French doors, the neatest answer is a blind fitted to each door. Perfect Fit blinds sit in a slim frame behind the glazing bead, and FITtoFRAME blinds fit with beading brackets or adhesive. Either way the blind opens and closes with the door, there is nothing to catch, and no drilling is needed on compatible frames. Pleated, cellular, roller and Venetian formats are available depending on the system.

Handles and clearance

French door handles usually sit close to the glass. The blind has to fit between the glass and the handle without catching, and the door must still open fully without the blind or its frame hitting the reveal, a wall or the other door. We measure each of these at the survey.

Blinds above the doors

Where frame-fitted blinds are not compatible, a roller blind or Roman blind can be fixed above the doors. It must be raised clear of the doors before opening, so this works best on doors that open outwards or are used less often.

Curtains

Curtains on a track or pole that extends beyond the doors can be drawn fully clear, which suits inward-opening doors and gives a softer look.

Timber and older doors

Timber French doors vary more in bead profile. Frame-fitted systems may still work, but we check before recommending them. French door shutters are another option for a more permanent finish.

No-drill fitting: Possible on compatible windows — confirmed at survey

Honest suitability

Is it right for your window?

Every recommendation comes with a reason. Where something else would serve you better, we say so — and suggest what to consider instead.

Where this works well

Modern uPVC and aluminium French doors Recommended
Frame-fitted blinds move with each door and need no drilling on compatible frames.
Doors opened every day Recommended
There is nothing to raise first; the blind opens with the door.
Handles close to the glass Specialist survey
Most handles leave enough space for a frame-fitted blind.
Worth knowing: Where they do not, a frame-fitted blind may catch; we measure every door.
Outward-opening doors used occasionally
A roller or Roman blind above the doors can work well.
Worth knowing: The blind must be raised before opening if the doors swing inwards.

Where we’d suggest something else

Recess blinds on inward-opening doors
Why: The doors swing into the blind unless it is fully raised every time.
The limitation: Easy to damage the blind or the door.
Consider instead: Perfect Fit blinds
A permanent, furniture-like finish
Why: Blinds read as soft furnishing rather than joinery.
The limitation: If you want a built-in look, blinds may not deliver it.
Consider instead: French door shutters

Fabrics and finishes

Pleated and cellular fabrics, roller fabrics including blackout and light-filtering choices, and aluminium or wood-look Venetian slats, depending on the system. Frame-fitted blinds can be colour-matched to white, grey and anthracite door frames on systems that offer them.

Controls

Frame-fitted pleated and cellular blinds are moved by hand; Venetian blinds use a tilt control; roller blinds usually use a secured chain. Motorised operation is available on selected frame-fitted and roller systems.

Child safety

Internal blinds supplied in the UK must meet child-safety requirements, following BBSA guidance, and the blinds we fit are supplied with the required safety devices.

Frame-fitted pleated and cellular blinds on door panes have no hanging cord, which suits doors children use. Any chain or cord is secured with the required safety device.

Compared with the alternatives

Perfect Fit blinds

The usual first choice on compatible doors: a framed blind that moves with the door.

FITtoFRAME blinds

A frameless bead-fitted alternative, manual only.

French door shutters

A fitted, architectural option with adjustable louvres.

Wave curtains

Drawn fully clear of the doors on a track that extends beyond them.

Related options

Related advice

Questions we get asked

Will the blinds stop my French doors opening fully?

Frame-fitted blinds add very little depth to the door. We check that the doors still open fully and clear the reveal at the survey.

Do French door blinds need drilling?

Frame-fitted systems need no drilling on compatible frames. Blinds above the doors are fixed to the wall or frame.

What if my doors are timber?

Some frame-fitted systems work on timber doors, depending on the bead. We check before recommending.

Can French door blinds be motorised?

On selected frame-fitted and roller systems.

Free, no obligation

Book your Free Home Survey

We’ll measure properly, bring samples to see in your own light, talk you through what suits each window, and give you a no-obligation quotation.

Book a Free Home Survey Visit our showroom

Or call 01223 756519