French doors bring light, elegance and a connection to the outdoors into any home. But finding the right window dressing for them can be surprisingly tricky. Standard blinds that hang away from the glass will swing and bang every time the door opens. Curtains can get caught and look untidy. And drilling into uPVC or aluminium frames is often impractical or simply not allowed in rental properties.
Fortunately, there are solutions designed specifically for this challenge. In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about choosing blinds for French doors, with a particular focus on no drill options that stay perfectly in place.
The Challenges of Dressing French Doors
French doors present unique challenges that standard window blinds simply cannot address:
- Movement: Doors open and close frequently, so any blind that hangs loosely will swing, rattle or get damaged.
- Door handles: Handles positioned in the middle of the door can interfere with traditional blinds.
- Frame material: Many French doors have uPVC or aluminium frames where drilling is either difficult or undesirable.
- Rental restrictions: Tenants often cannot make permanent modifications to windows and doors.
- Aesthetics: French doors are designed to look elegant, so bulky or poorly fitted blinds can detract from their appearance.
The Best Solutions: Perfect Fit and StickFit Blinds
Two product ranges stand out as ideal choices for French doors: Perfect Fit and StickFit blinds. Both are designed to stay fixed to the door itself, moving with it rather than against it.
Perfect Fit Blinds
Our Perfect Fit wood venetian blinds use a specially designed frame that clips directly onto uPVC door frames. No drilling, no screws, no damage. The blind sits within its own neat frame, flush against the glass, and moves with the door when it opens and closes.
Perfect Fit blinds are particularly popular for French doors because they offer a sleek, integrated look. The frame comes in a choice of colours to match your door, and the blinds themselves are available in our real wood range finishes.
StickFit Blinds
For doors where Perfect Fit frames are not suitable, our StickFit no drill blinds offer an alternative. These attach directly to the glass using strong adhesive strips, keeping the blind completely flat against the door. They are easy to install, leave no residue when removed, and work on virtually any door type.
Comparing Your Options
This comparison table summarises the key differences between the two no drill solutions:
| Feature | Perfect Fit | StickFit |
|---|---|---|
| Fitting method | Clips to uPVC frame | Adhesive to glass |
| Drilling required | No | No |
| Best for | uPVC French doors | Any door type |
| Appearance | Framed, integrated look | Minimalist, frameless |
| Removable | Yes, unclips easily | Yes, leaves no residue |
Measuring French Doors for Blinds
Accurate measurements are crucial for a proper fit. Here is how to measure your French doors:
- Measure the width of the glass pane (not the frame) at the top, middle and bottom. Use the smallest measurement.
- Measure the height of the glass pane on the left, centre and right. Again, use the smallest figure.
- For Perfect Fit blinds, also measure the depth of the glazing bead (the strip holding the glass in place).
- Note the position of door handles and any other obstructions.
Full measuring instructions are available in our measuring guides section.
Choosing the Right Material
French doors leading to a garden or patio are exposed to more temperature variation and humidity than standard windows. For this reason, faux wood blinds are often the better choice. They will not warp, crack or fade when exposed to condensation or direct sunlight.
If your French doors are in a more sheltered position, such as internal doors between rooms, real wood blinds will give you that authentic natural beauty.
Installation Tips
Both Perfect Fit and StickFit blinds are designed for straightforward DIY installation. A few tips to ensure success:
- Clean the glass or frame thoroughly before fitting. Any dust or grease will affect adhesion.
- Work on a warm, dry day. Adhesives perform best at room temperature.
- Take your time positioning the blind before pressing firmly into place.
- Test the door operation before fully committing to ensure nothing catches.
Popular Colours for French Door Blinds
French doors often serve as a visual bridge between indoors and outdoors, so colour choice plays an important role. White blinds remain the most popular choice for their clean, bright appearance that matches most door frames. Cream and natural tones offer a softer, warmer alternative.
For a more contemporary look, grey wooden blinds or anthracite finishes coordinate beautifully with modern grey framed doors.
Child Safety Considerations
French doors are often in family spaces where children play. All our blinds comply with current child safety regulations, and we offer cordless and wand operated options that eliminate dangling cords entirely. For more information, visit our child safety page.
Getting Started
Ready to find the perfect blinds for your French doors? Start by ordering free samples to see how different colours and finishes look against your doors. We offer next day sample delivery so you will not be waiting long.
All our blinds are made to measure at our Bradford factory and come with a 3 year guarantee. If you have any questions, our team is available on 0113 400 1950.