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French doors let in lots of natural light, look elegant, and give you a beautiful view outside. However, there are downsides to installing French doors in your home. For example, it can be a struggle to find the perfect solution for blocking light and creating more privacy for the glass doors. Shades, curtains, and blinds are obvious options, but fabric shades and curtains can take up quite a bit of space, and blinds have the frustrating flaw of never staying put. Every time you open and close the door, the blinds swing away from the window and bump back into it, often loudly. But there is a solution you should know about: blinds with slider tracks to keep them in place.

By adding tracks to either side of the windows on your French doors, you get the functional benefits of blinds without the bothersome swinging. The special design allows blinds to be stored away nearly invisibly at the top of the window or be pulled down to block the light and provide privacy. There are many products with positive reviews, such as the ACMEART Light Filtering Door Blinds, which are thermally insulated and can be found on Amazon for $55. These products are simple to install, especially because they are designed based on the custom measurements you provide. Alternatively, there are DIY options to get a similar result.

Customized blinds and slider tracks come in different colors, so you can frame your window with contrast or get a seamless look by installing track frames that match the color of your doors. As with any blinds, there are varying opacity levels to let the perfect amount of light through. If you need an easy way to fix drafty French doors, then installing the right blinds could help. For example, choosing a thermal option can help with temperature regulation and energy efficiency by adding insulation to the window. Once you find a product you like that has customization options, carefully measure the windows on your French doors to ensure a perfect fit.

When your custom blinds arrive, they should include specific installation instructions. The process typically involves drilling holes in the window frame to secure the tracks in place with screws. Alternatively, some blind tracks are installed using sticky magnetic strips, preventing the damage of drilling into your doors. Either option should effectively keep your blinds in place on a door that is gently used. If you have children or pets or use the door frequently, an option installed using screws provides a more secure attachment for longevity and durability.

If your windows have a grid on them, you may have some trouble getting the blinds in place. You will need to create a frame that will act as a spacer and give the tracks something to fit against. This will result in the slider track sticking out from the door a bit more, but it should still look sleek and work well. 

There are other simple DIY solutions that may be worth a try. Hold-down brackets, which are installed at the bottom of the window, are a common solution for blinds on doors. The blinds slide into place on the brackets and are held tight to the window when the blinds are shut. They’re usually equipped with a release mechanism that allows you to open the blinds. Magnetic strips, clips, or even ties give you similar results. However, these slider alternatives will not prevent the blinds from swishing around when they’re open because the bottom of the blinds won’t be secured.