Bi-Fold Doors: Blinds or Curtains?

The complex folding nature of the bi-fold door can mean dressing them is a little trickier than dressing a standard window, but it is easier than you might think. Dressing bi-fold doors with curtains Curtains are a popular choice for bi-fold doors, but they pose a few problems, most of which concern space. If your door is very tall, there might not be enough space at the top of the door to accommodate a curtain pole, which automatically rules out the possibility of dressing your bi-fold doors with curtains. What’s more, since bi-fold doors often cover a vast expanse of wall, you’ll need a lot of curtain to cover them, and large curtains can be very heavy. If you’re installing curtains on bi-folds in a lounge, then you might opt for heavy, blackout-style curtains, which will emphasise the problem further. There are two problems here. Firstly, curtains over a certain weight tend to sag. Secondly, the heavier the curtains the more robust a curtain rail you’re going to need to hold them in place. This can bump up costs significantly. To help mitigate this problem you might choose to opt for a lighter fabric. Muslin or voile curtains are unobtrusive and can look spectacular, even if they aren’t quite as effective at excluding light and sound, or retaining heat, as thicker curtains. Dressing bi-fold doors with blinds For the reasons listed above, blinds are often a better choice than curtains for dressing bi-fold doors, but how suitable are blinds for bi-fold doors? That depends on their type. Roman blinds are designed to scoop up when not in use. This means you’ll need to leave a little bit of space at the top of the door, much like curtain rails. Roman blinds tend to be quite heavy, which could cause a problem when lifting them to the top of the door. You can overcome this issue however by fitting a mechanised, electric retraction device – but needless to say this will add considerably to the cost. Roller blinds suffer from much the same problem, albeit to a lesser degree; they collapse into a cylinder which takes up a little bit of room. They’re also much lighter and often elasticated, which makes it really easy to retract them. Venetian blinds offer similar benefits, as well as a unique aesthetic that’s proven consistently popular over the years. Also worth considering are vertical panel blinds. Vertical blinds function more-or-less like curtains, opening from one or both sides. Their only downside is their appearance. They can look distinctly “office-like”, which might not be desirable, especially when contrasted with a homely interior. A problem both curtains and blinds share when fitted to bi-fold doors is what happens when the doors fold. As they fold, they expand, which may intersect the dressing. This means you’ll need to draw a set of curtains or vertical blinds entirely before you’re able to open the door. Bi-fold doors with built-in blinds solve this problem. They’re slightly more expensive, more difficult to personalise, and there are fewer of them to choose from – but they offer a clean, elegant solution that’ll suit many interiors.

o What Should You Choose for Your Bi-Fold Doors: Curtains or Blinds?

There is no one ideal solution so before you decide, consider the following factors… Cost The size of your bi-fold doors will affect how much it costs to dress them – but this is true of both curtains and blinds. Of the available options, roman blinds tend to be the cheapest, but to get the best from them, you’ll need to equip them with an expensive motor. If you’re replacing one set of curtains with another, then sticking with what you already have will minimise the costs associated with installing new rails and other hardware. Privacy Few of us enjoy living in in a goldfish bowl at night-time, so the main purpose of window dressing – besides decoration – is privacy. Both curtains and blinds should perform equally here, but if you want to be extra sure no-can see what you’re up to once the sun goes down, a thick set of blackout curtains are probably your best option. Light One of the best things about bi-folding doors is how much light they let into the home. A heavy set of curtains, however, will reduce this. Even when they’re fully open, they’ll still be covering some of the window, and limiting how much light the doors let in. Practicality The amount of space at the top of your doors can make-or-break your decision. If there isn’t enough space to fit a curtain rail, you’ll need to consider blinds instead.

Tips For Window Dressing Bi-Fold Doors (Blinds? Curtains? Voiles?)

Bifold doors are known for the abundant amount of light they let in. This can be a fantastic feature when light is in short demand. Though you may find yourself needing to block the light on certain occasions (Mid-day movie marathons, a late summer afternoon nap, a sunday lie-in, all the important things in life). We also believe that just practicality shouldn’t negate style! Which is why we’ve put together a few options for dressing your bifold doors - options that look cute, and allow the flexibility you need for those mid-day naps!

Dressing bi-fold doors with curtains

If you’re looking for a grand option, curtains are a great choice for bifold doors! The most important consideration with this option is that you fix a sturdy curtain pole - especially if you’re hanging blackout curtains, which tend to be heavier than standard fabric. It’s also important to measure the length of your bifold door to ensure you get curtains that are long enough to run the length of the door - with longer doors (3m+), you may need to take special considerations to make sure the curtains don’t sag. We’d recommend a combination of voile curtains, and blackout curtains - to cover all bases year-round .

Voile curtains

Light muslin or voile curtains are unobtrusive and can look spectacular, even if they aren’t quite as effective at excluding light and sound. In the winter, you may also opt for draught excluders to help retain heat.

Dressing bi-fold doors with blinds

Blinds are often a better choice than curtains for dressing bi-fold doors. They’re exceptionally versatile and don’t require as much consideration as curtains may! We’ve listed a few of our favourite options below:

Roman blinds

Roman blinds are designed to scoop up when not in use. They’ll need a bit of wall space above the door to be installed. Roman blinds tend to be quite heavy, making them a great option for blocking out the light when you need it. What’s more is some roman blinds can be mechanised, giving you control over your shade with the click of a button! Black and white illustration of roller blinds installed on bifold doors. The illustration shows an interior corner or a room, both walls extending from the corner have a 3 panel bifold door. Roller blinds are installed on each panel, showing how one panel can be completed covered, while another panel can let in more light.

Roller blinds

Roller blinds collapse into a cylinder at the top of the door, which takes up little room. We’d recommend these in fabric, rather than plastic. These are much lighter and often very easy to use. If you prefer a more natural look, wooden venetian blinds offer the same look and feel as roller blinds. A black and white illustration of a bifold door with vertical blinds. The blinds are pushed halfway to the side, showing a panel of the door that can be opened. The vertical blinds are coloured green as a statement on the otherwise black and white outlined illustration

Vertical blinds

Also worth considering are vertical panel blinds. Vertical blinds function more-or-less like curtains, opening from one or both sides. While they can often look quite corporate, there are options that offer a softer look - wooden panels or a unique colour, for example. Though we’d recommend making sure that your bifold door doesn’t interfere with these blinds when open. Often, bi-fold door panels will expand into the room when open, pushing against the blinds. In this case, the blinds will either need to be fitted further away from the door, or your door will have to be deep set in the wall.

How to Choose Your Bifold Door Dressing

There is no one ideal solution so before you decide, consider the following factors…

If you want to save money: Go with roman blinds, they tend to be the cheapest option.

If you want extra privacy: Any opaque option will work - though blackout curtains will be the best for this. Avoid Voile curtains, unless they're dressed alongside blackout curtains.

If you want more light: Go for an option that is versatile, both roman and roller blinds can cover the entire glazing, or open it entirely up.

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Window Dressing Bi-Fold Doors