A Guide to Choosing Blinds for Bi-Fold Doors | 247 Blog
Practical
Posted 29/07/2024
When it comes to enhancing the functionality, aesthetics, and energy efficiency of your home, choosing the right blinds for your bifold doors can make all the difference. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about blinds for bifold doors, from the types of blinds available to how to choose the best ones for your home!
What are Bifold Door Blinds?
Bifold doors fold back in sections, creating a wide opening that lets in tons of natural light and brings the outside in! There are plenty of choices when it comes to bifold blinds, but there are some extra considerations compared with choosing blinds for standard windows. Firstly it's important to consider how your bifold doors function, whether they open inwards or outwards. For inward opening bifolds, it's best to avoid any blinds that are fitted outside the frame which could obstruct the doors folding back on themselves to open. For doors that open outwards, you do have more choice, but it's still wise to consider how frequently you use your bifolds, and if you want to add an extra step to opening them such as opening your blinds in order to access the doors!
Blinds designed especially for bifold doors are typically fitted directly to the door frame or glass panes themselves, so they can move seamlessly with the doors without getting in the way, regardless of whether they open outwards or inwards. Our top picks? Clip Fit and Stick Fit blinds. hese pleated and Venetian beauties are a breeze to install with no drills or mess! They fit to the doors themselves, integrating seamlessly and offering excellent light control and privacy combined with the convenience of moving as one with your bifold door panels.
Benefits of Fitting Blinds on Bifold Doors
Improved Privacy
Blinds on bifold doors add an extra layer of privacy, especially beneficial if your home is overlooked by neighbours or nosy passers-by! This additional privacy also enhances yor home security, protecting your belongings from being scoped out and making it harder to know whether or not anyone's home.
Insulation and Energy Efficiency
Windows and doors are major culprits when it comes to heat loss in your home, so it's no surprise that larger frames like bifolds can be responsible for pushing your heating bills up. Thermal bifold door blinds trap air and add an extra layer of insulation to your bifold doors. This helps keep rooms cool in summer, especially important for rooms with bifold doors due to the amount of sunlight they let in, as well as keeping spaces cosy in the winter by preventing warm air from escaping. This doesn't just keep rooms comfortable, it can also contribute to energy savings and keeping bills low!
Aesthetic Appeal
Blinds can add a touch of style to your bifold doors without covering them entirely. Fitting bifold blinds directly to the glass panels means you can add functionality without distracting from your bifold doors as a feature.
Protection and Functionality
Blinds help to make your living space more functional, particularly in south-facing rooms that get a lot of sunlight. They reduce glare, block out the sun, and protect furniture from UV damage.
Types of Bifold Door Blinds
Clip Fit and Stick Fit Blinds
These are our favourites for a reason! Slim profiles mean they don't obstruct your doors, fitting directly to the glass or frames of your bifolds and working effortlessly whether your doors open inwards or outwards.
Clip Fit Blinds are installed using brackets which are inserted under the rubber beading of PVC or aluminium frames. Adhesive side channels are then placed at either side of the glass to minimise light bleed around the edges, and the blinds simple clip onto the brackets.
Stick Fit Blinds are fitted using adhesive side channels which stick directly to your window glass. The blinds then clip onto pre-inserted brackets on either side channel - no need for compatible rubber beading!
Available in pleated, honeycomb, and Venetian styles, both Clip and Stick Fit feature fold-away control handles for easy, cord-free operation - perfect for homes with pets or children.
Pleated and Honeycomb Clip Fit and Stick Fit Blinds
Pleated Blinds: Perfect for light control, available in opacities ranging from light-filtering to blackout.
Honeycomb Blinds: Similar to pleated blinds, but with a comb-light structure which works to trap air, providing improved thermal benefits. These pleats can also feature internal foil lining for enhanced energy efficiency.
Clip Fit pleated blinds are also available with multizone controls, AKA Top-Down Bottom-Up. This is where you can let light in, or block it out, from either the top or the bottom - giving you flexible light management, ideal for larger windows such as bifolds!
Venetian Clip Fit and Stick Fit Blinds
Venetian blinds offer a blend of privacy and light control with the ability to tilt the slats using a clear tilt rod! Available in various finishes from gloss to matt to satin. The natural curve of the rust-resistant aluminium slats helps to reflect heat, keeping rooms cooler in the summer months.
Vertical Blinds
If your bifold doors open outwards, vertical blinds can be a good option if you'd rather have a more traditional style of blind which covers the entire length of the frame rather than the individual panes of glass. Our vertical blinds are available in widths of up to 5 metres, and come in various fabrics including blackout, light-filtering, flame retardant, waterproof and water resistant - not to mention hundreds of colours and textures to suit any style!
Curtains for Bifold Doors
Curtains can be a fantastic alternative to blinds for bifold doors that open outwards. With made to measure options, you can find the perfect pair to complement your bifolds, fitting your door's dimensions just right. Our curtains are available with blackout, thermal, or plush bonded linings, making it easy to transform the airy feeling bifold doors bring to a space to a cosy and snug atmosphere in the evenings, whilst still enjoying an unobstructed view during the day. For double the functionality, pair curtains with our no-drill blinds. Use light-filtering Venetians to protect your privacy and let the sunshine in during the day, then draw your blackout curtains closed at night to block out unwanted light!
Factors to consider when buying bifold door blinds
Where are your blinds being placed?
Consider where your blinds will be placed, and what sort of functionalities they need to have to fit that space. For bedrooms, blackout pleated Stick Fit and Clip Fit blinds are ideal, but for kitchens you might want to opt for an easy-to-clean aluminium Venetian style.
How deep are your bifold doors?
It's important to consider whether the space between your bifold door panels can accommodate styles like Stick Fit and Clip Fit, which sit between these gaps when the doors are fully folded back. As these blind styles are designed to have narrow profiles, projecting only 35mm from the glass, you'll find them suitable for most bifolds - but it's always worth double checking! If you don't have sufficient space, you might want to consider a blind that will be fitted over the door itself rather than to the glass, such as vertical blinds.
Which way do your bifold doors open?
As we touched on earlier, the way in which your bifold door blinds fold back will play a part in deciding which blinds are best for your bifolds. For inward opening bifolds, you'll want to avoid any blind style which may obstruct the doors from opening, such as those fitted to headrails outside the frame such as vertical blinds. A better choice for inward bifold doors would be no-drill styles which cover the glass itself.
If your bifold doors open outwards you have more freedom in the blinds that are suitable, opening up the possibility of vertical blinds or even curtains. It's still important to make sure you have enough room at either side to accommodate the vanes or curtains when the window coverings are drawn back to ensure you'll have access to the handle!
Which type of handles do you have?
Similar to the point about depth, it's also important to make sure your door handles are far away enough from the glass of your bifold doors to fit a Stick Fit or a Clip Fit blind between them. This can easily be checked with a tape measure, as long as you have 35mm plus some wiggle room to use the handle - you're good to go!
Check out our measuring guides for Stick Fit and Clip Fit for step-by-step instructions.
How easy are the blinds to maintain?
Consider how much you use your bifold door blinds will get, and how much time you can spare to spend cleaning them when deciding on a blind type. For high traffic areas, opt for an easier to clean style like Venetians, which can be quickly dusted or wiped down to stay looking fresh. If you have any furry friends living in your home, you might want to opt for a more durable stile - check out our Pet Friendly Blinds blog for more tips!
Cleaning and Maintaining Bifold Blinds
Cleaning Pleated Blinds
Pleated blinds are a relatively low maintenane style, and will only require a gentle dusting every now and then. Be aware however that if these shades are victim to any spille, it may be more difficult to get stains out compared to other styles
Cleaning Venetian Blinds
Less dust will settle on the slats the more you use the blinds! So a light dusting every now and then will be enough to keep them looking good. For a deeper clean, or to remove any splashes or spills, a wipe down with a damp cloth is all it takes!
Cleaning Vertical Blinds
Like the rest, vertical blinds will only need a quick once over with a duster every now and then, with regular use helping to prevent dust and debris from settling on the slats. If you go for a water resistant option you can easily wipe down the blinds with a damp cloth when needed, a good choice if your bifolds live in a busy room!
For more info about how to clean different blind types, check out our Cleaning Blinds blog.
How to choose the right bifold door blinds for your home
Selecting the right blinds depends on personal style, preference, budget and the structure of your bifold doors. Consider the frame type - aluminium or uPVC for Clip Fit, or any type for Stick Fit, vertical blinds or curtains! Research, use free samples, and browse different styles to make the best choice for your home.
Choosing the right blinds for your bifold doors can significantly enhance your living space, making it more stylish, functional, and even energy-efficient! At 247 Blinds we're here to help you find the perfect fit. Check out our range of bifold door blinds, order free samples and get in touch with our friendly team if you have any more questions!