The Best Curtains for Large Sliding Doors and Patio Windows

There is something quite dreamy about having huge windows or sliding patio doors at home. All that natural light, a gorgeous view of the garden and the ability to make even the smallest room feel approximately twice the size!

And then you have to dress them.

Suddenly, that gorgeous expanse of glass becomes a bit of an interiors conundrum. Because while a beautiful set of curtains can make the entire room feel softer, cosier and more pulled together, the wrong ones can feel bulky, awkward and forever get themselves caught in the door. Not quite the Pinterest-worthy finish we had in mind.

The good news is that large windows don’t really require anything wildly complicated. You just need to think a little more carefully about how the curtains will hang, where they’ll go when they’re open and, importantly, how you actually use the space.

So, if you’re currently staring at a very large, very naked patio door wondering where on earth to start, here are a few curtain styles worth considering.

Wave Curtains for That Lovely, Effortless Look

If your interiors taste tends to lean towards clean, contemporary and slightly hotel-like (in the best possible way), wave curtains are a gorgeous option.

Rather than lots of gathering at the top, the fabric falls into soft, uniform waves, which gives everything a beautifully neat finish. They’re particularly lovely across floor-to-ceiling windows because they complement all that lovely glass without making the window feel overly fussy.

They’re also a good option when you’re looking at ready made curtains for large windows⁠ and want something that will sit neatly across a generous span without visually overwhelming the room.

The main thing to consider is where all that fabric is going to go when the curtains are open. Large doors generally mean large curtains (who knew?), so you’ll want enough wall space on either side for them to stack back without covering half the glass.

And if your doors are particularly wide, this is also one of those occasions when motorised curtains suddenly go from sounding very Grand Designs to actually being rather practical.

Fabric wise, something with a little weight and movement tends to work beautifully. Think soft linen look fabrics or medium weight materials that will hold the wave without looking stiff.

Eyelet Curtains for Keeping Things Simple

Sometimes you don’t want a complicated window treatment. You just want curtains that look lovely and can be opened without an upper-body workout every morning.

Enter: eyelets.

The large rings at the top sit directly onto a curtain pole, so they’re incredibly straightforward to use and have a relaxed, contemporary feel. I think they work particularly well in kitchen diners and family living spaces where you don’t necessarily want anything too formal.

However for a large patio door, don’t underestimate the weight of all that fabric. A flimsy curtain pole that starts sagging sadly in the middle isn’t going to do anyone any favours, so it’s worth investing in something sturdy enough for the width of the window and the curtains you’ve chosen.

Eyelets also tend to take up a little more room when they’re pushed open, so again, check that you’ve got somewhere for the fabric to go. It’s not the most glamorous part of choosing curtains, admittedly, but future you will be grateful when you’re not wrestling several metres of fabric out of the patio door every time someone wants to go into the garden.

Pinch Pleats for Something a Little More Grown-Up

If wave curtains are modern and minimal, pinch pleats are their slightly more glamorous older sister.

They have that beautifully tailored finish you often see in boutique hotels and gorgeous period homes, with the fabric gathered into neat pleats across the top. There’s something about them that instantly makes a room look more considered.

They’re particularly good if you’ve got a living room or dining room where the curtains are going to become part of the overall scheme rather than simply serving the very practical purpose of stopping the neighbours seeing what you’re watching on television.

The downside? You generally need more fabric to create that lovely full effect, which can make them a little more expensive. But on a really large window, that extra fullness can look incredible.

I’d opt for a proper track rather than anything too delicate, especially if you’ve chosen a heavier fabric or added lining. You want them to glide open rather than require an elaborate tug and shuffle routine every evening.

Thermal and Blackout Curtains for When Your Window Has Its Own Climate

Anyone with large south-facing windows will know that there comes a point in summer when your living room stops being a living room and starts auditioning to become a greenhouse.

And then winter arrives and all that beautiful glass suddenly feels considerably less appealing when you’re trying to keep the room warm.

This is where curtain linings really earn their keep.

Thermal curtains can help add another insulating layer at the window, while blackout linings are brilliant if you’re trying to reduce incoming light. The latter can be particularly useful for bedrooms with balcony or patio doors, or living rooms where sunshine across the television screen makes afternoon viewing virtually impossible.

You don’t necessarily have to choose between practicality and prettiness, either. The clever bit is hidden behind your chosen fabric, so you can still have the colour, pattern and texture you actually want in the room.

In fact, the additional weight of a good lining can help curtains hang rather beautifully too. Practical and pretty is always a win!

Sheer Curtains for Privacy Without Losing the Light

I’m a big fan of anything that solves an interiors problem without creating another one and sheers are particularly clever on large windows.

They give you some daytime privacy while still allowing lots of lovely natural light into the room, which makes them ideal if your patio doors are overlooked by neighbours or face onto a relatively busy garden or street.

Rather than thinking of them as those old fashioned net curtains you might remember from years ago, look for something soft and textured. Linen look sheers and delicate fabrics can look incredibly expensive when they’re hung from ceiling to floor.

You can also layer them with heavier curtains using a double track. Keep the sheers drawn during the day, then close the main curtains in the evening when you want more privacy, warmth or darkness.

Layering also makes a huge wall of glass feel much softer and more intentional. Plus, there’s something undeniably luxurious about floor to ceiling curtains gently moving in the breeze. Until the breeze becomes a gale and you’re chasing them around the living room!

So, Which Curtains Should You Choose?

As with most things interiors-related, there isn’t really one perfect answer.

If you love a clean, contemporary look, wave curtains are difficult to beat. Eyelets are brilliant if you want something relaxed and easy to live with, while pinch pleats give a room a smarter, more tailored finish.

If heat, cold or light is your main concern, pay just as much attention to the lining as you do to the fabric itself. And if privacy is an issue but you don’t want to sacrifice all that glorious natural light, adding a sheer layer can completely transform the space.

Most importantly, think about how you actually use the doors. Curtains might look fabulous when they’re closed, but if you have children running in and out of the garden, a dog who needs letting outside approximately 400 times a day or a patio that becomes an extension of the kitchen in summer, they need to be easy to move out of the way too.

Because ultimately, the best interiors aren’t just lovely to look at. They work for real life too.

And if they can make those enormous patio doors look rather fabulous in the process? Even better!

*features sponsored content.