How to Choose the Right Shutters for Your Sliding Glass Doors

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In addition to being a huge focal point in any room, your sliding glass doors can offer many functional benefits like letting in natural light and providing easy access to your patio or balcony. But did you know that choosing the right shutters for your sliding glass doors can also make a big difference in both the look and function of your space?

shutters for sliding glass doors

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing shutters for your sliding glass doors:

Consider the overall design of your home when choosing shutters.

Sliding glass doors can brighten up a room and give it a more spacious feel. Not to mention, they are great for letting in natural light and fresh air. Installing shutters on sliding glass doors is a great way to provide a consistent look throughout your home without compromising accessibility or control of light, privacy, and security. 

Sliding glass door shutters come in two varieties: 

Bypass track system

Bypass shutters are a set of shutters mounted on different tracks above the door that allows for sliding one in front of the other. The track can be extended to allow the shutter to slide further away if there is extra room on the side of the door, revealing the entire door.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re considering bypassing sliding door shutters for your home. For one, a standard bypass shutter configuration will always have a shutter panel covering one side of your sliding door. Additionally, bypass sliding door shutters tend to be more durable than bifold doors because there are fewer points of articulation that can become damaged or broken.

shutters for sliding glass doors

Tips: 

Sliding door shutters are a great option for doors when you don’t have a lot of space in front of your door or if you want a low-maintenance but durable shutter.

Bi-fold track system

Bifold shutters are a type of shutter that folds. These shutters have smaller panels that fold into each other, rather than the larger panels that slide on a rail. They can be folded back completely out of the way of the door or window they are covering.

shutters for sliding glass doors

Bifold shutters for sliding glass doors are a great way to provide privacy and security while allowing natural light into your home. These shutters are made with smaller panels that fold into each other, clearing the path in front of your sliding door. This allows you to enjoy all the benefits of having a sliding glass door without sacrificing privacy or security.

shutters for sliding glass doors

Tips:

Bi-fold shutters need an overhead track and will therefore fold like an accordion, so if you’re planning on installing bifold shutters, make sure to factor in an additional inch or two of backspace.

Here are three options to consider before you order custom shutters for your sliding doors:

Mounting options

Mounted inside – Installing shutters on the inside of your opening is the best way to go if you have decorative trim or molding around it. This way, the shutters will attach directly to the door frame with hinges. This is sometimes referred to as an “L” frame.

Mounted outside – Installing shutters on the outside of your opening is the best way to go if you don’t have decorative trim or molding around it. This way, an ‘L’ frame goes outside your opening, while a ‘Z’ frame overlaps the corners of your door.

Outside Mount Plantation Shutters

Louver size options

2 ½ inch Shutters

A 2 ½-inch louver is the most traditional size. They are traditionally seen in homes with traditional décor, and they also look good on doors, closets, and room dividers.

3 inch Shutters

3 ½-inch shutters can have a traditional design or be grander, depending on your needs. If you have large windows, 2 ½ inch shutters will be too small. For larger windows, you should look for ones that measure 3-inch or more.

3 ½ inch Shutters

3 ½-inch louver shutters provide the perfect balance of beauty and privacy. These are the perfect choice for wider windows, but they can also work well on the doors, closets, and room dividers.

4 ½ inch Shutters

Shutters with louvers of 4 ½ inches wide are an excellent choice for large windows that offer a stunning view. The visibility is 108% greater than 2 ½ inch shutters, and the wide-open shutter almost makes you forget it’s there at all, as the view is so clear.

Tilt rod options

When it comes to tilting control, two options are most popular. The first is the center tilt rod and the other is invisible tilt control. Invisible tilt control has a sleek, contemporary look. If you want to upgrade your shutters, this might be the option for you. Split tilt might be another good option, which allows independent tilt in multiple zones of the panel. This feature has been popular in dining rooms and bathrooms.

Choose a durable shutter material that will withstand heavy use.

The material is one important factor to consider. Shutters come in wood, composite wood, and vinyl options, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Solid timber shutters are a popular choice for those who want a classic look for their home. The material you choose for your shutters will mostly depend on your budget and the look you’re after.

Solid wood shutters are typically the most expensive option, while composite shutters are usually more affordable. Some materials are better suited for particular rooms than others, for instance, polyvinyl shutters are resistant to moisture and warping, making them a good choice for bathrooms.

Wood Plantation Shutters

Wood is an excellent material for construction due to its strength and durability. It is also very aesthetically pleasing, making it a popular choice for home building and furniture making.

Basswood Shutters
Basswood Shutters

Pros:

  • natural aesthetic
  • a traditional option
  • a natural insulator
  • greater durability than vinyl & composites
  • lighter in weight than vinyl & composites
  • can be painted or stained in an array of colors
  • can be repainted to a new color
  • a better environmentally friendly material than vinyl & composites

Cons:

  • higher price point than vinyl & composites
  • extremely damp conditions will shorten their service life
  • longer lead time than vinyl & composites

Vinyl Plantation Shutters

Vinyl shutters are made of polyvinyl chloride plastic, which is PVC for short. This material is lightweight and significantly less expensive than wood, making vinyl a more cost-effective option overall for most homes.

PVC Shutters
PVC Shutters

Pros:

  • a lot cheaper than wood
  • highly resistant to humidity, moist weather, and water 
  • higher fire resistant qualities than wood & composites 
  • faster lead time than wood

Cons:

  • vinyl shutters are heavier than wood
  • limitations of width to 700mm
  • limitations of paint colors

The wooden shutters range is the most popular option for sliding shutter doors because they are lightweight and can be customized to fit any space. Many of our customers love wood for its large frame and panel sizes, making it the perfect choice for door shutters.

Not sure what kind of wood to get? Here are the five most popular wood species used in shutters.

Match the shutter colors to your home décor for a cohesive look.

If you’re looking for doors that will match the rest of your room’s decor, you have a few different options. You can choose doors in the same color scheme as the rest of the room, or you can go for a complementary color. If you have a strong color scheme already, it might be best to keep your door shutters muted.

Pair Plantation Shutters with Curtains

Our sliding shutters come in a massive variety of colors to suit any home and interior design taste. From classic white shutters and traditional wood finishes to contrasting black or deep slate grey shutters and more. No matter what your style, with our custom color options, you can pick the perfect shade to ensure that your shutters are a perfect fit for your space.

Sliding Door Shutters

Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors – Made in Goodwood Shutters

Sliding glass door shutters are a popular design feature in contemporary home decor. Shutters can be custom-built to sliding doors, ensuring a perfect fit and a seamless match to any home style. For sliding door shutters, we have plenty of options to choose from, so you can create your door shutters just the way your customer desired. 

Goodwood Shutters is a China-based plantation shutters manufacturer with highly efficient production facilities in Xiamen, Shanghai, and Shandong, enabling us to offer services promptly to our international clients. As a full-service trade plantation shutters manufacturer, we always look for shutter companies in market areas not presently served, by providing professional service on custom shutters and components at a competitive price. Whether you are shutter importers, brand owners, distributors, wholesalers, or retailers, you can benefit from importing plantation shutters from us. Get a quote today!

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