What should you know before installing glass doors in your home?

As a material, glass is prone to breakages and can get cracked easily. Due to this, many homeowners hesitate to use glass for the main door as intruders can break the glass to enter the house. However, this problem can be solved by fixing double paned glass on the doors. Another factor to be considered is the lack of privacy that glass doors present as they allow direct views into your house, making it easy for burglars to assess whether there is anyone at home. Fixing curtains or blinds can help to take care of this issue.

In the end, you need to consider the location of your house as well as the overall security of the neighbourhood. If you live in an apartment or a gated community with 24-hour security, then you won’t have to worry about burglaries. On the other hand, it will be easier for neighbours to look inside your house. This can be resolved by placing the glass doors on the side of the house, away from direct views from the street or by covering them with shades.

Consult an interior architect for advice on using glass doors for your home.

One of the benefits of glass doors is that they help to optimize the view and invite natural light into the rooms. If your living room leads out to a balcony or patio with a lovely view, then using a glass door to partition the two spaces creates a highlight as the view can be enjoyed by your family and visitors even when they are seated inside your house.

Often, a living room might look dull if it doesn’t have much natural light, and it might not always be possible to open the balcony door to bring in light. For instance, in summer, opening the door will reduce the effect of the air conditioning, and during the monsoons, rain water can come in through the open door and ruin your wooden flooring or carpets. By installing a glass door, natural light can enter the living area unhindered. However, bear in mind that using glass doors can hike your energy costs due to the increased warmth brought by the sunlight. Using well-insulated glass doors with UV protection or blinds can help to keep the electricity costs low.

Get ideas for using sliding doors to optimize space utilization.

It’s a well-known fact that light makes a room look bigger than it is. If you’ve lived in a small house, then you would know that manipulating the brightness within a room is a visual trick that most interior designers use to make a tiny space appear larger than it is. Unlike a solid wood door, which blocks natural light, using glass for the door can amplify the brightness of the room and make your house look more spacious.

Glass front doors add a stylish touch to any building. They enhance the sophistication of a modern house and can look just as good in a classic house with French doors. Their ability to increase the amount of light in an area enhances the overall ambiance in the room, so whether you want a sleek element in a minimalist house or a warm addition to a rustic home, glass doors can help to achieve the desired effect.

You need covering on your glass doors to protect the privacy inside your home. However, it doesn’t mean that you should forgo style in favour of functionality. There are a variety of window treatments to consider, depending upon the style of your house.

The primary factor to keep in mind is that the covering should not obstruct the smooth functioning of the door. If you choose blinds, ensure that there is sufficient space above the door so that they don’t brush against heads when rolled up. Curtains can also be used to cover glass doors. Sheers are an excellent option as they don’t take away the natural light in the area. It’s advisable to fix the curtain rod above the frame of the door so that it doesn’t interfere with the movement of the door.

If you want curtains purely as a decorative accessory, then side panels that remain stationary are the perfect solution. Roman shades, wooden blinds and shutters are ideal for modern houses as they present a stylish option for covering glass doors. Built-in blinds can be fixed over the glass, leaving the rest of the door frame undisturbed.

Most homeowners install glass doors to maximise the natural light in the interiors. Therefore, the shades you pick for the doors should not limit the amount of sunlight entering the room. Additionally, they should not hinder the sliding action of the doors. Vertical blinds are a smart choice as they can be moved to a side to uncover the glass doors. Additionally, even when closed, you can adjust the angle of the slats to filter the amount of light in the space. Blinds come in a variety of materials, including wood, faux wood, PVC and plastic, and in an array of colours, so it’s easy to coordinate them with the décor of your house. The downside of vertical blinds is that they are difficult to clean, since each slat needs to be dusted from top to bottom.

Built-in roller blinds, which cover just the glass on the sliding door, are another clever solution. They don’t gather as much dust as slatted blinds and are much easier to clean. They are also easy to operate. Sliding panels, which run on a track, is another option for sliding doors.

Cellular shades, which are a relatively new entrant in the market, are another versatile option for dressing sliding glass doors. The accordion-like pleats run on a track, making it easy to open and close to provide better insulation to the interiors. Plantation shutters provide a classy solution for covering glass doors. Like with sliding panels and cellular shades, they run on a track, but have the advantage of allowing adjustment in the slats to filter the amount of light entering the room.

While glass doors allow a lovely view from the comfort of your home, this is possible only if you keep the glass sparkling clean always. Since it is exposed to the outdoors, the glass can get streaked from dirt or dust, besides finger smudges left behind whenever someone touches the glass while sliding the door.

Fortunately, cleaning glass doors is not difficult, if you go about it the right way. First, you should remove any loose dirt or dust from the surface, using a microfiber cloth. Next, dust the frame of the door. Place some old newspaper under the door to protect your flooring from dust and splashes. After this, spray a cleaning solution on the glass and wipe it using a squeegee. Try to use the squeegee in a single stroke from top to bottom. Do this in sections until you cover the entire glass panel. Wipe the surface with a dry cloth to remove any remaining solution. Finally, use a fresh microfiber cloth or old newspaper to buff the glass to a sparkling shine.

Get inspired by these stunning sliding door options for homes.