Blinds for Bi-fold Doors

Which blinds are best for Bi-fold doors?

Introduction

One of the standout features of bi-fold doors is their ability to effortlessly bring the outside in, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. But with this beautiful design element comes the challenge of choosing the right blinds.
Vertical blinds offer adjustable slats, allowing homeowners to regulate light and maintain privacy. Roller blinds are valued for their simplicity and wide range of materials and shades.
Perfect fit blinds are particularly appealing for those who want a clean installation without drilling, as they attach directly to the window frame.
INTU Micro Blinds boast an innovative tension system, ensuring stability without any sideways movement.
And for those seeking a touch of elegance, Allusion blinds blend the gentle appearance of sheer curtains with the functionality of vertical blinds.
In this blog, we’ll provide an overview of each type, helping you choose best fit for your bi-fold doors to connect with the outdoors.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds have long been a favoured choice for bi-fold doors, primarily due to their versatile design and functionality. Bi-fold doors are celebrated for seamlessly connecting the indoors with the outside, and vertical blinds complement this feature by offering adjustable light control and privacy. With their vertical slats, these blinds can be tilted to varying degrees, allowing homeowners to modulate the amount of natural light entering a room while also preserving privacy. Additionally, they can be fully drawn back to maximize the view or closed entirely for complete seclusion. Their design is especially suited for the tall and wide expanses of glass that characterize bi-fold doors. Available in a myriad of materials, colours, and patterns, vertical blinds not only enhance the practicality of bi-fold doors but also add an element of style to them.
Why Choose Vertical Blinds for Bi-fold Doors:

Adjustable Light Control: Vertical blinds allow homeowners to easily regulate the amount of light entering the room by tilting the slats.
Privacy: They can be closed completely to offer full privacy or partially tilted to provide a view while still maintaining some privacy.
Range of Materials: Vertical blinds are available in a variety of materials, from fabric to PVC, allowing homeowners to choose what suits their aesthetic and functional needs.
Cost-effective: Generally, vertical blinds are more budget-friendly compared to some other specialized blind types.
Easy Maintenance: Most vertical blinds are easy to clean and maintain, with many materials being wipeable or even machine-washable.
Versatility: They can be fully drawn back to offer an unobstructed view, or closed entirely, giving flexibility based on the occasion or time of day.
Child Safety with Wand Control: The wand control feature in vertical blinds eliminates the need for cords, reducing the risk of child entanglement and enhancing safety.
Made-to-Measure – Suitable for bifold doors that are really wide: Vertical blinds can be custom-made to perfectly fit the wide and long expanses of bi-fold doors, ensuring a tailored and seamless appearance.

1 Stop Blinds manufacture Vertical Blinds in-house in Bury St Edmunds. We also offer a measuring and fitting service in our local area. 1 Stop Blinds can make vertical blinds as a single track up to a maximum with of 5 metres with a single pull and twist wand control. Contact 1 Stop Blinds in Bury St Edmunds for more information.

Roller Blinds

Roller blinds present a streamlined and modern solution for bi-fold doors. These doors, known for bridging the inside with the outside, benefit from the simplicity and functionality of roller blinds. With a straightforward pull-down mechanism, roller blinds can be easily adjusted to any height, allowing homeowners to determine the level of light and privacy they desire. When fully retracted, they offer an unobstructed view of the outdoors, maximizing the bi-fold door’s primary function. Conversely, when fully extended, they provide a uniform and neat appearance, giving homeowners full privacy and light blockage. Available in various materials, from sheer to blackout, and in a multitude of colours and patterns, roller blinds cater to both functional needs and aesthetic preferences. Their sleek design ensures they don’t overpower the bi-fold doors, but rather complement them.
Why Choose Roller Blinds for Bi-Fold Doors

Sleek Design: Roller blinds offer a minimalist and contemporary look, complementing the modern aesthetics of bi-fold doors.
Adjustable Light Control: They can be fully retracted for an unobstructed view or lowered to any height for desired light filtering or blackout.
Variety of Materials: Roller blinds come in a range of fabrics, from sheer to blackout, allowing homeowners to choose based on their light and privacy preferences.
Easy Operation: The simple pull-down mechanism makes them user-friendly and easy to adjust.
Compact When Retracted: Once fully rolled up, roller blinds take up minimal space, ensuring the bi-fold doors remain a prominent feature.
Customizable: Available in various patterns, colours, and finishes, they can be tailored to match any interior design.
Child Safety Features: Many roller blinds come with cordless or motorized options, reducing risks associated with traditional cords.

How to Choose Roller Blinds for Bi-Fold Doors: 1 Stop Blinds manufacture roller blinds in our Bury St Edmunds workshop. Bi-fold doors usually require multiple roller blinds to completely cover the door span. We install multiple roller blinds inside a pelmet cassette system which hide the mechanisms and makes for a neater job. Cassettes also also allow us to drill multiple holes in different positions which can be helpful when drilling steel or concrete structural beams. Due to UK Window Blind Child Safety Law, it is only possible to fit manual looped roller blinds against a wall or side recess. Any intermediate roller blinds will require motorisation.

Perfect Fit Blinds

Perfect Fit blinds are a versatile window treatment option that pairs well bi-fold doors. Their standout feature is the unique frame system, which allows the blinds to clip directly onto the window or door panel, eliminating the need for drilling or external fixtures. This results in a neat and integrated appearance that complements the sleek design of bi-fold doors. As the blinds sit flush against the glass, they move smoothly with the doors when they are opened or closed, ensuring consistent light control and privacy without any gaps. Available in a range of styles such as roller, pleated, and cellular, Perfect Fit blinds offer homeowners both functionality and aesthetics. Their non-invasive installation is particularly appealing, as it maintains the door’s structural integrity and appearance.

Why Choose Perfect Fit Blinds for Bi-fold Doors

No Drilling Required: Perfect Fit blinds clip directly onto the window or door panel, eliminating the need for screwing or drilling.
Seamless Integration: They fit neatly within each individual door frame, offering a streamlined and integrated appearance.
Maximized Window View: With no external fixtures or overlapping, Perfect Fit Blinds can be individually adjusted on individual bi-fold door panels, and they allow for an unobstructed view when opened.
Enhanced Insulation: The close fit can improve thermal efficiency by reducing drafts.
Child Safety: With no hanging cords or chains, Perfect Fit blinds are a safer option for households with children or pets.
Easy to Remove: They can be quickly unclipped for cleaning or maintenance without any hassle.
Versatility: Available in a variety of styles, including roller, pleated, and venetian, offering flexibility in design and function.
No Light Gaps: Depending on the fit, there might be minor gaps where light can seep through.

How to Choose Perfect Fit Blinds for Bi-Fold Doors: 1 Stop Blinds source Perfect Fit Blinds from trusted UK based manufacturers. Perfect Fit Blinds are fitted to each individual panel separately. There are several frame colours to choose from which will co-ordinate or tone in with your bi-fold door frames. Should your bi-fold door fold together tightly, we may need to offer INTU Micro pleated blinds as an alternative.

INTU Micro Blinds

INTU micro blinds are a distinctive window treatment solution that aligns seamlessly with the design of bi-fold doors. Recognized for their sleek and minimalistic design, these blinds are engineered to fit neatly into the window bead, eliminating the need for screws or drilling. This ensures a clutter-free look, with no hanging cords or external fixtures, enhancing the clean lines of bi-fold doors. A significant advantage of INTU micro blinds is their ability to move cohesively with the doors, ensuring that the blinds remain in position even as the doors are folded or unfolded. Their compact design makes them especially suitable for the narrow glazing sections often found in bi-fold doors. Available in a variety of shades and finishes, INTU micro blinds provide homeowners with a combination of aesthetic appeal, light control, and privacy, while preserving the integrity and appearance of the bi-fold doors.

No Drilling or Screwing: INTU Micro pleated blinds are designed for bead fit, eliminating the need for any drilling or screwing.
Slim Design: Their micro size ensures a discreet and streamlined appearance, perfect for the slender profiles of bi-fold doors.
Integrated Look: The blinds fit neatly within the window sections of the doors, providing a seamless and integrated appearance.
Enhanced Thermal Efficiency: The pleated design can trap air, acting as an insulator and improving the room’s thermal performance.
Child Safety: With no hanging cords or chains, they’re a safer alternative for households with children or pets.
Easy Operation: The tension system allows for smooth and easy adjustment of the blinds.
Variety of Shades: Available in multiple colors and transparencies, allowing homeowners to choose based on light and privacy preferences.

How to Choose INTU Micro Pleated Blinds for Bi-Fold Doors: 1 Stop Blinds source INTU Blinds from trusted UK based manufacturers. INTU Micro Blinds are fitted to each individual panel separately. They fit snug within the Bi-fold panels and although they can be fitted in situations which are unsuitable for Perfect Fit Blinds there are side gaps and the operating cords will be visible.

Allusion Blinds

Allusion blinds are an innovative choice for bi-fold doors, offering a unique blend of style and functionality. Characterized by their luxurious flowing fabric vanes, Allusion blinds elegantly combine the softness of a curtain with the versatility of vertical blinds. When opened, their sheer fabric provides a delicate filter for sunlight, allowing a soft glow to permeate the room while maintaining a clear view of the outdoors. When closed, they ensure optimal privacy and a cozy ambiance. Their design is especially complementary to the expansive glass panels of bi-fold doors, facilitating smooth transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. The fluid movement of Allusion blinds, combined with their wide span, makes them an ideal match for bi-fold doors, offering homeowners an elegant solution for light control, privacy, and aesthetic appeal.

- Elegant Design: Allusion blinds offer a unique blend of vertical blinds and sheer curtains, providing a luxurious and soft appearance.
- Versatile Light Control: The blinds can be rotated to offer a clear view, semi-sheer privacy, or full privacy when closed. They can also be retracted completely to one side using a Window Blind Child Safe wand control.
- Fluid Movement: Their flowing fabric allows for smooth and easy operation, perfectly complementing the fluid nature of bi-fold doors. It is possible to walk through Allusion Blinds in when they are in the fully close position.
- Ideal for Large Doors: The wide fabric panels are particularly suited for the expansive glass areas of bi-fold doors.
- Child Safety: Allusion blinds come with wand controls, eliminating the need for cords and enhancing safety.
- Easy Maintenance: The fabric is designed to be easy to care for, with many being machine-washable.
- Enhanced Ambience: The sheer fabric can create a soft, diffused light effect, adding warmth and cosyness to the room.

How to Choose Allusion Blinds for Bi-Fold Doors: 1 Stop Blinds source Allusion Blinds from trusted UK based manufacturers. We also offer a measuring and fitting service in our local area. Allusion Blinds can be made as a single track up to a maximum with of 5 metres with a single pull and twist wand control. Contact 1 Stop Blinds in Bury St Edmunds for more information.

Conclusion

When choosing blinds for bi-fold doors, it’s essential to consider both practicality and appearance. There are various options available, each with its own set of pros and cons. Bi-fold doors connect indoor and outdoor spaces, and the right blinds can enhance this feature by providing the necessary light control and privacy. If you have questions or need advice on the best blinds for your bi-fold doors, contact the 1 Stop Blinds team for expert guidance.

Author: Paul McGilligan, 1 Stop Blinds

From an aircraft technician in the RAF, I transitioned into the window blind industry, blending my engineering expertise with a genuine interest in serving clients. My journey began as an Apollo Blinds franchisee, leading to the co-founding of Baileys Blinds in 1995. Recognising the significance of industry standards, I became a fully accredited member of the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA). With an eye on the ever-changing market needs, I launched 1 Stop Blinds in 2018, expanding our product range. Based in Bury St Edmunds at our Eastern Way site, our committed team consistently delivers top-notch blind solutions, always putting the customer first.