Vertical blinds for wide windows and patio doors

A horizontal blind across a three-metre patio door is heavy to raise and leaves a deep stack at the top. Verticals turn the problem on its side. Each slat is light, the set draws sideways along the rail, and when fully open it stacks neatly at the edge so you walk straight through the door without ducking under anything.

That sideways draw is the practical reason they suit doors. You only need to open the part you walk through, and the slats swing aside as you pass rather than catching on your head.

There are two separate movements. Rotating the slats changes the angle, from fully open for the view to nearly closed for privacy, while the blind stays across the glass. Traversing draws the whole set to one side or splits it from the centre. On a sunny garden-facing room you might keep the slats angled against the afternoon glare while leaving the door end drawn back.

We look at which panel of your door actually opens and set the stack to that side, so the blind never blocks the way out to the garden.

• Left or right stack: the slats gather at one end, handy when the door opens from one side.
• Split draw: the slats part from the middle, like a pair of curtains.
• Outside the recess: lets the stack sit on the wall so it does not cover glass.

Verticals are a long-standing office choice because they control glare on screens without darkening the whole room. Angled against the sun, they cut reflections while daylight still reaches the desk. For a garden office or a converted room with a wide window, that is often exactly what is needed.

On a standard window that is taller than it is wide, a roller or wooden blind is usually neater and cheaper. And for patio doors and bifolds, some customers prefer a blind fixed to each door panel so it moves with the door. Our blinds for patio doors and bifolds guide compares those options fairly, and the roller versus vertical guide covers the everyday windows.

Lead time confirmed when you order.

Vertical slats come in plain, textured and patterned fabrics, including dimout and blackout options for rooms that need to be darker. Each slat has a small weight at the bottom, linked by a fine chain, so they hang straight and move together when rotated.

Cleaning is straightforward. Most fabric slats can be vacuumed with a brush attachment while hanging, and individual slats unclip if one needs more attention. Because each slat is separate, a damaged one can be replaced on its own rather than replacing the whole blind.

We fit child-safety devices to every control, and on patio doors we set the stack so the slats clear the handle when the door opens. It is a small detail, but it stops the most common complaint people have with vertical blinds on doors.