Window coverings for patio doors/bifold doors

[TrumpInflatableChased]

We’re considering an extension and are trying to decide on bifold doors or french windows. Do you have blinds, curtains, nothing?

I don’t much like sitting at night with no coverings on the window looking into a dark garden.

We got our bifolds from a local manufacturer Maples Windows (much cheaper than one of the big ones) and they were able to put blinds inside the glass- we didn’t actually take this option but my parents in law did and I’m regretting not taking the option myself! They’re brilliant. A pull cord and little dial outside the glass and the blinds inside the glass to make the bifolds private if you want.

Does it still look streamlined? As that sounds perfect. Also wondering about that glass where you press a button and it goes opaque....

It looks great- the blinds are actually inside the glass so they never get dusty or tangled or anything. As for the button to make them opaque I’ve seen it on grand designs but never in real life 😂

We have full length wooden shutters. I thought they looked a bit bare to start with but now I love them. Like this (NB this is not my house).

Actually, we have those internal double-glazing blinds in our conservatory too - the previous owners installed them.

I like the shutters. That looks v streamlined.

We’re putting in garden lighting to avoid the black hole effect - prefer to keep the windows and doors uncluttered.

Trump ours are white so they're really light. I'd worry the wooden ones might be a bit dark.

Starling, what do your shutters look like when they are open and all folded in?

I like the idea of garden lighting but in reality the 3xtension is going to swallow the budget and I’m going to have to save for the garden makeover...but could put s couple of lights in .

I’ve been googling shutters and they can look fab.

We've just replaced ancient patio doors with bifolds and kept our curtains. It is probably a bit retro, but so is the house.

@ThisIsMyBuick, like this. Annoyingly it's hard to open the side window blinds when the main ones are open, so most of the time we don't bother. The sitting room faces South though, so it's still very light.

Sorry, I think I misunderstood, do you actually mean when the shutters are closed but the slats are open? I'll take a pic in the morning to show you.

No, I meant just like that. Thank you I couldn't work out where they would go and what is would look like.

The chap,we had round suggested either shutters or electric roller or Roman blinds. Shutters look far nicer but are twice as expensive.

I second internal blinds. No cleaning and they don't take up space like shutters.

We had no drill blinds that clipped in. They looked really good (if I do say so myself )

We've got roller blinds on our french doors, the runners clip into the recess of frame and glass - really like them. I think the brand name was Intu.