How to choose the right solution for your bi-fold doors

Inspiration

BY Abi Clewley

Published: 05 October 2023 Updated: 10 October 2024

Inspiration
Tags: Blinds, Shutters

Bifold door blinds buying guide

Bifold doors have become increasingly popular in the UK, adding elegance and functionality to homes. They offer a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, flooding interiors with natural light. However, along with the many advantages of bi-fold doors, come questions about privacy, light control, and insulation. This is where choosing the right bi-fold door blind or bi-fold door shutter becomes crucial. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of selecting the perfect window coverings for your bi-fold doors.

What are the challenges of bi-fold door dressing?

Bi-fold doors create vast expanses of glass, providing windows with stunning views and ample sunlight. However, there are many situations where blinds and shutters can be beneficial.

Privacy: while bi-fold doors offer breathtaking views, they can also expose your home to prying eyes.
Light control: excessive sunlight can lead to glare and discomfort.
Insulation: during cold weather, glass surfaces can become conduits for heat loss.
Function: the design of bi-fold doors means they effectively stack panels against each other when opened, so you need a dressing that can allow for this.

Grey living room with wooden floor and grey rug, grey sofa with cushions in browns and coppers, glass circular coffee table, copper soft chair and floor to ceiling windows and doors in white tracked shutters, partially open.

The benefits of blinds and shutters

Choosing the best blinds and shutters for your bi-fold doors can offer a range of benefits:

Enhanced privacy: enjoy your indoor space without worrying about onlookers. Blinds and shutters can provide privacy when needed without sacrificing your connection to the outdoors.
Light management: adjust the level of natural light to suit your mood and needs. Blinds and shutters allow you to regulate the amount of light entering your space, making it more comfortable and functional.
Improved insulation: keep your home comfortable year-round while potentially reducing energy costs. Insulated blinds and shutters can improve the room's energy efficiency by acting as an additional layer of insulation when closed.
Aesthetic appeal: blinds and shutters come in various styles, materials, and colours, allowing you to complement your interior décor.

Close in on a set of dark brown bi-fold doors with each of the three doors dressed in marine blue duette blinds fitted into the frame and lowered three quarters.

What to consider

Before making a choice between blinds and shutters there's a wide range of factors you should take into consideration. Let's take a look at them in more detail.

Operation of the doors: ensure that the blinds or shutters you select don't interfere with the operation of your bi-fold doors. Some designs are better suited for this purpose. Wide bi-fold doors can still be easier to open than the same size traditional sliding doors but it's likely you'll have additional panels to fold back.
Operation: consider whether you want manual or motorised blinds/shutters. Motorised options offer convenience and can be integrated into smart home systems.
Complementing the benefits: think about how your choice of blinds or shutters can enhance the advantages of your bi-fold doors. For example, thermal blinds can improve insulation, making your space more comfortable.

Dining room with pale mink walls, large tiled floor, wooden dining table and upholstered chairs in pale mink, with three bi-fold doors dressed in natural duette blinds, lowered halfway.

Are there specialist bi-fold door blinds?

Intu Micro Hive and Micro Pleat blinds are specialised window covering solutions designed to complement the aesthetics and functionality of bi-fold doors. Similar in benefits to both Duette® blinds and Pleated blinds respectively, Micro Hive and Micro Pleat blinds are a slimline version that can be fitted into the frame of each panel, allowing you to open the door without having to open the blind. Both Intu Micro Hive and Micro Pleat blinds are excellent choices for bifold doors due to their sleek design, ease of installation, and functional benefits such as thermal insulation and light control. They are designed to seamlessly integrate with the doors, ensuring that the doors can be opened and closed without obstruction. Additionally, their cordless or integrated operation options contribute to their safety and ease of use, making them a practical and stylish choice for enhancing your bi-fold door experience.

Close up of dark grey-brown micro pleat blind.

Close up of a pale grey micro hive honeycomb blind.

Are there specialist bi-fold door shutter solutions?

Tracked door shutters are a type of shutter covering designed specifically for all kinds of doors, including patio, sliding and bi-fold doors. Tracked door shutters glide smoothly along tracks top and bottom, in much the same way as bi-fold doors do. and offer all the benefits above. Dependant on whether you choose wood, composite or vinyl dictates the way the shutters fold and whether or not they fold completely against the wall at the side or not, so bear this in mind.

Cream living room with brown soft chair, wooden side table, two skylights and bifold doors dressed in tracked door shutters, partially open.

Conclusion

Choosing the right blinds and shutters for your bi-fold doors is essential for maximising the benefits of these architectural wonders. Consider factors like privacy, light control, insulation, and aesthetics when making your decision. Whether you opt for blinds or shutters, the right choice will enhance your living space, making it more comfortable and stylish.