Panel Blinds

What are panel blinds?

Panel blinds (sometimes called panel glide blinds) use large, flat fabric panels that slide along a track with several channels. When they're open, the panels overlap and stack neatly at the side. When they're closed, they cover the glass with broad, clean lines.

Privacy and light control

Panels don't tilt, so the amount of light and privacy comes down to the fabric you choose. If you'd like more flexibility, many people mix sheer and solid panels on the same blind.

Things to consider

• Stack width: when open, the panels sit on top of each other at the side, so the stack is about as wide as one panel. We'll show you where it will sit.
• Style: the look is modern and architectural, which suits contemporary homes especially well.
• Doors: on sliding doors, we'll check that the panels clear the handles and the door, so everything opens freely.

Where panel blinds work well

Panel blinds are at their best across wide spans of glass: sliding patio doors, large picture windows and openings between rooms in open-plan homes. Because the panels move sideways along a track rather than going up and down, they're easy to open and close even when the blind covers a large area. They also stack to one side, so on patio doors you can walk out without moving the blind out of the way first.

On smaller windows, a panel blind can look a little heavy, so we'd usually suggest a roller or vertical blind instead.

Choosing panel blind fabrics

Since the panels don't tilt, the fabric does most of the work. A sheer or light-filtering fabric keeps a room bright while softening the view in. A dim-out or blackout fabric gives more privacy and is better for rooms you use in the evening or for sleeping. Plain fabrics give the cleanest look, while textures and prints can make a large blind a feature of the room. Wipe-clean fabrics are worth considering for kitchen diners.

Panel blinds or vertical blinds?

Both suit wide windows and doors. Vertical blinds have narrower vanes that tilt, so you can adjust light and privacy without drawing the blind back. Panel blinds have fewer, wider panels and a more tailored, modern look. If you're unsure, we'll bring examples of both so you can compare them in your own room.

If a panel blind will be very wide or hard to reach, ask us about motorisation. Where it's available for the system you choose, we use Somfy motors and controls, so you could open and close it with a remote, a wall switch or the Somfy TaHoma app.

Measuring and fitting

Large areas of glass need careful measuring, so we'll measure and fit your blinds ourselves and you won't need to worry about getting it right. Book a free home appointment to get started.