Make Any Door Pretty with Specialty Curtain Rods

Doors take up a significant amount of wall space in any home. But often, they are left bare without any decorative accents aside from the door itself. Curtains can transform plain doors into pretty focal points that complement your room's style. However, finding the perfect curtain rods for doors like sliding glass or sidelight windows can be tricky. The good news is there are specialty curtain rods made just for awkward door spaces. Read on to discover the many options and get tips for decorating doors with the right rods and drapes.

Different Types of Specialty Curtain Rods for Doors

Standard straight curtain rods only work over standard door frames. To properly mount curtains on special door shapes, you need a rod designed specifically for that purpose. Here are some of the most common specialty curtain rod types made for doors:

Sliding Door Rods

Sliding glass doors are beautiful ways to invite natural light into a room. But their extra wide and tall spans make dressing them with curtains a challenge. Sliding door curtain rods solve this issue by smoothly gliding along a track mounted to the ceiling. This allows curtains to open and close over even the widest sliding glass doors up to 16 feet across.

Sliding door rods, also called traverse rods, come in a variety of lengths, finishes, and weight capacities. A sturdy sliding rod is important for supporting heavier drapes over all that window space. Many styles have pulleys, carrier balls, or inner rods to let curtains open and close with ease. For a clean look, the ceiling mounts keep the working parts concealed above the frame.

Sidelight Rods

Homes with sidelight windows flanking a front door often struggle with finding rods wide enough to cover both. Enter sidelight curtain rods. These specially designed rods fit perfectly inside sidelight window frames to provide full coverage. Sidelight rods come in sizes matched to standard window widths, taking the guesswork out of shopping for them.

Sidelight rods sit flush against the molding, hugging the contours of the front door area. They help curtains hang properly within the frame rather than protruding awkwardly. Stylish cafe rod kits made for sidelights add a decorative French door allure.

Tension Rods

Tension curtain rods provide an affordable and adjustable option for covering doors. Available in various lengths, the spring-loaded rods squeeze into position across door frames. Twist-to-tighten ends allow you to custom fit the rod without any mounting hardware.

Though not as heavy duty as permanent rods, tension rods work well over interior doors. They offer a great temporary solution for apartment dwellers looking to add privacy or sunlight control. However, tension rods may sag over time under the weight of heavier window treatments.

Getting the Right Fit

When shopping for door curtain rods, getting the proper fit is crucial. Take careful measurements of your door openings, and double check them against rod dimensions. Here are tips for making sure your new rod fits like a glove:

Measuring Door Openings

To determine the right curtain rod length, measure across the top of the door opening. Use a steel tape measure for accuracy. For sliding glass doors, measure the full width from outer edge to outer edge including frames. Account for sidelight moldings or any projections that reduce the clear width for curtains.

If mounting the rod outside the frame, add extra width for the brackets. Allow about 3 inches beyond each side for a standard projection. Take two measurements: one inside the frame for the rod length, and another outside including brackets for finding ideal mounting points.

Matching Rod Style to Door

Keep your door type in mind when choosing a rod. Sidelight rods only work for narrow vertical windows flanking doors. Sliding door traverse rods need ample length for wide spans. And tension rods are best suited for basic interior doors and confined spaces.

Check that the rod comes in proper sizes and with compatible mounting hardware for your door.Measure first to determine the exact dimensions needed before shopping around online or in stores.

Rod Placement and Mounting

Where and how the rod mounts above the door affect both functionality and aesthetics. Sidelight rods sit inside the window frame, while sliding door rods need overhead clearance. The width between brackets alters the curtain coverage area.

Experiment with different height placements before permanently installing rods. Lower rods draw the eye downwards, making ceilings seem low. Mounting rods closer to the ceiling and high on the wall creates an airier, taller feel.

Installation Tips and Tricks

Once you've selected the perfect rod for your door, it's time to put it up. Follow these pro tips to hang rods quickly and easily:

Gathering the Right Hardware

Carefully check that all necessary mounting brackets, anchors, screws and other hardware are included with your door rod before starting. Sidelight sash rods require specialized sash mounts to attach the rod ends to the top of the window frame. Sliding door traverse rods come with ceiling mount assemblies and carriers to attach curtains.

Have a drill, level, tape measure, and screwdriver ready. Use screws specifically made for mounting into wood studs or drywall. Follow any included instructions for bracket spacing and sizing.

Hanging Rods Level and Secure

Use a stud finder to mark where ceiling joists or wall studs are so you can attach to sturdy framing. Laser levels help get curtain rods perfectly straight. Enlist a helper to hold rods in place as you work.

Follow manufacturer instructions for securing extension brackets and mounts. Over-drilling small pilot holes prevents cracking or splitting wood. Tighten screws firmly into studs so rods stay put. If needed, use drywall anchors rated for the rod's weight capacity.

Smoothing Out Sliding Rod Operation

Test traverse rods before hanging curtains to ensure they glide smoothly. Check that carrier wheels roll freely along track and do not catch. Distribute curtain weight evenly across the rod to prevent sagging in the middle.

Use stop balls at each end to prevent curtains sliding off open ends. Setting limits also protects walls from damage. Adjust stops along the track to control how far curtains can slide open and closed.

Decorating with Door Curtains

Once properly installed, it's time to dress up your door rods with beautiful curtains and drapes. Follow these designer tips for selecting and layering door treatments:

Choosing Curtains and Drapes

Consider the door location, sunlight control needs, and traffic when selecting fabrics. Delicate sheers work for covered side doors, while sliding glass doors often need room darkening drapes to filter bright light.

Look at rod weight limits before choosing curtains. Dense fabrics like blackout or lined drapes might require stronger rods than lightweight sheers. Match the curtain style to your existing decor for a cohesive look.

Layering Curtains

Mix different curtain types on one rod for added dimension. Pair breezy sheers with a set of solid blackout curtains to allow adjustable privacy and light filtering. Hang double rods above and below sidelights to soften window edges.

Choose same color curtains in varying materials and patterns for visual interest. Contrast solid drapes with intricate sheer under-curtains. Keep proportions balanced between upper and lower layers.

Finishing Touches

Complete the look with trim and accessories like luxurious tiebacks in coordinating metals and fabrics. Rotate curtains open and closed seasonally to alter the ambiance. Quickly refresh the rooms by swapping in curtains of different lengths as needed.

Finding the Perfect Door Rods

Ready to install pretty new rods and curtains to elevate your doorways? Here's where to look for specialty door hardware:

• Search home goods websites using your specific door measurements and mounting needs to filter rods.
• Visit specialty drapery boutiques online for a wide selection of rods, hardware, and curtains.
• Read customer reviews on door rod products to find top-rated quality.
• Purchase sidelight and sliding glass door rods and hardware as complete sets.

With the right specialty curtain rods made for your door type, you can easily mount beautiful window treatments. Properly installed rods transform plain doors into decorative focal points. So go ahead and dress up those awkward doors and windows with perfectly fitted rods and gorgeous curtains to tie any room together.

As you can see, specialty curtain rods open up many possibilities for decorating doors. The variety of adjustable, sliding, and custom sized rods lets you add stylish curtains to spaces once considered tricky to dress. Careful measurement and installation ensures a secure and polished look.

Any door can become pretty with the right rods. Follow the guidance on properly mounting rods to enjoy dressed windows. Add lightweight sheers or luxurious drapes to complete your dreamy doorway. Specialty rods eliminate the struggle so you can easily implement this simple upgrade.