The Best Blinds for Bifold Doors
(What We Actually Recommended And Why)
This week, we were in Melton Mowbray at a home with a brand-new extension.
Big space.
Beautiful finish.
Bifold doors that completely opened up to the garden.
The kind of setup you don’t want to get wrong.
They looked at us and said:
“We’ve got no idea what we want…
we just don’t want to mess it up.”
And honestly?
That’s exactly how most people feel at this stage.
Because once those blinds go in…
you’re living with that decision every single day.
So What Did We Do?
We didn’t jump to a recommendation.
We did what we always do:
👉 Put every option on the table
👉 Then started ruling them out
Because choosing the right blinds for bifold doors isn’t about what looks good in a showroom…
It’s about what actually works in your space, with your doors, day-to-day.
What Didn’t Make the Cut (And Why)
Perfect Fit / Intu
❌ Ruled out immediately
On paper, these can work well.
In reality?
Not here.
The doors folded right back onto each other. Tight.
There was zero clearance.
Even the slimmest system would have caught, rubbed, or interfered.
👉 And that’s the kind of issue that doesn’t just annoy you once…
It annoys you every single time you open the doors.
Intu Micro
⚠️ Technically works… but didn’t feel right
This one got further.
It fits.
It functions.
But then we stepped back and looked at it properly.
When the doors are open…
👉 The blinds sit outside in the garden when the doors are open.
Anything on the doors was ruled out.
Motorised Roller Blinds
❌ Great idea… frustrating reality
They loved the idea of automation.
Press a button. Done.
But then we showed them the detail most people don’t realise until it’s too late:
👉 Light gaps between each blind (around 30mm)
And in a wide bifold setup?
That is a lot of gaps.
That’s the moment it clicked for them:
“Yeah… I couldn’t live with the gaps.”
The cost to install motorised Roller Blinds for a 4 metre wide x 2.2 metre deep would be £1209.00 inc vat in a mid range fabric.#
The Two That Really Stood Out
Allusion Blinds (So Close…)
They loved these.
And it’s easy to see why:
- Soft, curtain-style finish
- You can walk straight through them
- Perfect for wide openings
- And…
👉 They double as a flyscreen
Which is a huge win when your doors open onto the garden.
For a moment, this felt like the answer.
But then they did something important.
They opened the doors fully…
stepped outside…
turned around and looked back at the space.
And said:
“We love them…
but we also love the doors completely clear.”
That was the turning point.
With a 4 metre wide door the stack of fabric when the blind was pulled back just would look right.
The cost to install a 4 metre wide x 2.2 metre deep Allusion Blind would be £1590.00 inc vat
The One They Chose: Cordless Cellular Blinds
This was it.
Not the flashiest option.
Not the trendiest.
But the one that actually solved the problem.
Why It Worked
1. Thermal Performance (You Can Feel It)
- Keeps heat in during winter
- Reflects heat in summer
👉 This isn’t theory you actually notice the difference.
2. Cordless Design
- Clean
- Safe
- Nothing hanging down
Just a simple, tidy finish.
3. Panel-by-Panel Control
Use one door.
Two doors.
All of them.
👉 Total flexibility depending on how you use the space.
The cost to install Cordless Cellular Blinds for a 4 metre wide x 2.2 metre deep would be £1007.00 inc vat in a mid range fabric.
The Detail Most People Miss (But Shouldn’t)
Fascia
This is where most installs fall short.
Because people stop at “the blind works.”
But this is what takes it from:
“Yeah, that looks alright…”
to
👉 “That looks properly finished.”
A fascia:
- Hides all the working parts
- Removes visual clutter
- Creates a clean, sharp line across the top
It’s a small detail.
But it makes a big difference.
The cost to install a fascia for a 4 metre wide door would be £120.00 inc vat in a mid range fabric.
The Bigger Lesson (This Is What Actually Matters)
At the start, they had no idea what they wanted.
By the end, the decision felt obvious.
Not because we pushed a product.
But because we worked through:
- How the doors open
- How the space is used
- What would annoy them long-term
- What actually mattered day-to-day
And it all came down to one simple idea:
“We want the option of nothing being there.”
If You’ve Got Bifold Doors, Start Here
Before you even think about blinds, ask yourself:
👉 Do you want a feature… or something invisible?
👉 Will the doors be open most of the time?
👉 Do you care more about looks… or day-to-day practicality?
👉 Do you need insulation as well as privacy?
Because here’s the truth most companies won’t tell you:
The “best” blind isn’t universal.
It depends on how you live in the space.
And Sometimes…
The best blind…
👉 Is the one you don’t notice when you’re not using it.
What are the best blinds for bifold doors?
The best blinds for bifold doors depend on how you use the space.
If you want:
- A soft, stylish finish → Allusion blinds work well
- Automation and simplicity → Roller blinds can work (but watch for gaps)
- A clean, minimal look → Cordless cellular blinds are often the best option
👉 In many cases, homeowners choose cellular blinds because they disappear completely when not in use, which keeps the doors as the main feature.
Can you put blinds directly on bifold doors?
Yes but not all blinds are suitable.
You need to consider:
- Clearance when doors fold
- Whether blinds will hit or rub against frames
- How the blinds sit when the doors are open
👉 Systems like Perfect Fit or Intu don’t always work if the doors fold tightly, so it’s important to check spacing before choosing.
What blinds work when bifold doors are fully open?
This is where many options fall short.
When doors are open:
- Some blinds sit awkwardly outside the frame
- Others can block the opening or look cluttered
👉 The best options are:
- Allusion blinds (walk-through design)
- Or blinds that completely retract and disappear, like cellular blinds
Are roller blinds good for bifold doors?
They can be but there’s a catch.
Most bifold setups require multiple roller blinds, which creates:
👉 Visible light gaps (often around 20–30mm between each blind)
With multiple blinds for your door they would need to be motorised to avoid any chains or cords.
What is the most discreet blind for bifold doors?
👉 Cordless cellular blinds and Motorised Roller Blinds are the most discreet options.
Why?
- No cords or chains
- Fully retractable
They can both be hidden behind a fascia so when the blinds are not in use they disappear.
Do bifold door blinds affect how the doors open?
Yes this is one of the biggest factors.
If the wrong blind is chosen:
- Doors may not fully fold back
- Blinds can catch or rub
- You lose that wide, open feel
Do blinds help insulate bifold doors?
Yes some types make a noticeable difference.
👉 Cellular (honeycomb) blinds are particularly effective because:
- They trap air in pockets
- Reduce heat loss in winter
- Reflect heat in summer
In large glass areas like bifolds, this can improve comfort year-round.
To find out more about energy saving blinds click here
Should bifold door blinds be a feature or invisible?
This is the real decision.
Before choosing blinds, ask yourself:
👉 Do you want something that stands out…
or something that disappears?
- If you want a design feature → go for fabric-based or statement blinds
- If you want the doors to remain the focus → choose something minimal and retractable
👉 In many modern extensions, “invisible” wins.
What do most people regret about bifold door blinds?
From real installations, the biggest regrets are:
- Choosing blinds that block the doors when open
- Not noticing light gaps beforehand
- Picking something that looked good in a showroom…
but didn’t work in real life
👉 The key is thinking about daily use, not just appearance.
About Phil Coleman
Phil Coleman is the fifth generation of his family to run Barlow Blinds, a Leicester business that has been making blinds since 1887. With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Phil has played a leading role in shaping industry standards including being part of the team that wrote the only NVQ qualification for blind and shutter installers. He also serves on the Management Committee of the British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA), helping to set best practice across the trade. Under his leadership, Barlow Blinds has remained true to its founding principle: “It’s not our job to find customers for our blinds, it’s our job to find the right blinds for our customers.”
