How to Hang Drapes or Window Treatments on Sliding Glass Doors

Measure the width of the sliding glass doors from the outside of the door trim. Add 8 inches per double door if you want to open and store the drape beyond the window area. There needs to be 8 inches of wall space on the fixed panel side of the sliding glass door for this style.

Install a one-direction traverse rod at least 4 inches above the door trim. You can install the rod higher if you have a tall wall and wish to increase the apparent height of the door. Position the rod overhanging the wall on the fixed door side if you wish the drape to collect beyond the window area. Screw through the rod brackets into wall anchors or studs. Use a bracket every 4 feet of rod length plus one on each end.

Extend the pull cord straight down on the collection side of the drapery rod. Mount a tension pulley above the hem height of the drape using the screws provided with the kit. Use wall anchors if you do not screw into a stud. This pulley keeps the operating cord straight and untangled.

Insert drapery pins into the buckram sewn to the back top of the drapery panel. Buckram is a stiff fabric that is frequently designed to create pinch pleats or other drapery styles. The drapery pin hook should be 1 inch from the top edge of the drape and centered in the pleat set.

Attach the drape by turning the drape to face the room. Start on the handle side of the sliding glass door. Look above the handle. You should see a small white plastic box called a master carrier. This box has an arm reaching toward the handle side with three holes. Insert your first pin in the first hole to the outside of the arm. Skip the second hole on the carrier. Insert your second pin in the third hole on the arm. Insert your third pin in the hole on the carrier. Insert your fourth pin into the first small plastic slide.

Insert each additional pin into an adjacent slide until you have two pins left. The next to the last pin goes into a hole on the front of your collection corner bracket. The last pin wraps around the bracket corner and inserts in the hole closest to the wall. This causes the drape to be fixed around the bracket corner, hiding the bracket.

Measure the width of your traverse rod and add 4 inches. Cut a 1 by 4 inch board to this length using a table saw. Place the board flat and horizontal. Position an L bracket with one side flat on the board and the other leg upright and even with the edge of the board closest to you. Screw a bracket at each end of the board and every 24 inches in between.

Position the valance board brackets down 2 inches above the traverse rod and centered on the rod. Screw the board to the wall by screwing through the brackets into wall studs or wall anchors. Keep the board level with the traverse rod.

Measure the side of the valance board and multiply by two. Measure the length of the board. This is the finished length of your valance treatment. Select a valance panel that is the correct size or slightly longer. Trim the sides to 1-inch longer than your finished length. Fold the edge to the back 1/2 inch. Insert a no-sew hem tape between the fabrics and iron a hem. Repeat for the second side.

Staple the valance to the top of the board. Start in the center and staple toward the corners keeping your valance level. Wrap the valance around the corner with a neat fold on top and finish stapling.