I agree with Carolyn - faux wood blinds. I have a door almost identical to this and we have the blind. No banging around when the door moves as the bottom of the blind is attached to brackets on the door.

well, I guess I'm old school and would choose a gathered sheer with a top and bottom rod. Lets light in, but maintains privacy. Easy to clean, inexpensive to change out. They make a magnetic curtain rod so you don't have to try drilling holes in a metal door

Some doors like that you can buy a new insert that has a miniblind or cellular shade in between the glass panes.

I can see either a fabric Roman shade or woven wood shade.

whatever you get make sure its meant for a door/attaches at top and bottom. magnet curtain rods do work very well.

A roller blind that can be left down, but slates can be opened for light and still give some privacy and closed at night for total privacy. They also come in lots of colors.
[houzz=]

Emimat, a fabric roman shade will soften the door and, if desired, tie it in with other windows in the room. Check out my "shades galore" project folder on my profile. There is a simple, banded one that you may like.

Home Depot carries blinds that are encased in glass that just attach to the window. No dusting it banging around.

agree on Home Depot

remove the square boxes of window and attach plain glass over that and attach

then it will be fine

We just bought a house that had a privacy issue on the mud room door, same style door as your door, and the best solution I found was the least obtrusive/lowest maintenance for that high traffic area and I installed it myself in less than 20 minutes:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_209213-424-BWM223601_0+1z11723__?productId=3386720&Ntt=door+blind&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Ddoor%2Bblind%26page%3D1&facetInfo=ODL

Home Depot probably carries the same type of product.

Roller or cellular shades are much less bulky and would be a perfect solution for you. Good luck deciding!

Leave it alone, no window treatment. Paint the door a call it a day!

I think a pretty Roman blind in your choice of colors/fabric would look nice.

Agree with rl2205. This is mine. My door is fiberglass and the shade is attached to it above the window. Also mine is north facing into kitchen, keep it up in summer but love to close it in winter makes room feel less cold.

Roman shades are lovely and expensive. They have to be changed when you change your interior colors. A faux wood blind is useful and inexpensive and does not need to be changed when you change your interior colors. So yes I'd use a roman shade on a door that is in a prominent location, but on the mudroom door as is the case in this design dilemma, I'd choose a faux wood blind.

Well, we have top and bottom rod with a thick multi blue, thin stripe cloth curtain on our side yard door in our mud/laundry room. This door faces the north so sometimes I separate the curtain for natural light and when closed there is defuse light.
We have a window on our back door which takes you to backyard from our den. That door has a creme honey cone blind. With having these 2 different window covers on our doors with windows, I would not use anything that would show dust such as wooden blinds. I like the honey cone because of the defuse light when they're down BUT has the stings that allow the blind to drop down from the top or another set of strings to open the blind to the top. I'm happy with those window treatments that came with our 1968's house we bought this year. Susan

My solution was the rods and a shirred fabric that allows the light to come through and yet not allow a direct view from the outside. Its a side door and mud room, so it does not seem like full privacy is needed, and ideally you want to see the weather outside to prepare?

I have this same back door with the exception that mine is made of another material. Roman shades look the best, but they don't seem to be very durable as mine broke. Couldn't handle being open and closed every day. Now, I have 1" faux blinds I purchased through JC Penny.com. This was the cheapest I could find this blind. Similar blind at Lowes was much more expensive! I also have the film, but on my front door. I wouldn't want it on the back because I prefer to have the ability to look out the window. I will post 2 examples. My back door is not so pretty with the doggie door, but then you can see what it might look like. The film is on my front door and I really like it. We have sidelights so. I can still look outside if I need to. As far as a design stand point, it'll be more attractive to have some color on the back door. It is possible to put a valance over the blind if you go that route and is what I would recommend. If you get the film, get static cling ones. You can mount the blinds at the bottom, to lock them down so they won't bang around. I did not mount ours as I like to lift the blinds all the way up sometimes.

Consider a window film as it will be a clean finish & you won't have a blind/curtain banging against the door every time you open and close it.

I also have a north-facing door with a half screen to allow for a cross-breeze in summer. I purchased a lovely film at Home Depot for less than $40. It allows sun light into the hall and provides privacy, while still allowing us to see who's at the door.

Someone else suggested window film, which is a great solution. I'm not a fan of curtains on doors, unless they have a top and a bottom rod to hold the curtain in place. Here is picture of my front door. I used window film that looks like stained glass. It gives us privacy, allows light to come in, and makes the door look a lot more expensive.

If it's a steel door they make rods with magnetic ends so you can hang a curtain, whether you use rods on top AND bottom or just on top. That way you don't have to drill holes in your door.

Hi my name is Aniya Madoo and what would you like to talk about?

Hi

I have been in window coverings business for about 20 yrs and installed many blinds on doors like this. The best solution for a door is NO Blind. Here is why:
1) It projects from door too much and looks "clunky"
2) Bottom needs to be secured with hold-down brackets to prevent swaying (magnetic options available)
3) Exterior doors are usually metal - any holes drilled, you will not be able to repair
4) Door handle is almost always an obstruction with blinds
* If you must go with blinds, I recommend a roller shade or screen shade with flat bottom bar, cordless option preferably
* Slim profile mini blind that is sandwiched between two layers of glass (built-in) would last a long time and maintenance free
* Stained or etched glass would be nice, although this is a more costly option
* Window film is the most economical way to go, easy to do.
Caution: be careful not to damage the seal around the frame because this will cause moister build up between glass.
That is if you are sizing the film on glass and using a knife to trim the edges. It's best to measure and cut on flat surface and then apply the correct size to glass

A friend of mine has front door windows like this and she made Roman Shades for them. I think she used a sturdy fabric such as canvas or denim so they kind of 'fluff' out and give some depth to the doors. Since they were hand-made, they have a complementing fabric used as the 'suspenders' and tied lightly in knots so she can adjust the opening and closing of the shades. They are really pretty.

I had a door like that in my last house. I hung a window shade a little above the window and covered it with a very simple valance. When I wanted sunlight, the shade was rolled up under the valance and not visible. At night, I liked it down. Inexpensive way to go to that gives you some flexibility.

This is a no brainer. Put a decorative leaded glass or stained glass in the door. Replacement glass inserts are available for $300.00 and up. They add the privacy , let the light in and only need a little windex once in a while.

Here is an example

Magnetic curtain rod and a gauze curtain. Easy to wash, filters light, adds privacy unless your worried about close encounter window peepers. Easy to make and replace via local fabric store. Noiseless.

I absolutely despise cleaning any sort of blinds. I have no patience with this project. I agree with Windingcreek above, I guess I'm old school also, There are so many fabrics you could use, and make sure its washable. I also like the stained class idea, but it all depends on your budget.

I HATE any covering for a window in a door. If you must have something, put in leaded glass with bevel edges that prevent people from looking in or as someone mentioned, stained glass or etched glass.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/solve-privacy-problems-with-window-film-stsetivw-vs~2645725

HI -- Wallpaperforwindows.com

I have this same door and we put one of those class case type things with the blinds inside. It lasted less than 3 months. The string that held the blinds broke and it was useless. Right now it has nothing on it, so I am reading all the suggestions so I can try something soon.

change the glass to etched glass or put on the etched glass film and save money and work. Do not use the fake stained glass. They look cheap and very passe. Paint the door eggshell very light grey. That yellow is horrible. (maybe it's just the picture)

I like the etched glass idea, but is would actually etch it. No faux etching

I had the exact style of door at our previous house. There was not a privacy issue as it was a back door to the detached garage and driveway, but a security issue, not wanting someone the ease to see inside, but I also wanted to be able to see out the window to see who was there. I did a shirred on the rod tier type curtain that left the upper row of windows uncovered and the rod was a small diameter tension rod that fit inside the window frame and the second row of windows. Worked like a charm, nothing had to be attached and curtains could be changed out as needed.

Glue lace onto inside window, even paper doilies, can paint them if you wish, just something cheap, easy and effective, just a thought

Then you can make lampshade to match, might be over the top perhaps and depends on the style of your home

Unless you like dusting I'd avoid any kind of slatted blind.

I am in the window treatment business and this is what I recommend for doors: smart fit honeycomb shade by Norman widow fashions. they are the only ones who make the smart fit style. it's mounted on all 4 sides, insulates, cordless, and you can move it from the bottom up or down from the top. personally, I hate faux blinds on doors. they do bang even though they are mounted in the bottom and they are very bulky. my customers love the smart fit and so do I. the black door is mine. we close it 2/3 every night from the bottom up and open during the day. color match or contrast.

So many options! thanks so much for all of these suggestions!

We have the same north facing door in our garage. We bought the add on adjustable (enclosed inside glass) shades shown here...open and partially closed. They don't make noise when the door is opened nor do they need cleaning since they are enclosed. That said, we also have a door with magnetic curtain rods and sheers, but it's an inside door and I wanted it to be a little softer looking than the adjustable shades tend to be.

I have a similar door and I used non adhesive plain frosting. Putting a screwed-in or glued rod would void my warranty. We are very happy with the film as it adds diffused light. We have had in place for about 4 years now.

Love our blinds between the glass, have had them for 20 some years and never a problem and no dusting!!:)

I took a roller shade and mounted it at the bottom of the window and put a loop in the cord and a hook at the top of the window. That way, I can pull the blind up high enough that no one can see in, but I can still have an unobstructed view of the sky and trees outside.

Roller blinds are, of course, meant to be mounted at the top of the window, but my upside-down version works and, unlike sheers, even my shadow can't be seen through them; it doesn't bang or take a lot of bulk like mini-blinds.

Well winter has come and gone - how'd you do with your window? hello!?