When your front door has glass panels or side windows, finding the right curtains can make a huge difference. Curtains for your front door add privacy, soften the space, and make the entryway feel more welcoming. In our home, the two windows on each side of the front door let in great natural light, but we needed something simple that still gave us privacy. I didn’t want to open and close blinds all the time, so sheer curtains ended up being the perfect solution.
In this post, we’ll walk through the best curtain options for front doors, how to hang them, and the most common questions people have when trying to decide what works for their space.
Why Consider Curtains for Your Front Door?
Curtains for your front door do a lot more than you might expect. They add softness to the entryway, help create privacy, and make the space feel more finished and welcoming. If your front door has glass panels or sidelights, curtains are an easy way to control light and prevent that “open view” feeling from outside. They also help with insulation during colder months (depending on the thickness of your drapes) and reduce glare from porch lights.
Here are a few reasons why we added front door curtains:
- Add privacy without blocking natural light
- Warm up a plain or modern entryway with a decorative element
- Soften the look around the door and surrounding walls
No matter your style—modern, cottage, farmhouse, or something in between— you can find a simple curtain option that blends in perfectly with the rest of your home.
Front Door Curtains – Most Asked Questions
1. What kind of curtain is best for a front door?
We decided on a semi-sheer white curtains to give our foyer decor an updated modern feel. The sheer curtains work best because they provide privacy but also let in a lot of light to our north facing foyer area. You could try a semi-sheer if you get tons of natural light. Blackout or thermal curtains could be used if you aren’t worried about blocking all the light from the front door window. This might be too heavy of a look for the front door area though. Light and airy sheer or semi-sheer curtains are what would work best for a front door.
Here are some easy options for semi-sheer white curtains that you can attach with rings from Target or these with a pinch pleat from Target. These two range from $17-$35, but sheers in general are very inexpensive ($7 Walmart – basic) and can be a great update to your space.
2. How do you hang curtains on front door windows or sidelights?
There are multiple different options for hanging curtains on your front door windows. If you have close enough side walls, a tension rod would work great. Magnetic rods are also a great option, especially if you are going to choose a really light weight sheer curtains. We placed a black curtain rod across the width of the doors and two side windows. This allows us to use the width of the space as much as possible. I have also seen short curtain rods just above each window. This is a good choice if you are unable to place a rod across the entire door frame.
- Tension Rod
- Magnetic Rod
- Full Length Curtain Rod
- Quarter Rods on each side
3. Are curtains or blinds better for a front door?
Both work options work well, but it depends on the look you are going and the intent. Curtains provide a softer and more decorative feel to your entryway. The curtains can be switched out seasonally and can easily go along with the rest of your foyer & home decor.
Blinds are simple, clean, and functional. They allow light in but you are not able to see out as easily.
Window Frost can also be used for a non-tamper proof option. You can by a film to place over the window or do a spray. Based on frosting french doors in my home – a film is definitely recommended if it’s in the budget.
4. How long should front door curtains be?
The length of your front door curtains depends on your set up, but with all curtains, the highest you can go the better (within reason). By place your curtain rod above the door as much as you can, you create height and increased space to the area. A higher curtain rod adds to the visual appeal of the foyer. Above our front door we have a ledge, so I was able to place the rod about 8″ up. If the curtain length becomes to difficult to adjust or find, you can always go with that height for an easy home decor idea. Also, make sure your curtains go out a 3-6 inches past the trim frame if you are able!
Styling Ideas for Your Curtains
When styling curtains for your front door, keeping things simple usually works best. Neutral colors blend easily with most entryways and help the space feel calm and cohesive. A slim black or brass curtain rod adds a modern touch without overwhelming the area, and fabrics like linen or cotton bring in a soft, natural look.
We decided on a black curtain rod and white semi-sheer curtains. This goes along with our more modern looking entryway. We even updated our front door – painting it Tricorn Black for a greater decor appeal. If you want to learn all the best tips for that project – you can see it here: Modern Black Front Door: An Easy & Inexpensive DIY Project.
Easy decor tips:
- You can swap out curtain panels seasonally for a subtle décor update.
- If you like the option of opening them during the day, tie-backs work well and keep everything looking neat.
- If your entryway is on the smaller side, stick with lighter fabrics so the space still feels open and airy.
How to Hang Your Curtains for Doorways (Step-by-Step)
Hanging front door curtains is a quick project that makes a big difference. Start by deciding whether the rod will sit inside the window frame or just above it, then check that the curtains won’t catch when the door opens. If you prefer not to drill into the door or trim, tension rods or magnetic rods work well for smaller windows. Once the rod is in place, add your panels and adjust the gathers so everything looks balanced. The whole setup takes just a few minutes, but it instantly softens and elevates your entryway.
Our Front Door Curtain Setup
For our two front-door side windows, I wanted something that added privacy without blocking the daylight. I chose simple light-filtering panels with a clean, neutral look. A regular curtain rod made installation quick, and the curtains sit neatly inside the frames so the entry feels soft but not cluttered. The entryway below is a look at our entire foyer update!
East Third Street Final Thoughts
Front door curtains are one of those small updates that make a big difference. They add privacy, bring warmth to the entry, and help the whole space feel more intentional. Whether you choose sheer panels, blackout curtains, or something in between, the right curtains can completely transform your front door area.
