Panel Track Blinds – A Stylish Alternative to Vertical Blinds
Panel track blinds provide a stylish and versatile solution for large picture windows, sliding glass doors and patio doors. Also referred to as panel tracks or sliding window panels, these blinds cover a large window with fewer panels than vertical blinds, giving them a more uniform and cleaner appearance. They can also serve as an affordable room divider.
Panel track blinds can be mounted to the wall or to the ceiling. The large fabric vanes hang vertically and slide open or closed by gliding on a wheeled track system. This video demonstrates how to measure a door for proper fitting of panel track blinds and vertical blinds.
Light control is measured by screen openness percentage and fabric opacity. Blinds with a lower degree of openness are classified as opaque, while blinds with a higher degree of openness are classified as sheer. Panel track window treatments are available in patterned fabric, solar screen and woven wood materials.
Kirsch PanelTrac shades are available in three types of fabrics: 1) solar screen for blocking glare and heat from the sun, 2) sheer (ideal for creating a room divider) and 3) woven screen for a natural accent. These panel track shades can be ceiling mounted in large rooms or lofts or wall mounted on patio doors. Sewn-in weights create perfect drapes. You can purchase extra panel sets to create a different look for special occasions or for seasonal changes as well as a wood cornice or valance. Kirsch blinds are sold at JCPenney.
Bali Sliding Panels come in fabric, solar and woven wood materials with opacities ranging from sheer to blackout with an optional valance or wood cornice. Bali blinds come in 34 product lines, giving you many styles and options to choose from. The Chorus, Promenade and Rafia product lines consists of light filtering fabrics. The Lucence product line consists of solar shade screen material in brunette, gray mist and white colors. The Fairmont and Skylar product lines have 86% and 90% UV/light blockage respectively. Bali Manhattan Room Darkening Sliding Panels feature a fabric with a slight woven texture that is opaque and blocks out most light. The Retreat product line consists of panels made from wood planks woven together in a plank style; they are available in gold, white and ivory colors.
Next Day Blinds offers several collections of panel track blinds. You can choose from woven woods for an exotic look or solar sheers and screens made from woven PVC, polyester and fiberglass for a more contemporary look. Blinds to Go also sells panel track shades in a variety of fabrics and natural woven materials.
You can get panel track hardware that is manual or motorized. A motorized system offers convenient push-button operation for hard to reach locations. If remote control is a “must have” factor in your purchase, make sure that the blinds you select have a motorized option.
