Sidelights are the tall narrow windows on either side of a front door or other entry. They're a privacy problem (people standing at the door can see in) and a light problem (you usually want some daylight without losing privacy entirely). The window geometry is narrow and tall, which rules out most standard window treatments and points to a small set of products that actually work.
The sidelight problem.
Sidelights flank the front door and present a specific combination of constraints that most off-the-shelf products don't solve well. Custom fabrication is usually required.
Privacy at the front door
Anyone at the door can see into the entry. Mail carriers, delivery drivers, strangers ringing the bell.
Light during the day
Sidelights bring natural light into the entry. Blocking them entirely makes the entry dark and unwelcoming.
Narrow width
Sidelights are typically 6 to 18 inches wide. Many off-the-shelf shades aren't available in that width. Custom fabrication is often required.
Matched look
Sidelights flank the front door. The treatment should match on both sides and integrate with the door if there's a window in the door itself.
Five approaches for sidelights.
Cellular shades with top-down / bottom-up
Hunter Douglas Duette cellular shades in single-cell construction with LiteRise cordless lift, often in a top-down / bottom-up configuration. Lets the homeowner lower the top of the shade for light while keeping the bottom up for privacy. The most common sidelight solution.
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Roman shades on narrow sidelights
Custom Roman shades sized to the sidelight width. Hunter Douglas Vignette in narrow custom widths works well. Best when the interior style calls for fabric and softness in the entry. Cordless or motorized to avoid dangling cords.
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Roller shades with cassette
Hunter Douglas Designer Roller Shades or other rollers in custom narrow widths with a cassette that conceals the roller mechanism. Solar fabric works well during the day for filtered light with privacy. Best for modern interiors.
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Slim-panel plantation shutters
Custom basswood plantation shutters in slim 2-inch louver configurations. The shutter is permanent and integrated with the door surround. Best for traditional architecture and when the sidelight is a fixed light.
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Sheer fabric panels on hidden rods
Custom sheer fabric panels mounted to the door frame on slim rods. Often used as a softer alternative to shades or shutters. Lower light control but maximum daytime brightness.
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Top-down / bottom-up cellular shades in light-filtering opacity hit the right balance for most front entries.— Field notes from sidelight installs
Matching the door and the street view.
From outside, the sidelight treatment is visible. A treatment that solves the privacy problem from inside should look intentional from outside. We avoid mismatched products on sidelights and the door for this reason.
Door + sidelight match
If the front door has a window, the sidelight treatment usually matches the door window treatment for a continuous look across the entry.
Narrow widths required
Hunter Douglas Duette works for this because it's available in narrow widths suitable for door windows. Plantation shutters also work when the door is staying in place.
Curb appeal
The look from the street side reads as part of the home's exterior design. Mismatched products on the door and sidelights look unfinished from outside.
Light vs blackout
True blackout is usually overkill for the actual privacy need at the front entry. Light-filtering opacity preserves entry daylight while solving the privacy problem.
Products that work for sidelights.
Hunter Douglas Duette
Cellular shades with top-down / bottom-up and LiteRise cordless.
Explore →Hunter Douglas Vignette
Roman shades in custom narrow widths.
Explore →Designer Roller Shades
Solar or light-filtering rollers in custom widths.
Explore →Plantation shutters
Slim-panel basswood for traditional entries.
Explore →Installed across Orange County, including Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, and Yorba Linda. Call (949) 407-9114 to schedule a consultation. We'll measure the sidelights and the door window if there is one, look at the architectural style, and recommend treatments that match. Typical lead time is 4-6 weeks. More service-area details →
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Schedule a complimentary in-home consultation. We design, source, and install across Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Corona del Mar, Laguna, San Clemente, and the rest of Orange County.