How to choose the correct style of shutter for your home

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Looking for an alternative to curtains and blinds? Shutters are a fantastic choice for many reasons. They are the best window treatment for controlling light and they give your home a stylish, alternative look.

Purchasing shutters for the very first time can feel a little confusing to know which style to go for, but luckily our shutter style guide is here to help.

Here's where we'll run you through every style of shutter along with their individual pros and cons, so you can choose the very best shutter option for your windows.  

What to consider when choosing the right shutters for you

Before you can begin to decide on the best shutter style for you, you need to be well-informed on the different options. Here’s our definitive guide.

Interior vs. exterior shutters

The first distinction between shutter styles is where they are placed in relation to the window. Interior shutters are inside the window and usually only partially cover the window up. Exterior shutters are attached on the outside of your home. The Shutter Store offer interior shutters only. 

How shutters cover your window 

Shutters can either cover the entirety of your window or just a part of it. A café-style shutter, named after the shutter décor popular in European cafés, covers just the bottom part of a window. Café shutters look super chic but aren’t the best shutters to block out light. You can stack two tiers of shutters to get custom coverage and allow light in when you want it, although this can be a little fussy. You can also go for full height shutters, which, as the name suggests, cover the entirety of your window.

Solid vs Louvred

Shutter panels can be louvred or solid – there is variation within these two styles. A shutter with louvres can allow you to open, close and tilt sections of the panel, controlling light, while a solid shutter totally covers up the window blocking a great deal of light.

The width of a slat can add a different look to your shutter and can affect the levels of light your shutter lets in. The wider the slats, the more open-feeling your shutters will be, so if privacy is more of a concern, you’ll want narrower slats. You can also find shutters which are part solid and part slatted, which can be a great choice for full length windows. Find out more about our solid shutters. 


Image credit: The Shutter Store

How the shutters will open and close

Another aspect to consider when purchasing shutters is how you’d like them to fold open and closed. If you have a narrow window, you can likely go for a single panel shutter with no bifold needed. If you’re trying to cover a larger area, you’ll probably need to go for a bifolding style, usually made up of two or three hinged panels that fold neatly back and forth. Our team of shutter experts can advise you on the formation of your shutters, just give us a call or email us with photographs. 

Fitting shutters to a custom shape

If you have an unusual window shape, such as a circle or trapezoid, you can get a shutter made to fit it exactly. Popular custom shutter shapes include arched shutters, trapezoid and triangles. Take a look at our Special Shaped Shutters page for all the info. 
 

Different types of shutter styles and their benefits

Now we’ve covered the different shutter variations, we’ll talk about the five most common styles of shutters we supply here at The Shutter Store. We’ll also give pros and cons to each, to help you decide which is the best for you.

Café Style Shutters

Café shutters cover just the bottom half of a window and are typically slatted. They tend to be cheaper to install than a full coverage shutter, plus they are great for letting in a lot of light. Café shutters also have a stylish, elegant look to them. Cafe style shutters aren't the best option for short windows where full height shutters will look best. 
 

Tier on Tier Shutters

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Tier on tier shutters comprise of two panels of shutters which can be opened and closed independently of each other. They offer much more customization in terms of coverage, allowing you to choose how much light and visibility to let through. The main con to tier on tier shutters is that they can look quite busy in a small or crowded room.

Full height Shutters

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Full height shutters offer maximum coverage, and give a space a real “wow factor.” They are our most popular selling shutter style. Alongside their aesthetic benefits, full height shutters offer the most insulation and privacy. The downside is that full height shutters don't offer as much light control as tier-on-tier do. 

Solid

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Solid shutters don’t have slats, and so once they’re closed there is no variation in terms of light levels as louvred panels offer. They give a traditional feel to a room, plus offer maximum insulation in terms of light and heat. The downside to solid shutters is that they don’t offer any customization – you either have them fully opened, or fully closed, but some customers find this works very well in bedrooms. 
 

Choosing shutters – what's next?

Now you know the main factors to consider when choosing your shutters, you can make a more informed decision on the style to choose. You will also want to consider your own personal needs in order to make your perfect shutter purchase.

Consider the style of your home

If your home has a more traditional style, you’ll want to go for a traditional shutter style to complement it. This is particularly important if you’re installing exterior shutters, as you want your home to have a unifying theme. We recommend opting for a central push rod if you'd like louvred shutters, as these give a traditional feel. If you're looking for shutters that fit with a contemporary scheme, opt for full height with a hidden push rod, for clean, minimal aesthetics. 

Consider how you'll use your shutters

You’ll also want to take into account what exactly you want to use your shutters for. If they’re more of a decorative item, then going to café shutters and wider slats will likely offer the look you want. However, if you need your shutters to block out light, properly insulate your home, or are concerned about privacy, you’ll likely want a shutter with more window coverage like full height shutters.

Listen to what your tastes are

An important, and often overlooked, aspect of choosing your shutter style is your own aesthetic taste. It’s important that you love the shutters you choose, so as long as they fulfill their purpose, you should go for the ones you like the best! Shutters can give your home a fantastic look, so making decisions based on your personal preferences is an absolute must.

Give our team a call for advice

If you have any doubts, unsures or concerns about the design, measure or fit of your shutters, our team are here to help! Simply email us photos of your windows for advice.