How to choose the correct style of shutter for your home

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Looking for an alternative to curtains and blinds? DIY Shutters are a fantastic choice for modern and traditional homes alike. They're hands down the best window treatment for controlling light. Plus, they're the perfect way to give your home a stylish new look without breaking the bank.

Buying shutters for the very first time might feel a little confusing, but with our handy guide it doesn't have to be. 

In this quick blog entry, we'll run you through ever shutter style. In just a few minutes, you'll find the perfect shutter style for your windows.

Choosing your perfect shutters

Before choosing the right plantation shutters for your home, there are a few important things to note. Here's a quick run through.

Interior vs. exterior shutters

The first distinction is whether they sit inside or outside the home. Interior shutters are inside the window, and usually only partially cover the window up. Exterior shutters are attached on the outside of your home. Here at The Shutter Store, we offer interior shutters only. 

How shutters cover your window 

Shutters can either cover the entirety of your window or a part of it.

Our most popular range is our full height shutters, which, as the name suggests, cover the entirety of your window.

Café-style shutters, named after the shutters found in European cafés, covers just the bottom part of a window. Café shutters look super chic and offer privacy and light in equal measure. 

With tier-on-tier shutters, you'll enjoy the best of both worlds. Their top and bottom sections open independently from one another, giving you the ultimate level of control..

Solid vs Louvred

Shutter panels can be louvred or solid. A shutter with louvres allows you to open, close and tilt sections of the panel, controlling light, while solid shutters totally cover up the window blocking a great deal of light.

The width of a slat can add a different look to your shutter and affect the levels of light your shutter lets in. 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.


Image credit: The Shutter Store

How shutters open and close

It's also important how you’d like them to fold open and closed. If you have a narrow window, you can usually go for a single panel shutter with no bifold needed. If you’re covering a larger area, you’ll probably need to go for a bifolding style, This is usually made up of two or three hinged panels that fold neatly back and forth. If you're ever unsure, our team of shutter experts will advise you on the formation of your shutters. Just give us a call or email us with photographs. 

Our shutter styles

Now we’ve covered the different shutter variations, let's talk shutter styles and find which one's 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, and they're great for letting in lots of light. Café shutters also have a stylish, elegant look to them. If you have particularly short windows, these may not be the ones for you.
 

Tier on Tier Shutters

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Tier on tier shutters are made up 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. A wonderful solution for medium and large windows.

Full height Shutters

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Full height shutters offer maximum coverage, and give a space a real “wow factor.” They're our most popular shutter style. Alongside their looks, full height shutters offer the most insulation and privacy. They don't offer as much light control as tier-on-tier, but will suit virtually any window type. 

Solid

Image credit: The Shutter Store

Solid shutters don’t have slats, and so once they’re closed, you'll get lots of light reduction. They give a traditional feel to a room, and offer excellent heat insulation. 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 it's time to make an informed decision on the best style for your home.

Consider the style of your home

If your home has a more historic style, you’ll want to go for a traditional look to complement it. We recommend opting for a central push rod if you'd like louvred shutters, as these give a more traditional feel. If you're going for a more contemporary vibe, go with a hidden push rod, for a clean, minimal look. 

Consider how you'll use your shutters

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, insulate your home, or are concerned about privacy, you’ll likely want a shutter with more window coverage like full height shutters.

Follow your style

An important, and often overlooked, aspect of choosing your shutter style is your own tastes. It’s important that you love your shutters! Shutters have the power to add the finishing touch to any room, so always go with your gut.

Give our team a call for advice

If you have any questions or queries about the design, measuring or installing of your shutters, our team are here to help! Simply email us photos of your windows and one of our experts will be in touch soon.