Are Shutters Light Filtering?

Yes. Shutters give you more flexibility over controlling light than any other window treatment. You can swing the shutter panels fully or partially open like doors, choose single-hinged or bi-folding panels, and partly or fully open and close the slats. Add in the options of full height, cafe style, or tier on tier shutters, plus optional mid-rails, and you will see how truly flexible shutters are.

Slats Closed Upward — Maximum Light Blockage

Our shutters are designed so that the slats close completely flat in the upward direction. This gives maximum light blockage and privacy, with approximately a half inch overlap between each louver so light does not bleed through regardless of slat size chosen.

Slats Pointed Downward — Light Filtering

The slats can also be rotated fully downward. This filters light rather than blocking it completely, allowing some natural light to stream in while directing harsh sun rays downward. This is the position to use when you want a softly lit room without full darkness.

Panels Fully Open — Maximum Light Entry

Swinging the panels fully open like doors gives you the maximum amount of light, the same as having no window covering at all. You can swing panels fully open, partially open, or leave them closed and rely entirely on the slat position to control light levels.

How Much Light Do Shutters Block?

Our shutter panels are made of either 100% solid hardwood or solid polyvinyl with an aluminum core, with panels approximately 1" thick. This makes them thicker, sturdier, and more effective at blocking light than curtains, shades, or blinds.

Shutters darken a room significantly, though they do not provide 100% blackout. There are slight gaps between the panels to allow for the thickness of the hinges and for the panels to hang level in the frame. The fewer panels you have per window, the fewer gaps there will be.

How to Maximise Light Blockage with Shutters

Several features help reduce light bleed further:

• Shutter frames include a light block piece that extends slightly behind the panels to reduce light from entering between the panels and the frame. Using a full 4-sided frame is always recommended for better light reduction.

• Caulking — once your shutter frame is installed, running a bead of caulking around the outer edges seals any slight gaps between the frame and window casing. Outside mount frames sit fully outside the window opening and naturally eliminate these gaps.

• Rabbeted or astragal stiles — on shutters with multiple panels, the right panel overlaps the left to block excess light from bleeding through between panels.

• Solid panel shutters — for the highest level of room darkening, solid raised panel shutters eliminate the gaps between rotating louvers entirely, providing significantly more light blockage as well as better insulation and noise reduction.