Combining Plantation Shutters with Curtains

Want to add the benefits of plantation shutters to your home but hesitant to part with your favorite curtains? You can absolutely have both. Combining plantation shutters and curtains is a simple home décor approach that gives you the best of both worlds.

Can You Mix Shutters and Curtains?

Yes — and the combination works better than either window covering alone. Shutters give you structure, insulation, and flexible light control. Curtains add softness, color, and the option of full blackout. Together they cover everything.

Curtains are available in varied lengths, fabrics, and prints — making the style combination possibilities endless. You can even combine plantation shutters with sheer curtains for a light, layered look.

Combining Café Style Shutters with Curtains

Café shutters cover only the lower portion of your window opening, keeping the top open to let in plenty of natural light while adding privacy where you need it most. You can customize the height of your café shutters to wherever looks best in your window.

Adding curtains or a valance above gives you:

• The option to cover the full window when you want to block out light

• A decorative balance to the top of the window so it doesn't look bare

• Full flexibility to draw them back when you want the light in

Combining Tier on Tier Shutters with Curtains

Tier on tier shutters are two sets of panels stacked on top of each other, with the top and bottom sections operating independently. This makes them a natural pairing with curtains — you get the same flexibility as café shutters with the added benefit of full coverage when you need it.

Keep the top panels open and the bottom closed for privacy, or open both fully and let the curtains do the decorative work. Tier on tier shutters are particularly popular in living rooms and bedrooms where you want full control over light and privacy throughout the day.

Combining Full Height Shutters with Curtains

Even if your shutters cover the full height of your window, you don't need to give up your curtains. You can keep curtains drawn to the sides for a decorative touch, or close them fully for added light blockage.

This combination is particularly useful for bedrooms. Full height shutters will darken a room significantly, but there can be a subtle glow of light between the shutter panels and frame — so not a complete 100% blackout. Curtains in front of your shutters will give you a fully dark room and a more restful night's sleep.

Full height shutters are also a great solution for arched, round, or otherwise specially shaped windows that curtains simply can't cover properly.

Styling Tips: How to Make Shutters and Curtains Work Together

Getting the combination right is as much about styling as it is about function. A few things worth keeping in mind:

• Curtain length — floor length curtains tend to work best with shutters, giving a clean, tailored look that doesn't interrupt the shutter frame

• Rod placement — mount your curtain rod wider than the window frame so curtains can be pushed fully to the sides without overlapping the shutters when open

• Keep it simple — if your shutters are a statement in themselves, opt for plain or lightly textured curtains rather than bold prints to avoid the window looking too busy

• Sheers — sheer curtains paired with shutters are a popular combination. Keep the sheers closed and the shutter slats open during the day for soft, diffused light with privacy

• Color — white or off-white shutters pair well with almost any curtain color, so you don't need to match them precisely

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