How to Choose the Height for Cafe Style Shutters

Cafe style shutters cover only the lower portion of a window opening. This gives you privacy and the beauty of plantation shutters while still allowing plenty of natural light to enter the room from above.

A common question is how to decide the height for cafe style shutters. While this is ultimately a personal preference, there are some common factors to consider that can help guide your decision.

Double Hung Windows

Cafe style shutters are a popular choice for double hung windows. The most aesthetically pleasing option is to measure to just above the natural divide in the windows. This way the solid rail at the top of your shutters will:

• Hide the division and any locks or hardware where the upper and lower panes overlap

• Create a clean, seamless look from the outside

• Cover any other obstructions you do not want to see once the shutters are installed

• The same principle applies to any natural divide in a window. In some cases, the natural divide may sit a little higher than the center of the window. Measuring to just above this divide hides it neatly and it will only be visible when the shutter panels are opened.

See Our Simple Shutter Measuring Guide

Privacy

Another practical way to decide on height is to simply measure how tall the shutters need to be to block visibility into the home from outside.

Cafe style shutters are a great option for rooms where you still want plenty of sunlight throughout the day but do not want to keep your windows fully uncovered, such as:

Bathroom shutters — privacy from outside while keeping the upper window open for light

Kitchen shutters — block the view at counter or sink height without darkening the room

Living room shutters on street-facing windows

Very Tall or Arched Top Windows

There is no right or wrong height for cafe style shutters. While many people associate cafe style with shorter shutters, any height can be considered cafe style as long as it leaves any of the upper portion of the window open.

For example, very tall windows can have cafe style shutters covering as much as three quarters of the window opening and still be classified as cafe style.

For windows with an arched top, some customers prefer to keep the arch open and uncovered. In this case, you can choose the height for your cafe style shutters measuring up to just below the arch. We also offer arched shutters custom made for special shape windows if you prefer full coverage.