Choose Shutters vs Blinds for Different Purposes

Since your windows at home and in the office vary in size and style, you’ll surely need to compare and contrast different window coverings, such as shutters vs blinds, before deciding on a particular design. Generally, shutters offer more stability and structural strength because they’re attached to the window frame and they also provide tighter protection against the elements compared to ordinary blinds. In some cases, however, blinds are more advantageous to use as covering for certain types of windows rather than shutters. Once you understood the advantages and disadvantages of shutters and blinds, you’ll soon see which window covering you should get for your home. Choose Colonial Shutters for Small Windows and Cold Weather The old-fashioned Colonial shutters consisted of a pair of solid panels typically mounted outside of the window frame. These Colonial-style shutters prominently displayed a simple wood-cut design on each panel’s solid upper half. On the bottom half, there’s a half-height tier of fixed slats, which were only 1 1/4 inches wide each. A 3/4-inch thick frame made of solid wood held these panels together, including the thin wooden slats. Before you can open the shutters, you’ll have to open your windows first. It’s easier when these Colonial shutters were mounted to ground floor windows. Just stand outside those windows to open or close the shutters. To keep these shutters open, anchor each panel to a shutter dog, which is an ornamental wrought-iron hook that’s nailed or screwed to the wooden frame under the open shutters. Place each panel on top of a tilt rod that’s screwed to the wall right under each shutter’s corner edge. The rod supports the panel from the pull of gravity, which loosens the hinges and leads to sagging shutters. These traditional exterior shutters are more common fixtures for houses in cold, temperate regions. The shutters add extra protection and insulation to smaller and narrower windows. As a result, the glass windows retained more heat because the solid panels prevented its dissipation and transference of heat particles to the nearly freezing cold outside. Aside from making homes warm and cosy, Colonial shutters also make the best props for your home’s exterior design. Choose Plantation Shutters for Flexibility in Design and Function Generally speaking, plantation shutters have wider slats that range from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches in width. Typically, the louvred slats are arranged in tiers and you can move them at different angles using a manual or motorised mechanism. The slats were stacked so closely to each other that shifting each slat to a vertical position conveniently turns your closed California shutters into an effective privacy screen that also blocks out sunlight, ultraviolet heat, and torrential rains completely. This instance where closed shutters were converted into a blockout sunscreen is just one of many examples that clearly illustrate how much flexibility in design and functionality you can get from plantation shutters. This idea that increased functionality is an offshoot of greater flexibility in design is best exemplified by the tier-on-tier composition of shutters for really tall windows that reach up to 6 feet. First, full height plantation shutters are divided into smaller panels of louvred slats from top to bottom. Then, the shutter panels are arranged into upper, middle, and bottom rows. In general, you’ll have around nine sections of shutters that you can separately close, open, and tilt forwards or backwards at any time. Contrary to opening and shutting all the vents in a full height panel, this tier-on-tier design gives you the power to choose and decide. You may select a different type of shutters for the top tier and another style of shutters for the bottom panels. You alone may decide how much sunlight to let inside your home and which of the shutters on the head and bottom tiers that must be closed or stay open. Tiered plantation shutters are inserted with mid-rail bars to create a more solid structure for the slatted panels. Use tier-on-tier plantation shutters to enhance the appearance of those floor-to-ceiling patio doors. The shutters also offer your guests a wider view of the tropical garden or private beach that exists beyond those patio doors. When and Where Do You Need External Shutters and Blinds? Most people think Colonial shutters are already the right choice of exterior shutters even when it’s sunny outside. The shutters already looked fine and dandy as furnishings for your exterior walls. Meanwhile, bungalows and houses in warm and tropical areas not only use plantation shutters, but also sliding panels and roller blinds. These types of window coverings provide satisfactory shade from the sun, but they can be rolled up, slid back, and tilted upwards to let in some fresh air. In contrast, external shutters and outdoor blinds are highly preferred by homeowners and business proprietors, such as restaurateurs and cafe owners, as protective covers for their glass windows, as additional shade for al fresco dining, and as sunscreens that filter direct sunlight and the heat from UV rays. While exterior blinds are better at filtering sunlight and its UV rays than interior blinds, they’re probably not that much better than interior or exterior shutters. When it comes down to choosing between shutters vs blinds, however, your choice depends on many factors. If you prioritise the price, then you’d likely go for the lowest rates for either shutters or blinds. If quality is more important to you than cost, then you’re likely a fan of window shutters or high-quality blinds. Once you understood where your wants and needs lie, you’ll quickly realise that shutters and blinds have their distinctive advantages and disadvantages. If you want to know more about comparing shutters versus blinds, then contact us at My Shutters Online for an extensive comparison of different types of shutters and blinds for both indoor and outdoor use. Article by Heidi Cridland