The Practical Advantages of Shutters

This article was submitted by guest author Andrew Marshall of Plantation Shutters.

There are three main options when choosing coverings for you windows; curtains, blinds and shutters. This post looks at some of the practical advantages of shutters.

Shutters are solid, wooden window coverings. A shutter frame is placed around the window frame and louvres (also sometimes called slats) are set within the frame. There are usually two separate shutters that open either side of the window. The louvres are adjustable, with a pole used to open or close them.

Window Shutters were traditionally used in the Mediterranean countries. They are thought to have originated from Greece (prior to the days of glass being used for windows) and quickly spread to countries such as Spain and Italy. The reason for their popularity in this area is that they can be used to regulate the amount of air and sunlight coming into a room. Shutters are now used all over the world, although still most commonly in warmer climates.

Many see shutters as being more aesthetically pleasing than curtains or blinds. When having shutters installed there is the option of exterior shutter, which tends to be more for decorative purposes, and interior shutters, which are used more for practical reasons.

What Are The Practical Advantages of Shutters?

• The main practical benefit is their adjustability, meaning they can be used as appropriate whatever the weather conditions. The interior conditions of a room can be controlled.
• During the winter shutters can help to keep the warmth in. Due to the quality of the wood used to manufacture shutters, when they are closed less cool air will enter a room than with curtains or blinds. They are essentially an extra layer of protection.
• During the summer it may be the sunlight and heat you want to keep out. This can also be done by keeping the shutters closed. But, of course, the sun is also one of the positives of summer, so if you want the full beam of the sun completely opening up the shutters will be preferable.
• There may be times when you would like to block out the sunlight and heat but still want the outside air to enter a room. This can be done by having the shutters closed but opening the shutter louvres. These can be opened or closed to much as you like; either completely open, completely closed, or somewhere in between. They can also be adjusted depending on where the sun is at any particular time of day.
• Shutters are much more adjustable than curtains. Because of the louvres, the air can be let in without the sunlight, something that can’t be achieved in the same way with curtains. Wooden blinds do have some of the advantages of shutters. They are adjustable in a similar way but there is always an overlap between the slats and they are not as durable (also meaning they aren’t able to block the cold weather out as much in the winter).
• With shutters you can have one shutter open and one closed if you choose, as they work individually, one from either side of the window frame. Blinds, on the other hand, are usually pulled down from the top of the window, with one blind covering the entire window.