Plantation shutters and solid shutters are a great way to keep your interior warm this winter and are an elegant addition to your home. However, in addition to plantation shutters and solid shutters, there are many other attractive ways to keep your heating bills down - and some are at little or no extra cost. Here we shall look at some of the most stylish and effective ways to brighten an interior and keep the indoors cosy when the temperature plummets.
Plantation Shutters - click here for full information on our range of products.
Plantation Shutters and Solid Shutters
Plantation shutters and solid shutters are a very efficient way to keep the heat in compared to other forms of window coverings. They keep draughts at bay and insulate the home by trapping the cold air between the shutter and the window.
If you have either plantation shutters or solid shutters, a top tip is to leave the shutters open during the day to allow the sunlight to stream through. If you have tier on tier shutters, you can just leave the top half open. This serves to warm up the room in the daylight hours and you can close the shutters at night to keep the heat in.
Fireplaces
Some householders have an open fire, but rarely get round to using it. However, an open fire not only provides warmth and ambience, it also helps lower the cost of your heating bills. If your fireplace has not been used for a while, have a flick through the yellow pages to find a chimney sweep to clean out your chimney. It is also advisable to make sure you stock up on a sufficient supply of wood or smoke free coal (if you are living in a smoke free zone) before the weather turns colder.
Throws
Another stylish way to brighten your living room is to have a throw or two within easy reach of the sofa. You could even have one on each sofa or arm chair, so there’s one for every member of the family and for guests too! This is great thing to snuggle under on cold winter nights, while watching a favourite TV programme or DVD. And your guests will love to feel cosy and snug beneath it when they pop round for a chat!
Rugs
Wooden flooring looks great in any home, but it can feel chilly to walk on during the coldest months of the year. If you have wooden flooring, you may think about using rugs in winter, even if you don’t use them all year round. Rugs can be lovely and soft to sink your feet into and instantly makes the house appear warmer.
Cooking
Cooking helps warm up the kitchen area and it will fill the house with the lovely aroma of delicious winter food. If you leave the oven door open after cooking it is a good way to keep your interior cosy - and all for no extra cost. If you have a kitchen diner, the family often loves to congregate in the kitchen in winter.
Jumpers
Another way to keep warm in winter is to wear a jumper or to layer your clothing - and try to avoid going without warm socks or slippers! There are lots of fashionable slippers available including cosy home wear boots. Woollen socks really warm up your toes and you can even wear several pairs at a time if need be.
Candles
Candles create a wonderful atmosphere in the home and they can also give off a little bit of heat too! There is something incredibly relaxing about lighting a few scented candles when you get home from work on a dark winter night and they give off a fantastic aroma. Candles are very welcoming and guests will love the attention to detail when they come over to your house for festive drinks.
Rooms
If you have certain rooms you rarely use, it may be worthwhile closing these areas off in the winter months. This is a simple way to lower your heating costs and means you are not hiking up your heating bills for rooms that aren’t used. It also means the rooms that are frequented more will feel warmer and much more homely.
About Bespoke Shutters
The Bespoke Shutter Company provides beautiful made-to-measure plantation shutters and solid shutters for homes and businesses in London and the Home Counties. Our range of plantation shutters and solid shutters includes cafe style, full height and tier on tier shutters. We have several years experience in creating bespoke shutters and have a reputation for the quality of our products and high standards of craftsmanship.
Solid Shutters - click here for full information on our range of products.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Colour Your Home Beautiful With Solid Shutters and Plantation Shutters
Just like with any other window coverings, plantation shutters and solid shutters do not come in one standard colour, such as bright white, but are available in a whole range of shades and stains to suit your decor.
Not all designs of solid shutters and plantation shutters have the full choice of finishes, but the colour range is vast for some styles. Your selection is purely down to personal taste but, if you find yourself spoilt for choice, we have compiled a few pointers to help you make the most of your interior.
Here we will look at how your choice of plantation shutters and solid shutters can create different effects. We shall also reveal which colours are mood enhancers and will help energise and uplift you.
Plantation Shutters - to view some of our plantation shutters click here.
How Your Choice of Coloured Shutters Can Create Different Effects
If you are going for a minimalist look and have plain white walls, choosing white solid shutters or plantation shutters will make the room feel light, airy and spacious. However, there is a danger that too much white can make the room feel cold and stark. So to make the space more homely, brighten up the room with colourful paintings or accessories such as throws, rugs or cushions.
A large room with dark painted walls can make the room appear smaller and gives it a more intimate appearance. For a cosy effect, keep the walls dark and paint the skirting board, fire surround (if you have one) and ceiling white. Match this look with white plantation shutters or solid shutters and choose a light coloured carpet. You can use a similar technique to make a room appear calm and spacious, but instead choose a more subtle colour for the walls, such as light green or grey.
If you want your solid shutters or plantation shutters to introduce an accent colour, this will help bring the whole look of your room together. Perhaps you want the colour of your shutters to reflect the colour of your sofa, rug, or cushions, for instance. For a more dramatic effect, choose shutters in a bright hue such as red, orange or lime green. Black shutters also create impact and look fantastic against white walls in a monochrome room.
If you don’t want to go bold and dramatic, choose a neutral colour. If this is your preference, avoid cream shutters against white walls, as this makes the shutters look ‘dirty’ against bright white.
Wooden shutters look stunning but steer clear of this if there is already too much timber in the room as this can make a space appear gloomy. In this case, painted shutters may be a better choice. However, the right wood stain is a great look for a room with pale or neutral walls, ceiling and furniture.
Colours and Their Meanings
Some people place special emphasis on colours and their meanings and will pick out a particular colour because it makes them feel good. One particular colour that helps lift our mood is yellow, as it reminds us of the sun and is seen as an optimistic and cheerful colour. It is a good choice for an entrance hall, study area or children’s playroom.
To create a room that is relaxed and tranquil, blues or greens are ideal. Blue is the colour of the sky and the sea and is also said to stimulate calming chemicals in our brain. Green is a serene colour and is also said to be one of the easiest colours on our eye. Green or blue is suitable for almost any room in the home.
Reds and purples are said to boost our energy levels and enhance our mood. Purple helps boost creativity and is a good choice for a study area. As red helps stimulate the appetite, it is ideal for a dining room. Orange is another mood booster and is said to stimulate the mind and radiate positivity, so it is a good colour for a creative room.
Bespoke Coloured Shutters
If you are opting for coloured shutters, our Phoenix, Portland and Vancouver Shutters have the widest range of colours or stains. As our shutters are bespoke, we can match the colours to suit your paintwork, so you can choose any colour for your interior. We will also closely match Farrow and Ball colours.
Our Portland shutters are the architect’s choice in shutters and are extremely robust with an engineered core to prevent warping. The Phoenix is light, so is ideal for conservatory roofs. The Vancouver, or cedar shutters are seen as the best wooden shutters you can get and they are expected to last a lifetime.
Solid Shutters - to view some of our solid shutters click here.
Not all designs of solid shutters and plantation shutters have the full choice of finishes, but the colour range is vast for some styles. Your selection is purely down to personal taste but, if you find yourself spoilt for choice, we have compiled a few pointers to help you make the most of your interior.
Here we will look at how your choice of plantation shutters and solid shutters can create different effects. We shall also reveal which colours are mood enhancers and will help energise and uplift you.
Plantation Shutters - to view some of our plantation shutters click here.
How Your Choice of Coloured Shutters Can Create Different Effects
If you are going for a minimalist look and have plain white walls, choosing white solid shutters or plantation shutters will make the room feel light, airy and spacious. However, there is a danger that too much white can make the room feel cold and stark. So to make the space more homely, brighten up the room with colourful paintings or accessories such as throws, rugs or cushions.
A large room with dark painted walls can make the room appear smaller and gives it a more intimate appearance. For a cosy effect, keep the walls dark and paint the skirting board, fire surround (if you have one) and ceiling white. Match this look with white plantation shutters or solid shutters and choose a light coloured carpet. You can use a similar technique to make a room appear calm and spacious, but instead choose a more subtle colour for the walls, such as light green or grey.
If you want your solid shutters or plantation shutters to introduce an accent colour, this will help bring the whole look of your room together. Perhaps you want the colour of your shutters to reflect the colour of your sofa, rug, or cushions, for instance. For a more dramatic effect, choose shutters in a bright hue such as red, orange or lime green. Black shutters also create impact and look fantastic against white walls in a monochrome room.
If you don’t want to go bold and dramatic, choose a neutral colour. If this is your preference, avoid cream shutters against white walls, as this makes the shutters look ‘dirty’ against bright white.
Wooden shutters look stunning but steer clear of this if there is already too much timber in the room as this can make a space appear gloomy. In this case, painted shutters may be a better choice. However, the right wood stain is a great look for a room with pale or neutral walls, ceiling and furniture.
Colours and Their Meanings
Some people place special emphasis on colours and their meanings and will pick out a particular colour because it makes them feel good. One particular colour that helps lift our mood is yellow, as it reminds us of the sun and is seen as an optimistic and cheerful colour. It is a good choice for an entrance hall, study area or children’s playroom.
To create a room that is relaxed and tranquil, blues or greens are ideal. Blue is the colour of the sky and the sea and is also said to stimulate calming chemicals in our brain. Green is a serene colour and is also said to be one of the easiest colours on our eye. Green or blue is suitable for almost any room in the home.
Reds and purples are said to boost our energy levels and enhance our mood. Purple helps boost creativity and is a good choice for a study area. As red helps stimulate the appetite, it is ideal for a dining room. Orange is another mood booster and is said to stimulate the mind and radiate positivity, so it is a good colour for a creative room.
Bespoke Coloured Shutters
If you are opting for coloured shutters, our Phoenix, Portland and Vancouver Shutters have the widest range of colours or stains. As our shutters are bespoke, we can match the colours to suit your paintwork, so you can choose any colour for your interior. We will also closely match Farrow and Ball colours.
Our Portland shutters are the architect’s choice in shutters and are extremely robust with an engineered core to prevent warping. The Phoenix is light, so is ideal for conservatory roofs. The Vancouver, or cedar shutters are seen as the best wooden shutters you can get and they are expected to last a lifetime.
Solid Shutters - to view some of our solid shutters click here.
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