Plantation Shutter & Solid Shutters - Step By Step Guide to Choosing Shutters For Your Home

Step One: Choose the Style of Shutter You Would Like - Either Plantation Shutters or Solid Shutters

Plantation shutters and solid shutters are an elegant alternative to blinds and curtains. When it comes to choosing the right shutters for you, you should first decide which style you prefer - plantation shutters or solid shutters.

So what are the differences between the two?

Plantation shutters are made with louvered slats and come in three different designs. These are full length plantation shutters, tier on tier plantation shutters and café style plantation shutters.

All three styles offer a great deal of benefits to the home-owner. Due to the ability to move the louvered slats, the level of light and air flow into a room can be modified at different times of the day. The slats can be left fully open to flood the room with light, or closed at night-time to provide privacy and warmth. And even in the half way position, the louvered slats disrupt the line of site into the room from the outside - ensuring good air flow without the need for nets.

Solid shutters, as the name implies, have a solid insert which means they almost completely block out the light, so are great for bedrooms. They also provide greater security for the home than plantation shutters. When fully closed, solid shutters can also significantly reduce the noise levels filtering in from outside. Solid shutters can be opened fully during the day time to allow in light, but offer no in-between option like plantation shutters.

Plantation Shutters -  click here to view our range of designs.

Solid Shutters - click here to view our range of designs.

Step Two: Choose Between Our Different Ranges

Once you have decided on your style preference, you can choose between our five different ranges: The Seattle, Boston, Portland, Phoenix and Vancouver. These vary in price, appearance and characteristics and we shall explain the benefits here. 

Low Maintenance - The Seattle is a great choice for robust, easy to clean shutters offering good value for money. These shutters are made from engineered wood and are polymer coated, so they do not need repainting.

Best Value Wood Shutters - If you want great value wood shutters, The Boston is a superb option. These shutters are made from solid basswood which is a popular, hard wearing material suitable for plantation shutters and solid shutters.

Light weight and Eco-Friendly - The Phoenix is our most eco-friendly shutter because the timber grows to a full height in just eight years. These shutters come in a range of styles and are especially good for blocking out the light on glass ceilings because they are so light-weight.

Bespoke  Designs - If you want a truly bespoke option, the Portland is a perfect for homes or business premises. It is hard wearing with an engineered centre to prevent any deviations in shape and we can also customise the thicknesses, rails and louvers.

Natural Appearance - For the crème de la crème in shutters, our Vancouver range comes out on top. This shutter range is made from Western Red Cedar and is ideal for barn or warehouse conversions because it has an oiled finish to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. This is the option to choose if you want natural solid wood shutters.

Step Three: Choose the Finish - Whether You Prefer Natural Wood Shutters, Painted Shutters or Stained Shutters

Once you have decided on your style and shutter type, the next step is to choose the colour or finish.

Each of our shutters are available in a range of colour options and the one you select really comes down to personal taste. However, our Phoenix and Vancouver ranges offer a much wider choice of finishes including many different paint options and wood effect stains.

We can also match Farrow and Ball paint colours extremely closely to tie in with your room's décor. Although we do not use the actual Farrow and Ball paint colours, we have specially developed paint lacquers where the colour matching is very close and these have additional protective properties that guard against fading.

Step Four: Do You Need Shaped Shutters?

Just as homes vary in size an appearance so do windows. Here at Bespoke Shutters we supply and make a range of shutters to suit almost any type of window and we also produce shutters to go above or on the side of a doorway.

We design and install shutters for all shapes of windows including arched, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, circular, half round windows, eyebrow windows, quarter round windows and elongated  half round windows.

Step Five: Have You Considered Motorised Shutters?

Motorised shutters gives you power at your finger tips! It means you do not have to move from your chair to open and close your shutters manually - instead you just operate them at the touch of a button.

This is safer for families with young children as it eliminates the use of a chord (on some manual shutters) and provides a solution for shutters in those hard-to-reach areas such as roof apexes or on the tops of staircases.

Why Choose The Bespoke Shutter Company for the Installation of Your Shutters?

• Our experience means we custom make shutters to fit your windows perfectly, whatever their size or shape.
• We offer a wide selection of products and we can also advise on the style, range, paint colours and finishes, on request, so you get the exactly the right product for your home.
• Whether you choose cedar, basswood, painted shutters or shutters made from engineered materials we only use the highest quality materials.
• All our shutters are fitted with meticulous attention to detail and are built to last so you will be delighted with the results.
• For additional peace of mind, all our shutter installations are guaranteed for three years, subject to certain terms and conditions.

Plantation Shutters - please call us on 0800 321 33 64 for more information or to request an appointment click here.

Plantation Shutters & Solid Shutters - Beat the Cold This Winter!

Updating your property with interior window shutters such as plantation shutters or solid shutters is a great way to insulate your home during cold winter months. Plantation shutters and solid shutters are not only visually appealing but they also help your home retain heat which is vital when the temperature drops. This helps saves money on fuel bills in the long run and means your home is cosy and snug whatever the weather.

Plantation Shutters - click here to view our plantation shutters range

Solid Shutters - click here to view our solid shutters range

Plantation Shutters: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Plantation shutters are louvered panels which can be fixed either to the inside or outside of windows and doors. They originate from America in the period before the American Civil War and are popular in homes throughout the world.

Plantation shutters work in two ways. By moving the slats to a vertical ‘closed’ position it stops the heat escaping out through your window. They also guard against drafts by preventing the cold air filtering in from outside.

Keeping the cold out is one of the many reasons why people prefer shutters over blinds. They are also chosen for their striking looks and work well in contemporary style homes .

Styles of Plantation Shutters

Plantation shutters  come in three different styles: café style, tier on tier and full length. Whichever type you choose really comes down to personal taste.

Café style plantation shutters originate from French cafés and were used to create a cosy and intimate dining experience, while still allowing natural light to filter into the room. They are popular in kitchens and living rooms in both homes and commercial premises and offer a stylish alternative to net curtains. Café style plantation shutters come in a range of finishes including painted and natural wood. In terms of winter warmth, these are less effective in insulating your home than other styles of plantation shutter as they only cover half of your window.

Tier on tier shutters are a versatile window covering that are made up of two separate shutter panels,  one on top of the other. This means that one set of shutters can be closed independently of the other to allow a high degree of control over the amount of light and ventilation entering the room. For example, the bottom tier can be switched to the closed position to give maximum privacy, whilst still allowing light to enter via the open tier at the top. Or both can be closed or left open, whichever you prefer. During winter months you can adjust your tier on tier shutters, to give you maximum insulation and light during the day by closing the bottom tier. Then as it starts to get dark, close both tiers for full insulation throughout the evening and night.

As the name implies, full length shutters cover the full length of the window. They are popular for their elegance and simplicity and provide a good level of insulation and protection from drafts.

Another type of shutters are solid shutters and we shall look at their benefits and appearance below.

Solid Shutters: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Solid shutters were very popular in Victorian Britain. They have a solid insert instead of louvers and when closed, offer a high degree of insulation, privacy and security. Also popular today, they are well suited to both period properties and modern style homes.

Like plantation shutters, solid shutters will help to insulate your home from the cold weather as they create a physical barrier which covers the window pane. This makes them several more times effective than blinds at preventing drafts and keeping the heat in.

But improving your home with solid shutters or plantation shutters is not just about keeping out the cold. There are many other benefits to shutters and we will explore some of these below.

Other Benefits to Installing Interior Window Shutters

Solid shutters and plantation shutters add value to your home as they are an attractive alternative to curtains and blinds. They also provide excellent privacy and security, which is crucial during the dark winter months.

As well as keeping the home warm in winter, they work too keep the home cool in the summer too. Shutters can be used to screen out bright sunlight, keeping your home interior cool on even the hottest of days.

Both plantation shutters and solid shutters are far easier to keep clean than curtains, as all you just need to do is give them a once over with a damp cloth. Painted shutters shouldn't need repainting for years and there are also options available that require no painting whatsoever.

Plantation Shutters - click here to view our plantation shutters range

Solid Shutters - click here to view our solid shutters range