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Plantation Shutters vs Traditional Shutters

Shutters are a great alternative to regular curtains, making it much easier to manage light levels and control the mood of a room while still protecting your own privacy. That doesn’t mean that buying them is simple, though. Not only can shutters come in all different kinds of shapes and sizes, but there are also two very distinct, popular types that offer different visual styles: traditional shutters, and plantation shutters.

What are Traditional Shutters?

Almost everybody knows what shutters are: panels that cover up windows from the inside, often on a hinge or moving track. They’re more insulating than thin curtains and often have a nicer style to them, with a heavy focus on all-or-nothing visibility (either they’re open, or they’re closed). Some will be completely solid and opaque, others will be latticed or angled like window blinds, but they are all more or less the same in terms of how they work, our range showcases the different looks that can be achieved.

What are Plantation Shutters?

There’s often a lot of confusion about what “plantation shutters” actually are since many companies incorrectly label their own shutters or design them in very specific ways. In general, a plantation shutter is a louvred design that uses angled horizontal slats, rather than being a simple block or pattern. They’re designed to slope downwards from the outside in, allowing more light and air to come through, at least while they’re open.

When closed, a plantation shutter becomes the exact opposite, blocking out almost all light and reducing the amount of cold air that can get through the window. They are often painted white a remnant of their use on actual plantations that is meant to reflect heat and light to keep the room cooler. In some cases, they might even be able to fold in on themselves to give you full access to the bare glass, but others might be a nearly-permanent fixture.

Why should I use Plantation Shutters?

A plantation shutter is like a window shutter, a blind and a curtain all rolled into one, offering great heat management and cooling alongside a very easy-to-adjust set of slats. Beyond that, they’re also very stylish, which makes them quite a desirable window accessory for people who feel that curtains are too awkward and blinds are too office-like. They’re far more versatile than regular shutters, too, which can make them a great replacement choice if you want to upgrade to something else.

Of course, shutters can still be used with curtains and blinds if you have space for them. In areas with inconsistent weather and climates, this can actually be a good thing, since you can use the plantation shutters along with the curtains to help you manage how much hot or cold air is coming into your home. Take a look here at the features and benefits of using shutters for your windows.

Do plantation shutters add value to a home?

It might come as a surprise, but plantation shutters are actually quite a valuable addition to most homes and can raise the value of the property from the moment they’re installed. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it: it’s an eco-friendly, all-natural temperature control system that also looks good, doesn’t create much noise in high winds (unlike blinds) and can continue to work for decades, even if not maintained very often. In the right conditions, a plantation shutter can save you thousands of pounds on heating, electricity to power fans or other temperature-controlling appliances.

The visual style also helps. Everybody has their own personal preferences, but the designs of most plantation shutters are meant to look very professional, high-quality and sometimes even slightly regal. This makes them a very attractive design element in almost any property, whether it’s an office building, a family home or somebody’s workshop.

How expensive are plantation shutters?

Shutters, regardless of type, are often priced at a certain amount of pounds per square meter, not taking into account any professionals you are paying to install them. If you DIY everything, it can be cheaper, but you’ll want to make sure you know exactly what you’re doing so that you don’t damage anything or install the shutters backwards.

The average cost of high-quality plantation shutters can be between £180 to £300 per square meter on standard windows. This may seem like a lot, but a square meter is actually quite a large area, so it won’t always come to that exact price if the window is smaller. If you really want to save money, you can often buy the shutters yourself and try to DIY them, as mentioned earlier: just be prepared and keep mistakes to a minimum.

If you want to get an idea of the price, try to measure your windows. You’ll want to do it anyway to make sure you’re getting the correct plantation shutter size, but measuring early can make it easier to understand what sort of prices you’d be in for.

What is the best material for plantation shutters?

Historically, plantation shutters were generally always wooden, but the modern world had opened up some more possibilities with how we can design them. Because of this, there are more materials to keep track of, each with their own upsides and downsides.

Wood is the original, and modern wood has all of the same benefits that it used to, insulation, strength and good quality, at least if the shutters are installed correctly. It’s also generally the most stylish-looking, so it’s often the most valuable option and will raise the value of the building a bit more.

Waterproof materials are another choice. Waterproofing is really useful for dealing with wet weather and splashes, and often sees the most use in bathrooms, kitchens or anywhere else that contains a lot of water that could warp or rot other materials.

Metal isn’t very common, but it can still be found in certain places. These are generally used as a security measure, keeping the same great style while also being strong enough to act as a real barrier if needed.

PVC and similar synthetic materials are very common, for obvious reasons. It is usually cheaper, more accessible and stronger (on paper) than wood, with the biggest shortfalls being style, design and overall quality. If you need a shutter and don’t care what it is made from, you’ll often end up falling back onto materials like this.

Plantation Shutters in Bolton

Aspiration Blinds supply and fit Plantation shutters across Bolton and the surrounding areas. We have a large range of traditional and plantation shutters, and we also provide a free design consultation. Get in touch today to discuss your requirements and how Aspiration Blinds can help.