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Shutters vs Blinds – How to Choose Between the Two

Deciding between shutters or blinds can be difficult, especially if you don’t have strong preferences for either one. The main difference between shutters and blinds is that shutters attach to the windows themselves, while blinds are fixed to the window frame. Beyond this functional difference, there is a range of differences in how blinds vs shutters operate. If you know what each window covering offers and how well it matches your needs, you’ll find it much easier to make the right choice. To help you decide, we’ve compared shutters vs blinds for you to see which often offers more value across different factors.


A table comparing shutters to blinds


Variety

Advantage: Blinds

Although shutters come in different materials, blinds unquestionably offer more variety of choices. Aside from providing more styles and designs, blinds also come in both horizontal and vertical models (unlike shutters). Blinds are also made of a variety of materials, including PVC, aluminium, and timber. If you’re not set on a style or material for your window coverings, you’ll likely find more choices in our range of Blinds Online

Light Control and Privacy

Advantage: Shutters

With shutters, you control the amount of light by angling the shutter slats the way you want (i.e. fully open, fully closed, or somewhere in between). This shutter mechanism lets you adjust the amount of light in your room quickly, allowing you to go from blocking out the sun completely to letting in as much sunlight freely. You can also shut the slats closed easily if you want complete privacy in your room. And while some blinds offer similar levels of light control as shutters, many of them are more limited or require more effort to adjust their slats.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Advantage: Shutters

The great news for you is that most shutters and blinds are easy to clean, so you won’t need to worry much about caring and maintaining either choice. The edge, however, goes to shutters because the cleaning process is often simpler and more straightforward. Some types of blinds require a bit more time and effort to clean because of the design, so maintaining can sometimes take more work. Most window shutters, meanwhile, can be wiped clean quite easily.

Cost

Advantage: Blinds

Although there are many affordable shutters out there, you’ll often find that shutters will be more expensive than blinds. Because window blinds have more variety in style and design, you’re more likely to find budget-friendly options with them rather than shutters. So if you’re on a tight budget for your window coverings, you’ll probably find more suitable choices while shopping for blinds.

Security

Advantage: Shutters

If you want window coverings that provide added security to your property, then shutters are the window covering for you. Because shutters are fixed along your window frames, they also act as extra barriers that can help prevent outside entry. Blinds, on the other hand, often feature softer and more movable elements, which can make them easier to break through.

Views and Visibility

Advantage: Blinds

Although shutters offer full visibility when they’re fully opened, your views will still be hindered by the fixed slats on your windows. Many types of blinds, however, let you draw the slats out of the way to uncover your entire window, giving you more views and clearer visibility. If you want full visibility and uninterrupted views in your living space, then blinds, will be your best choice.

Longevity

Advantage: Shutters

Both shutters and blinds are known for their durability, but experts consider shutters to be more long-lasting than blinds. The fixed nature of shutters combined with their thicker and more solid materials means they’ll often last longer and be able to withstand external forces better. In fact, some shutters are even designed to withstand storms and protect windows from strong winds and typhoons!


Shutters vs Blinds – Which one wins?

  • As we have explored shutters vs blinds above there are plenty of benefits to each type of window covering. Shutters offer increased choice when it comes to light control and privacy, while blinds are the clear winner for variety and overall choice.
  • The cost of blinds is less than that of shutters, but there are certain blinds which will cost more than shutters over a large area.
  • Blinds may not last as long as shutters do, but shutters are easier to clean – depending on what type of blinds you invest in!

Ultimately, you need to choose the one that matches your needs.
When deciding between shutters and blinds, remember that the right choice is the one that matches your needs and preferences. What’s right for one person may not be right for you, so make sure to decide based on your situation and not anyone else’s. If you need help deciding between shutters or blinds, try reading our other blogs “How to Pick the Perfect Blinds to Match Your Lifestyle” or “https://www.blindo.com.au/why-interior-designers-love-shutters-and-why-you-will-too/

We have installed plenty of blinds and shutters in homes across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and we would be happy to help you make the choice that is right for you. If you need help deciding between these two window coverings, feel free to contact us to get expert assistance. We’ll be more than happy to help you make the right choice.


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