When it comes to choosing window treatments, such as blinds and shutters, you will always be faced with the difficult decision of choosing between them. Both offer their own special features so it can feel overwhelming when trying to decide which one is right for your home. To help simplify things, we have put together a list of five ways in which they differ:
1) Typical use
Blinds for eg. Horizontal Blinds are used mostly in homes where there is no natural light and the room only has artificial light. Shutters on the other hand can be used both in rooms that get plenty of natural baselight and in rooms that only receive baselight from artificial sources.
2) Noise reduction
Blinds provide some sound reduction because they cover most or all of the window. Shutters do not cover the window fully however, they are equipped with slats to allow light through while still providing privacy. This means that if you want to block out noise, shutters will not be worth your time or money.
3) Cost
Blinds are often cheaper than shutters because shutters are usually custom made based on measurements taken from your windows. Blinds are also cheaper because they are available in many standard sizes, unlike shutters which need to fit around all different types of shapes and sizes of windows.
4) Difference in shades
If you have a set of blinds it is possible to change the shades so that they suit what colours you have chosen for the rest of the room. Shutters however, come in just one colour and cannot be changed to fit different colour schemes throughout the house.
5) Lifetime
Both blinds and shutters have a long lifetime of around twenty years or more depending on how well you maintain them. While both can last many years, blinds are easier to clean since there is no need to dismantle them before cleaning each individual slat like you would with shutters.