How Can I Improve My Window Privacy?

window-shutters

We all value privacy. It’s why our homes have doors and why we dress our windows. However, windows are also our view of the outside world. We must choose our covering wisely, allowing maximum privacy levels while allowing sunlight to dazzle through. 

Improve your window privacy with plantation shutters

Plantation shutters are the best window covering for increasing your privacy levels. Made to measure the exact dimensions of your window, they will ensure all of your window is hidden when closed. 

Unlike curtains and blinds, plantation shutters allow for maximum privacy levels while allowing sunlight to enter your home by adjusting the louvres accordingly. As plantation shutters are built to last, they will save you money in the long run. 

Plantation shutters come in a range of styles, so you will always find a design that will meet your needs:

Full-height shutters cover the entire window. They have movable slats that allow for as much or as little light to enter your home as you like. For complete privacy, keep the panels closed. 

Cafe-style plantation shutters usually only cover the bottom half of the window, but they can stop at any point of your window. This allows for privacy while still brightening up your room. 

A versatile option, tier-on-tier plantation shutters consist of two sections: one on top and one on the bottom. This allows you to open the panels separately, leaving the bottom closed while the top is open.

Solid shutters are comprised of panels of wood with no movable slats. If you’re looking for a window covering that offers maximum privacy, this option may be for you. 

 

For more information on improving your window privacy with plantation shutters or to book your FREE in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Improve your conservatory’s temperature with plantation shutters

For anyone fortunate enough to have a conservatory, you will know that they can be one of the most pleasant areas of your home, but with so many windows and glass, they can be unbearable in the Summer sun. 

Further, it can be difficult and expensive to control the temperature in Winter too making it hard to control the temperature all year round. Plantation shutters can improve your ability to control the temperature in your conservatory while making it still look great.

Keeping cool in the Summer

Plantation shutters can help your conservatory stay cooler in the warmer months by blocking out the hot rays from the sun shining directly into your conservatory. Blocking direct sunlight is one of the best ways to help keep a room from getting too hot, especially in a conservatory. 

Staying warm in the Winter

If your conservatory gets chilly in the Winter, it can cause your heating bill to skyrocket. Made to measure, plantation shutters fit the windows in your conservatory perfectly, allowing you to create an extra layer to keep the warmer indoor air from being chilled by the windows. Since shutters are so easy to open, you can take advantage of sunny mornings and early afternoons in the winter months.

 

For more information on conservatory plantation shutters for your home or to book your FREE in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Where Should Plantation Shutters Be Installed?

A question we often get asked is: “Should I install plantation shutters on every window?” And whilst we would for you to benefit from the style and practicality of having plantation shutters on every window, we understand that sometimes this isn’t possible. 

At Totally Shutters, we offer our customers tailored advice to suit their style preferences and budget to help them determine where plantation shutters would be best suited to their property. Here is some comprehensive guides to follow:

Installing plantation shutters in rooms with high levels of light

Plantation shutters hold multiple benefits, helping improve practical aspects of daily life in your home. Sunlight pouring through your windows is a sight that we all like, however, this is often impractical. 

Whether you work from home and the sunlight is affecting the glare on your computer, or you’re someone that works a night shift and requires darkness during the day, plantation shutters in specific areas can provide the solution required.

Installing plantation shutters to every window within a room

There is no rule to say that plantation shutters have to be installed throughout your home. However, there are many homeowners who would prefer a uniform look throughout their property, increasing their curb appeal. 

There is no right or wrong with this option, perhaps you could create a uniform look by installing plantation shutters on every window downstairs rather than every window, this is completely a design preference for you to choose. 

Installing plantation shutters over a period of time

If plantation shutters are the aesthetic you’re seeking but your budget is staggered, why not install plantation shutters in one room at a time? This will allow you to stretch out the costs rather than paying a single lump sum.

 

For more information on plantation shutters for your home or to book your FREE in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

How Big Can My Shutter Panels Be?

When investing in plantation shutters, many people have an image of what they’re trying to achieve. This vision will include the size of the panels and panel configuration, often forgetting key decisions such as style and material. 

The panel size is an important decision to factor as it will influence the look you’re trying to achieve, so it is useful to know from the offset if there are any limitations in place on the panels and how this may affect the overall shutter design.

Material impacts shutter panel size

One of the most significant features that impacts panel size possibilities is the shutter material. Heavier shutter materials need to have smaller panels to ensure longevity and avoid warping over time. If a bigger panel is desired, a lighter material will be needed. MDF is the heaviest shutter material, whereas Hardwood is the lightest material. 

Once sizes of your window are available, whether measured yourself or during your FREE in-house survey, we will be able to advise the panel possibilities for the shutters, including material and size.

What are the benefits of choosing large shutter panels?

The bigger the shutter panels, the more natural light that will come through into your home as there will be fewer solid section divides where framing and rails separate the shutters and slat sections. Pairing large panels with the largest slat size will also help assist this.

Further, in summer months when you’re looking to ventilate your room with an open window behind open slats, less panels will avoid the blockage of the breeze.

 

For more information on shutter panels or to book your FREE in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Should My Plantation Shutters Be Lighter or Darker Than My Interior?

Plantation shutters are made-to-measure to your requirements and bespoke to your design taste. And with every custom product, you decide on the specific details on how you want your plantation shutters to look and work. 

Some decisions come naturally, or with research, where as others can be hard to decide. Colour choice is often one of the decisions that our clients struggle with, even when slat sizes, shutter style and material are confirmed.

Light or darker plantation shutters?

Just like all design choice, the answer is personal preference and what you’re looking to achieve in your interiors. Do you want your shutters to blend seamlessly into your architecture? Do you want your shutters to make a statement? Or perhaps you’re looking to achieve a uniformed look from the outside?

Our most popular colour option is white as white shutters are timeless and will go with any interior design, should you choose to redecorate down the line. However, our most common choice for bespoke painted shutters is a finish that is the same colour as the walls.

That said, choosing darker shutters can create a wonderful contrast, and we’ve helped many homeowners achieve that look over the years.

What if I cannot decide on a colour?

If you’re still unsure what colour to go for with your plantation shutters, don’t worry, one of our shutter specialists will come to your home as part of our in-house survey, armed with advice and lots of colour samples to help you choose the right colour for your home. 

If none of our standard colours take your fancy, we have a colour match service that will match your shutters to any colour of your choice.

 

For more information or to book your FREE in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Can I Add a Top Tier to My Cafe Style Plantation Shutters?

cafe-style-shutters

Cafe style shutters extend just part way up the window, leaving the top of the window exposed so that natural light can flood your home while privacy levels are still maintained. As such, cafe style plantation shutters are a wonderful choice for those who are not looking for full shutter coverage.

Occasionally, some homeowners that choose this part height shutter option, change their mind later down the line, seeking full window coverage. There comes the question; “can I add a top tier to my cafe style shutters?”

The good news is that we can almost always arrange for a top tier to be added to your cafe style shutters, should you change your mind about having the top of the window exposed. However, it depends entirely on your window frame, your plantation shutters and their condition.

Why would I add a top tier to my cafe style shutters?

Cafe style shutters are an appealing choice for many homeowners, but sometimes many can change their minds and decide that having part coverage of the window isn’t sufficient enough for their light and privacy requirements.

Full window coverage ensures the most complete level of privacy and light block can be achieved in a room. 

Should I opt for full window shutter coverage from the offset?

If you’re unsure what option would be best for you, or you think your requirements may change down the line, we recommend that you opt for tier-on-tier shutters over cafe style shutters.

Choosing tier on tier shutters from the offset will be the most cost-effective choice rather than adding a top tier to cafe style as measure and fitting costs are rolled into one price.

 

If you have cafe style shutters that you’re looking to add a top tier to, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Are Plantation Shutters Blackout?

A question that we frequently asked is, ‘Are plantation shutters blackout?’ The answer is no. However, shutters offer a considerable amount of light blockage, particularly when compared to blinds or curtains.

And while our plantation shutter range does not give you a complete blackout, our shutter and shade range does.

What are shutter and shade plantation shutters?

Shutter and shade plantation shutters are the ultimate blackout solution. The shutter and shade plantation shutters have an integrated room darkening blind behind the slats, helping to blackout 99% off all light.

As well as providing complete blackout, our shutter and shade range offers complete privacy while blocking out all external noises – making them the ideal addition for bedrooms, nurseries and bathrooms.

In the morning, when you want to let the sun in, all you need to do is open the shutter panels and lift up the blackout blind.

What are my other options?

Blinds and curtains tend to let light in around the edges and sometimes through their fabric. However, plantation shutters without a blackout blind offer a greater level of darkness than both blinds and curtains.

If you wish not to choose our shutter and shade range, what plantation shutter option you pick will influence how blackout your windows are. Larger slats have a greater impact on blocking out light than smaller sizes. Solid panel shutters is also a great option for achieving almost complete blackout.

 

For more information on blackout plantation shutters for your home or to book your free no obligation in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Do Plantation Shutters Suit New-Build Properties?

Have you recently bought a new build property and looking to add your flair, making your house a home? Unsure whether plantation shutters will work with the exterior and interior of your new home? Worry not because plantation shutters work in all properties, old and new.

New-build shutters are bespoke

Plantation shutters are bespoke window coverings made to fit your windows. Whether your window is a sash, bay, dormer, or otherwise, your shutters will fit your window.

Many new build properties have a box bay window. Luckily, Totally Shutters have been dealing with all window types for many years, so you’re in safe hands.

Shutters are diverse

Plantation shutters are diverse, with a range of different styles to choose from. When thinking about new build window shutters, full height, tier-on-tier, and cafe-style shutters are all suited and boast unique benefits.

Different styles to choose from

We have a range of different styles, designs and colours to choose from, helping the plantation shutters blend in with the interior and exterior of your new-build property.

Most fixtures in new-build properties are white. However, that isn’t to say you’re restricted to white plantation shutters. We have lots of colours to choose from, and even offer a colour matching service, should you not find the right colour.

white-wooden-shuttersBoast a range of benefits

Modern homes are built to allow as much light as possible during the day. Plantation shutters offer full light control, meaning your days can be filled with sunshine while maintaining privacy, and your evenings as cosy as you like.

Plantation shutters for new-build properties boast a range of benefits. They have insulating properties to help keep the heat in and the cold out, saving money on energy bills. They’re also great for noise reduction, making them more than suitable for new-build homes.

 

For more information on plantation shutters or to book your free no obligation in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

2022 Home Improvements on a Budget

With utility bills rising, petrol increasing, and food prices soaring, home improvements may be the last thing on your mind. However, there are several cheap ways to improve your home without breaking the bank.

Refurbish your front door

The first thing you see when entering your home is the front door, so what better place to start? Over the years, elements can have a real effect, leaving it looking like it needs some TLC. Sanding the surface and applying a fresh coat of paint can leave your door looking brand new.

Repaint your interior doors

Another quick home improvement win is repainting your interior doors, cabinets and wooden furniture. With a quick lick of paint and some varnish, you can breathe new life into your home in no time.

Update your rugs

Changing your flooring is expensive and time-consuming – so why not add a throw rug that can help add another dimension and brighten up your room. A stair runner can also help improve the look of your stairs too.

Upgrade your window coverings

Plantation shutters are an investment that can help you save money over the years. Not only do they add value to your property, but they help improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your utility bills. They make your home stylish from inside and out, allowing for greater light control, helping to brighten up your home while maintaining privacy.

For more information on plantation shutters or to book your free no obligation in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Do Plantation Shutters Increase Home Security?

Plantation shutters bring many great benefits to your home, such as they help to reduce energy bills, increase the value of your property, reduce outside noise and increase light control. But did you know that plantation shutters can increase your home security too?

Approximately one-fifth of all unwanted household entries are through a window. Knowing this, it’s important to make your windows as secure as possible. Here is how shutters can help provide you with the secure window coverings you’ve been looking for:

Robustness

Compared to blinds and curtains, plantation shutters are more solid and robust. They are fixed to your window recess and intended to be a permanent fixture. Intruders would have to be extremely clever to get past your plantation shutters and keep noise to a minimum so as not to disturb you or your neighbours.

Privacy

Plantation shutters give you complete control over how much light can enter your home and privacy levels. As such, potential thieves cannot peer into your home and see your valuables.

Security

Plantation shutters are bespoke, made-to-measure and can be installed anywhere in your home. This means you can secure every window and be safe in the knowledge that your home is safe and looks fantastic too.

For more information on plantation shutters for extra home security or to book your free no obligation in-house survey, call Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963. All plantation shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.