With climate change at the forefront of people’s minds, more and more people are opting for eco-friendly products for their home, reducing their carbon footprint and making the world a better place one item at a time.

Recycle and Reuse

One of the most effective ways to help the environment is to re-use and recycle as much as possible. If you’re looking for a new furniture piece, heading to the local charity to see what treasures you can uncover is a great way to be environmentally friendly.

eBay and Gumtree are also great ways to find a second-hand piece of furniture at a bargain price. Many items can be upcycled to look brand new and fit your interior style. Similarly, if you’re replacing furniture, complete the cycle by selling or donating the pieces.

Choose Paint Wisely

When it comes to painting your home, choose a paint that is chemical-free or that has low VOC (volatile organic compounds) contents. VOC can release toxins into your homes for years after the paint has been applied, which is not only bad for the environment but for health too. More and more paint companies are making paint with a lower VOC, just look for “low-VOC” on the label.

Decorate with Plants

Decorate your home with house plants. House plants are natural humidifiers, soaking up any harmful toxins and pollutants, purifying your air. You and your home will be better for it, so why not add some to every room in the home.

Invite the Natural Light In

Having the right lighting in a home can make a huge difference to the feel of a room. If your homes foundation allows, consider knocking out smaller windows to create larger windows. Add double or triple glazing to the windows to help keep the heat in during the winter, saving on your energy bill.

Free your windows from heavy curtains or blinds that are blocking out the beautiful light from the outside and consider plantation shutters. Shutters keep privacy in the home while still letting in the natural light.

For more information on the eco-friendly benefits of 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.

On the Totally Shutters blog, we talk a lot about plantation shutters. But if you’re new to shutters, this terminology that we use to describe technical specifications and different shutter designs maybe a little confusing. This guide will introduce you to some of the key terms to help you with your window covering research:

Panel

A panel is a frame hinged to the window area which swings open like a door to expose the window. The panel is where slats are located in full-height, tier-on-tier and cafe style shutters.

Slat/louvre

A shutter slat or louvre is the small pieces of wood that sit in the shutter panel. Slats are operated by using the tilt rod or by pushing a single slat which is clipped to an internal cog mechanism. Slats control how much light enters the room.

Tilt rod

A tilt rod is a wooden stick attached to the front of the shutter panels, used to control the tilt angle of slat sections. You can either choose to opt for a tilt rod or an internal cog mechanism.

Rail

There are two rails on every shutter panel, located above and below the slats. A divider rail may also be added, particularly on large windows. Rails give support to the panel and any optional extras such as locks.

Frame

The frame is where the plantation shutter attaches to the windows on their surrounds. Various framing styles are available, but your shutter specialist will tell you in your free in-house survey what option will be best for your window type.

Divider rail

The divider rail is sometimes used for decorative purposes to align the window divide, or for structural support on particularly large panels. The location usually depends on any divides in the window.

For more information on our 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.

For homeowners looking for a new window dressing for their home or office, here are five reasons to buy plantation shutters from Totally Shutters:

Our Extensive Experience

With over fifteen years of experience, our team of shutter specialists have a wealth of knowledge in measuring, crafting and installing plantation shutters. You can rest assured your new window dressings are in safe hands and will be exactly what you envisioned.

Our FREE In-House Survey

We offer a free, no obligation in-house survey to all of our customers in London and surrounding areas. As part of the in-house survey, we will come to your home at a time that suits you, armed with shutter samples to help you decide which plantation shutter is right for you. We will also measure your windows and provide an accurate quotation.

Stylish and Practicality Benefits

No window dressing comes close to plantation shutters in terms of style and practicality. With plantation shutters, you have total control over how much light enters your home and privacy levels. Plantation shutters also add kerb appeal to your home, helping increase your property price.

Wide Range of Finishes Available

As well as having full height, tier-on-tier, solid panel and cafe style plantation shutter styles, we also have a wide range of materials, paints and stained finishes available. If we don’t have the colour you had in mind, we also offer a custom colour service.

Measured, Fitted and Installed Around You

Our shutters team works around you and your schedule. We will measure your shutters, fit and install them at a convenient time for you.

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For more information on the benefits of our 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.

Curved bay windows are perfect for inviting maximum sunshine into your home. If you have curved bay windows, you will want to dress them in the most practical, stylish solution. Bay window shutters offer many benefits and advantages over other types of window coverings.

Advantages of curved bay window shutters

• Maximum sunlight: with bay window shutters, you gain so much versatility as you have full control over how much sunlight gets in, ideal for filling your home with natural light.
• Complete privacy: just as you have total control over how much sunshine enters your home, you can also block the view from outside of your home by adjusting the slats.
• Aesthetics: plantation shutters look incredible when installed on curved bay windows, giving your home curb appeal. Curved bay shutters provide a timeless look that complements the window’s features.
• Made-to-measure: just with all plantation shutters, there are so many options available for bay window shutters when it comes to style, size and colour, giving you a bespoke result that is tailor-made to you and your home.

Why Totally Shutters?

Our team of shutter specialists have over 15 year’s experience in crafting, manufacturing and installing curved bay windows and homes around the UK. We make each shutter to your exact specifications. Everything is measured flawlessly, chosen to meet your style and requirements, and then installed to perfection.

We understand that life can be busy, that’s why we offer our free, no obligation in-house survey, and we come to your home at a time that suits your schedule.

For more information on curved bay window 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.

With an extra day off this weekend, you might be thinking about taking on a traditional spring clean and get your home bright and fresh ready for summer. Here are some top tips to help you undertake your spring clean this bank holiday Monday:

Make a plan of action

Before you start your spring clean, it’s a good idea to make a plan so you’re working efficiently as possible. Perhaps by tackling one room at a time or breaking the cleaning up by task. Whatever your method, it may be useful to break down each job to ensure no cleaning goes missed.

Keep motivated with a soundtrack

If you’re taking on the bulk of the clean yourself, then you’ll want to make sure that you have some motivational tracks to keep you going throughout your day. Podcasts and music are a great way to help you power through your tasks and keep you entertained.

Choose your tools

You might need some extra cleaning tools for a spring clean. It is worth researching beforehand to see what multi-cleaners you could opt for to save buying numerous products, and their suitability to avoid damaging your surfaces.

Don’t forget your shutters

When taking on your spring clean, it’s easy to forget your window dressing, so don’t forget to add them to your spring clean checklist. To keep your plantation shutters looking brand new, give them a wipe down with a cloth.

For more information on cleaning your window 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.

The kitchen is often the heart of the home, a place for gathering and conversation as beautiful foods created.

According to a survey commissioned by Belling, we spend three hours a day in the kitchen, which shows how integral it is to the British family home. The research reveals that on average, we renovate our kitchens every seven years.

If the kitchen is an integral part of your home life, here are three reasons why you should consider kitchen plantation shutters as your window treatment:

They are easy to maintain

The average kitchen window treatment collects an enormous amount of grime each year. Curtains, nets and fabric blinds absorb moisture and can quickly get dirty from food splashes, grease and dirt. These also hold on to cooking smells, which are not always pleasant.

Kitchen shutters are the easiest window treatment to maintain, requiring an occasional wipe now again to remove the build-up of dirt.

They optimise energy efficiency

A benefit of kitchen plantation shutters is that they provide efficient heat insulation. They create a barrier to keep the cold of winter from sneaking indoors, ideal for making breakfast on a brisk winter morning.

Kitchen plantation shutters are the best window dressing for keeping draughts out and keeping the heat generated by your stove or radiator in, effectively helping to reduce energy bills.

They improve privacy and control the amount of light

If your kitchen is street facing and you’re hoping to enhance your privacy, plantation shutters are the perfect solution for you. With kitchen shutters, privacy will no longer be a problem during the day when you want to let natural light in. You can tilt the louvres at an angle, and passers-by will no longer be able to see into your kitchen.

For more information on kitchen 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.

Stylish and practical, tier on tier plantation shutters are a popular choice for homeowners looking to achieve the perfect look for the interior of their property. With a wide range of configuration and style options, there’s a look for every interior taste.

A popular configuration option, tier on tier plantation shutters feature two shutter panels, one on top of the other. They are mounted in the whole window, allowing the top and bottom halves to open independently. Tier on tier plantation shutters is a notably popular choice for windows where a lot of flexibility in their daily use, such as the living room or road facing windows.

Here are four reasons our clients love our tier on tier plantation shutters:

Better light control and enhanced privacy

Tier on tier plantation shutters let the natural sunlight in during the day while maintaining privacy levels. By keeping the top tier open and the bottom panel closed, you don’t need to sacrifice privacy to optimise the light in your home.

Versatility

Despite the interior design style, tier on tier plantation shutters are a versatile window dressing that look great in any property, period or modern. Whatever your home, shutters will enhance your interior and exterior decor, adding kerb appeal and value to your house.

Added security

Tier on tier Plantation shutters add an extra layer to your window, making it harder to break into your home. Also, as your privacy levels are enhanced, tier on tier plantation shutters prevent thieves from peering into your home.

Perfect fit

Unlike already made alternatives, plantation shutters are bespoke and made-to-measure your exact window measurements. If you choose the Totally Shutters team, you can rest assured that the quality and fit of your tier on tier shutters is perfect every time.

For more information on tier on tier 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.

Many homeowners who are on the fence about investing in plantation shutters are unsure whether the window covering is worth the investment.

Our existing customers have rated us five stars on Trustpilot, with feedback constantly revolving around how shutters have improved their homes through practicality and style. Plantation shutters are a real investment, adding kerb appeal and value to each home and property, here’s why:

Are plantation shutters worth the money?

The simple answer, yes. Although shutters are more expensive than curtains and blinds, they are bespoke, made to measure and constructed using the finest quality, long-lasting hardwood. Further, they are designed to cater to your exact requirements and design taste, with a large selection of styles, materials and colours available.

By being a more permanent addition to your home, plantation shutters become a part of your interior style and add value to your property as they are considered part of the fixtures and fittings. They add kerb appeal to your home and their simplicity is appealing to buyers.

As plantation shutters are made from solid hardwood, they add a layer of insulation between the outside world and your home. Made to measure and fitted securely to your window or door frame, they block draughts that can penetrate curtains or blinds, reducing heat loss and also your energy bills.

Another positive about plantation shutters is how they are long-lasting and will effortlessly blend in with different interior styles across the years.

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