What is the Best Treatment for Small Windows?

Sidelight windows or long, thin windows are often added to hallways and living rooms to artfully add illusion. However, if you have sidelight windows or small windows, you may be left wondering what window covering is best to stop sun glare, heat loss and privacy. Don’t fear, we’ve got you covered.

Avoid treatments that obscure the window’s use

Most of the time, small windows have a specific use. When situated high in the room, a small square window brings light into the room without compromising the structure. Whereas, sidelight windows around a door add light into the entryway and let you see who’s at the door.

You don’t want a window treatment that is ill-fitting or covers the entire window. Ideally, your window treatment should be able to let you see outside while keeping privacy levels high and let in the sun while blocking out the light when glare is bad.

Use plantation shutters for small windows

Small windows will benefit from a treatment that is custom-made. As plantation shutters are custom-made, they will fit snugly in small windows. Plantation shutters accentuate the uniqueness of your windows by letting sun flow through while complimenting the house they were built for.

With plantation shutters, you can shut the louvres to avoid the sun’s glare or to let sunlight in while maintaining privacy levels. With shutters, you can dress all windows with the same shutter style to make the entire room look cohesive.

 

Totally Shutters can help you find the right made-to-measure shutters for your small or big windows. As part of our in-house survey, our experts will come to your house and take measurements of your windows. Call 0203 960 6963 for more information on our shutter blinds. All shutter blinds from Totally Shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

Plantation Shutter Myths Exposed

The Totally Shutters team spend a lot of time talking to homeowners about plantation shutters, and we hear the same myths about shutter blinds over again. So we wanted to set the record straight and expose the most common myths about plantation shutters so you can make the best window covering choice for your home:

MYTH: shutters are expensive

It’s true, shutters are not the cheapest window covering option on the market but unlike blinds and drapes that have a short life-cycle, shutters are a permanent addition to your home. Shutters add value to your property and come with multiple benefits; they’re energy efficient and proven to lower your energy bills. Taking these benefits into consideration, shutters are an investment rather than an expense.

MYTH: shutters are easy to DIY

There are several home projects that you can complete in a single weekend, but installing shutters may not be one of them. Putting in new shutters can be tricky, and if the process isn’t done right, you could end up with crooked shutters and frequent draughts. At Totally Shutters we do offer a DIY discount, however, we only recommend this to experts.

MYTH: shutters are for older homes

Maybe the name “plantation shutters” lead people to believe that shutters are for period properties but this certainly isn’t true. While shutters were used in homes stretching back decades, their crisp, versatile and stylish appeal allow them to fit in with all types of properties.

MYTH: shutters and blinds are the same

For some reason, some people believe shutters and blinds are the same. Blinds and shutters couldn’t be further apart. Shutters are a solid structure that attaches to the window whereas blinds dangle from a cord. Blinds are temporary and can deteriorate after 3-5 years while shutters are permanent and can easily last 20+ years.

 

If you have a few questions about plantation shutters that you would like answering, or would like to book your free, no obligation in-house survey, contact Totally Shutters today on 0203 960 6963.

Plantation Shutters Are Ideal For City Homes

If you live in the city, you will be familiar with unwanted noise, bright streetlights and more often than not passers-by peering in. If you’re at the end of your tether with the pitfalls of city living, plantation shutters may be for you.

Here’s why shutter blinds are the best window solution for city homeowners:

Blocks out noise

Living in the city can be extremely noisy with cars, trains, planes and not to mention, loud pedestrians. But fitting plantation shutters can keep the noise transmitted through your windows to a minimum. As shutters from Totally Shutters are made-to-measure, fitting perfectly inside each frame, they filter even more noise.

Keeps privacy high

Sometimes, living on a busy street can mean pedestrians checking out your decor and noseying what you’re watching on the TV. Shutters allow the daylight to enter your room while obscuring the gaze outside. Simply by moving the slats of your shutters, you can control the light and privacy of your home.

Stops street light glare

Street lights outside your window can be a right pain, ruining the ambience of your home and disturbing the sleep of both adults and children. If this is a problem in your city home, shutters can block light effectively. And our shutter and shade range blacks out 99% of all external light.

Improves home security

As shutters provide an extra barrier at the window, something which blinds and curtains don’t, shutter blinds improve home security. What’s more, shutter slats can be angled to prevent potential intruders from checking out the contents of your home.

Retains value

Enhancing the value of your city home is important in today’s property market, and shutters add to your home’s kerb appeal while helping to increase the value of your home when it’s time to put your city pad on the market.

 

For more information on plantation shutters for your city home, or to arrange your free in-house survey, contact the Totally Shutters team today on 0203 960 6963. All shutters from Totally Shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.

5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Window Treatments

Blinds, curtains and drapes are a great way to spruce up your interior and keep light out. But if your window covering is outdated or worn, it can detract from the overall appeal of your interior.

When was the last time you looked at your window treatments? Chances are, they will need some tender loving care. Here are five signs to tell it’s time to replace your window coverings:

1. Discolouration

Your window covering’s prime responsibility is to retract sunlight. However, the sun ray’s will eventually fade the colour of your coverings, turning them a lighter shade or an unsightly hue of yellow. And, discoloured blinds can be due to material deterioration, meaning they’re losing their integrated structure. If your window treatments are discoloured, it’s time to replace them.

2. Broken or bent slats

Overexposure to heat and humidity can cause serious damage to your blinds. If your slats are warped or bent in appearance, it’s time to replace them.

3. Hard to control

If you’re struggling to open or close your blinds, your blind’s lifting mechanism may be damaged and could be close to breaking or collapsing at any moment, causing injury or damage to your windows. If your blinds are hard to control, to ensure the safety of everyone, it’s time to replace them.

4. Frayed cords

A frayed or broken cord can result in your blinds falling out of mounting. It’s important to inspect your blinds regularly for signs of excessive wear and fraying. If your blinds have frayed cords, it’s time to replace them.

5. They don’t fit

Window treatments offer full coverage both day and night, but if they’re not measured to fit the window space they’re not serving their function. If your window treatment doesn’t fit, it’s time to to replace them.

 

If these warning signs seem all too familiar, it’s time to replace and upgrade your window treatments. Unlike the other treatments, plantation shutters withstand the test of time while keeping energy bills down, adding value to your home and looking incredibly stylish. For more information on plantation shutters, call Totally Shutters today on 0845 299 7757. All shutters from Totally Shutters come with a 5-year guarantee.