Shutters Buying Guide

Choose a style

The best place to start is how you want to use the window. Full height shutters are the simplest option, tier-on-tier gives you flexible privacy, café style covers the lower part for privacy, and solid panel is the one to choose if you want darkness.

Materials

Shutter materials vary in weight, finish and how well they cope with moisture. For kitchens and bathrooms, we'd point you towards a moisture-suited material. We'll talk through the options at your appointment, so there's no need to decide beforehand.

Louvres

Louvres are the angled slats that tilt to let light in. Wider louvres give a more open view out, while narrower louvres tend to suit smaller windows.

Practical checks

Before we recommend anything, we check a few practical things:

• Clearance: shutter panels open into the room, so window handles, sills, radiators and any existing blinds all need to be taken into account.
• Recess depth: the louvres need space to tilt, so the depth of the recess (the opening the window sits in) matters.
• Frames: shutters can be fitted inside or outside the recess, depending on the window.

Light and darkness

Louvred shutters won't fully black out a room, even when closed. If darkness matters — in a bedroom, for example — you can add a blind behind them, or choose solid panels.

Shutters room by room

The right shutter often depends on the room as much as the window. Here's how we usually think about it:

• Living rooms: full height shutters give a clean, tidy look, and tilting the louvres lets you soften the light on the TV without closing up completely.
• Bedrooms: tier-on-tier lets you keep the top open for light while the bottom stays closed for privacy. If you're a light sleeper, plan for a blind behind or solid panels from the start.
• Kitchens and bathrooms: steam and splashes are the main concern, so a moisture-suited material makes sense. Café style is popular here, covering the lower glass while leaving the top clear.
• Bays and doors: bays need each panel planned around the angles, and doors need shutters that open and close with them. See bay window shutters and French door shutters.

There's more on this on our shutters by room page.

Mistakes to avoid

Most of the problems we see with shutters come from a few simple oversights:

• Forgetting the handles: a window handle that sticks out can stop the louvres closing properly. This is easy to plan around, but only if it's spotted early.
• Choosing louvres on looks alone: wide louvres look striking, but on a small window they can feel heavy. It's worth seeing a sample against your own window.
• Expecting full darkness: as above, louvred shutters let some light through. If that matters, decide on a solution before you order rather than after.
• Not thinking about how you'll open the window: with tilt and turn windows (windows that tip inwards or swing open like a door), the shutter has to fold back fully first. We'll check this with you — see our guide to tilt and turn windows.

What happens at your appointment

We bring samples of materials, colours and louvre sizes to your home, so you can see them in your own light. We'll look at each window, talk through how you use the room, and point out anything that could affect the fit, such as a deep sill or a radiator underneath.

You don't need to have made any decisions beforehand. Plenty of people start with one room in mind and find a different style suits another window better once they see it in place.

We visit homes across Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Yarm and the rest of Teesside. To get started, request a free home appointment and we'll call you to arrange a convenient time.

Common questions

Are shutters worth it?

Shutters are a bigger decision than most blinds, but they give you privacy and light control in one, and there are no cords to tangle. They suit people who want a long-term, tidy finish and like being able to adjust the light without opening or closing everything.

Do shutters keep the heat in?

Closed shutters add a layer between the glass and the room, which can help a room feel less draughty on cold evenings. They aren't a substitute for good glazing, though, and solid panels will do more than louvred ones.

Can shutters go on any window?

Most windows can take shutters, including bays and many shaped windows. The main limits are recess depth, handles and how the window opens, which is why we check every window before recommending anything.

Are shutters easy to keep clean?

Yes. A regular dust with a soft cloth or a vacuum brush usually does the job. For more tips, see our care and maintenance guide.

Measuring and fitting

Shutters are made to measure, so accurate measuring is essential. We measure and fit every shutter, so you don't need to worry about getting it right — see window shutters.