Shutters - why?

Shutters should be on the outside, not the inside, like in Europe. It stops the sun from hitting the glass window and heating the room up.

Had our plantation shutters put in two weeks ago
Our cat launched herself out of the top bedroom window the other year
All through the summer we were bloody sweating so she couldnt get out
And bring back presents at night

She's very unhappy now but we can leave windows open and she's safe

It's too late to save me now but please do enlighten us on how knowledge of thermodynamics should inform our choice of window covering. Here I was, basing it all on practicality like an idiot 🙄

To me, louvred shutters on the interior of windows scream “I have money but I know absolutely nothing about thermodynamics”.

I love shutters. They look lovely and increase privacy.

I really don't get this obsession with houses with 'lots of light'.

But then I hate summertime and general sunshine so what would I know 😂

May I be nosey and ask how much yours cost for your front room? Do you have a bay window?

B@Revelatio Same! I have to wear an eye mask as though I love our shutters they are rubbish at keeping light out as in ‘black out’.

Flexibility. You can angle sections of a bay window shutter differently to stop glare from direct sunlight while still letting in plenty of light. Love ours.

Just an upscale version of blinds

Yes, the rooms are light inside. You angle them to stop people seeing but you can see out and the light still comes through.
Shutters are great, especially where you look out on a street (better than some naff net curtain) or in a sunny room where you can angle sun out, keeping the room cool but light.

They might have a velux in the room and as others have said, can be tilted to allow light in, but appear shut from outside.

Lack of light would drive me insane
Are you ok OP? I'm sure the occupants aren't crawling around their house on hands and knees feeling around in the dark! You seem to have an obsession with THEIR shutters and light! Get a hobby that doesn't involve spying on your neighbours 😆.

They’re used as a modern alternative to net curtains. You angle them so people can’t see in but plenty of sun light shine downwards into the room.

Not everyone likes their house to be light and bright. I have a friend who much prefers dark rooms - partly for TV/gaming reasons as mentioned above, partly because they find bright light overwhelming. She says she'd love to live in a cave or basement! I love light and bright houses, but she's made me realise that not everyone does.

You can tilt them so you can see out but no one can see in. Even if it’s dark outside and you have little lamps on inside. Ours are white so they look beautiful.

Tilt them one way they let heat out and the room stays cool, tilt the other way and heat stays in.

Nice and dark in the summer when the sun rises at 4am.

So easy to clean.

Best thing we’ve bought for our home

Could be shift workers.

Privacy mainly. We live in an Edwardian terrace house in London. I don’t find the shutters dark, but they’re on the road face of the house. We have loads of plants and they’re so healthy they are definitely getting enough light.

We both work during the week, then we’re usually out most of the weekend, or in the garden, or in the extended kitchen/dining room so we only really spend our time in the sitting room and our bedroom (both on the front of the house) when it’s dark out anyway. The house stays lovely and cool in the summer.

Edit: they’re actually pretty crap at keeping the light out. I have to wear an eye mask to bed otherwise I get woken up too early!!

I adore the style of them. Every home I have been in that has them - always look stylish and amazing.

We have them at the back of our house, south westerly facing, gets very hot, you tilt them so the sun doesn’t come in but you can see out, have them in DD’s room, she has a dust mite allergy so they can be cleaned on a regular basis, much better than dusty curtains. I like them but they are serving a purpose like any other blind, ours are also coming up to 16 years old, and still look good as new. If our next house suits them I’d invest again.

Yes, room is light inside.

You can have them angled at a slight slant which looks closed from outside but actually lets in plenty of light, certainly enough natural light to not need the lights on during the day.

The rooms are darker but we have big windows so they were overly well lit to start with. I wouldn't put them at the back of the house where the rooms are already a bit dark.

Also as pp said you can tilt them to allow light in but they may look closed to you.

Useful on a hot day as well to keep the heat out.

Some illnesses we enjoy the dark. Could be sunlight and other things also

I have shutters, they are so practical. I have large sash windows & if I wanted to watch tv during the morning I would have to close the curtains as the sun was too bright. I like being able to control light & privacy eg in my bedroom I never open the bottom but always the top.