Curtains or shutters?

[WhinyWitch]

Just moved house, desperately need one or the other. The windows are lovely and my husband thinks that shutters will hide them and restrict the light so he's not convinced. However, I like the uniformity of shutters and can't imagine how I'll choose curtains (what colour?!) for each room. So curtains sound like a lot of work. Price wise there doesn't seem to be much in it. If you have shutters are you happy? What did you choose if it was between shutters and curtains? Thank you!

I wouldn't put plantation-style shutters in a bedroom or anywhere I wanted darkness. They don't block enough light.

Curtains probably better for insulation.

Down to personal preference for look and style.

Have you looked at insta/Pinterest for examples on windows/rooms similar to yours?

Yes but I'm just so rubbish at styling and I think that's what puts me off curtains. For example, we have a really busy rug and mix of colours in the living room so lord knows what curtains id use. We also have radiators under the windows and I'm not keen on short curtains so that puts me off too

I have wood shutters with no slats. It helps with insomnia. My bedroom is small and they make the room look slightly larger.

I strongly dislike shutters on their own, and always feel they need to be paired with curtains anyway (largely because they don't block the light as PP said)

You can absolutely have long curtains with a radiator under the window, we have always done so.

If in doubt, go neutral for the curtains. Hang them high and wide so that they don't obstruct your beautiful windows when open. On a track works well for this and is less obtrusive into the room.

How about Roman blinds?

You must be me! Be aware that shutters come out more than blinds so the track needs to be adjusted to come out too. We managed it and the shutters with curtains look gorgeous. Light comes through all those closed slats which you won't appreciate in high summer

We have plantation shutters in our bedroom and they block the light completely .. there’s a street light out side as well. We have a curved bay which was a complete nightmare for curtain rails and wish we’d got them before as they are so much better.

Are those of you with shutters happy you got them? It's such an investment, I really want to be sure!

We did consider plantation shutters for the lovely blackout effect when needed, but wanted the privacy factor of shutters. I love being able to choose which shutter to close!

We've got plantation shutters in the bathroom, bedroom (two separate windows), and living room (one huge wide long window). Love them, and get lots of compliments about them.
They all shut out light completely.
The living room ones look gorgeous - it's a high ceilinged room with moulding detail around ceiling and window - curtains would have hidden that.
They weren't cheap, but neither would good curtains have been, and we'll never need to change them.

Great to hear. We have Georgian bars so I hope they'll go! I like the idea everything would be uniform. Did you find they made the room look darker/smaller?

I have these in an off white. They definitely don't need curtains

@WhinyWitch I'm excellent at styling (I think so anyway 😁) I would have shutters AND curtains! Curtains look cosier and provide an extra layer of insulation. You can leave them open most of the time and just use them when it's really cold. Shutters provide privacy, if plantation style, and extra security, especially if solid. I would have loved to have plantation shutters but couldn't afford to get both so went with curtains.
I suggest you get plain curtains, if that is what you choose, and add interest by the texture. And get a colour that will go with several colour schemes so that you can change your colour scheme without going to the expense of getting new curtains. That does not mean you have to go with a boring neutral, just a colour that you can envisage in lots of different combinations.

Thank you! I wish I could afford both but it'll definitely be either or :-)