Blinds, curtains or shutters??

[BellMcEnd]

I'm turning to the combined wisdom of mumsnet as quite frankly I've bored everyone in my immediate and extended family. We're in the process of renovating our very dilapidated 1930s semi. At the moment we're concentrating on the living room. It's not a massive room and is west facing but has a big bay window. We live on a wide quiet road so we're overly concerned with privacy.

My question is do we go for Roman blinds in a heavy, neutral linen, white wooden shutters or traditional curtains on a pretty metal pole? I love the look of shutters but I'm a bit concerned they'll block a lot of light plus they're mega popular at the mo - will they look dated in 5 years or so? I like blinds but do they feel a bit chilly in the winter? Curtains are great but we've always had them so I'm wondering if a change would be good......

I keep going round in circles - I'm beginning to annoy myself let alone anyone else.

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Curtains all the way!

Curtains in a 30s house. I too hate shutters and they are out of keeping with a house of the period. Bay windows were designed to let maximum light in. Putting shutters up goes against the design ethos.

Thank you so much, Mintyy and Wow. That's so helpful. I think you've made my mind up and curtains it shall be . Very interesting about the 1930s bay window design.

I agree with Wow, that obviously times change and interior fashions evolve, but it is nice to have a nod to the original style of the house in your interior design.

Which is why I could scalp the previous owners of our Victorian house who removed not only the fireplaces but also the chimney breasts.

Plantation shutters have come from where exactly?

Yup, we've had the same problem here: a previous owner ripped out the chimney breast in the living room but instead of taking it out entirely left about 3 foot of it flapping in the breeze from the ceiling . The surveyor nearly had a coronary when he saw it. We've had to have the whole lot removed and an RSJ put in to stop the whole house from falling down. Why? Why??!

In our previous house we had a 5 pane bay window, and had individual Roman blinds - they looked lovely, gave privacy and blocked out the light well. I just found it such a pain to have to wind up the cords (all 5 of them) each day as I couldn't leave them hanging down with little children around (dangerous!).

I have plantation shutters (in a modern house) primarily because we need privacy on the lower panes. We've had them 7 years and not got sick of them - they're about the most neutral things in the room. I couldn't have had blinds (it's a kitchen/diner and I want to be able to wash everything in it so have cotton curtains and these shutters). I don't even see them anymore and I do not feel they block light but it is a bright room with east, south and west facing windows (so maybe they do but the light is seeping in elsewhere to compensate.)

I like plantation shutters but wouldn't have them in a 1930s house.

Really dislike blinds.

Curtains will make the place look warm and homely and so they get my vote

We went for curtains! I'll try to post a link / picture but I'm rubbish at that sort of thing. They're Scion curtains from John Lewis and are properly lovely . Thanks loads for all of your advice. Ooooo! Photo may have worked. Let's see (ignore tantrumming toddler and the fact that curtains need taking up a bit which my lovely friend is going to do)

It worked!!!!