Will shutters be dark?

[mynamechangemyrules]

I am slowly doing up my 1930s home on an extremely tight budget. Each room has needed full stripping, re-plastering or at least skimming and painting plus floors done. Did the front room/ sitting room/ lounge 18 months ago and haven’t decided on window coverings since 😳

I've always wanted shutters, originally was worried about privacy, but now I’ve survived 18 months I’ve realised a) my front garden means I’m far from sight b) my under front window hedges give privacy spring to autumn.

Got a quote from a local firm and although obviously more expensive than blinds or curtain I fit myself, they are relatively reasonable.

However, my parents and a couple of friends have said shutters really block out the light even when open. This is a bay so the company have designed it that they can be folded back to just the side windows to open up to the light, but it’s not possible to have the windows fully uncovered like you could with other window coverings.

i just can’t make up my mind and I need to make a decision soon!

1930s house here with shutters, doesn’t make it dark at all! We love them! Way better than curtains or other blind options imho.

Are your friends thinking of the same type of shutters you are?

I grew up in Victorian and Georgian homes with lovely wooden folding shutters. They all folder back into the window reveal, so no light blocked during the day at all. In dark/cold/winter they really do block out the world in a nice way.

My sister still refers to her new fitted to the window pane 'slatted blinds' as shutters....and yes they do really block out light.

Yes- mine are ‘slatted wooden blinds’ really I would say- not the full panel wood ones. They do fold back though but cover one pane always, out of 5.

My DM’s shutters make her front room very dark. You ca fold them back but it’s a pain to do so, so there’s always something over the window even when the shutters are on the ‘open’ position.

I’d avoid.

We have them in our current 30’s house and they were also in our previous Victorian terrace. They don’t make it dark when they are tilted open. The metal Venetian blinds we had before did make it dark. With the white shutter blinds the space between them is much bigger and allows more light in when tilted open, also the whiteness of the wooden slats bounces more light around the room. I wouldn’t have them in a room that has a lovely view but otherwise I thoroughly recommend them.

No they dont make the room dark at all
Not even when fully "closed" due to gaps that let in light
Wouldn't advise the big company that has a girl's name; small, local companies seem to have the best reviews

Yes def use a local company. And if you need to replace your windows soon, do it before having the shutters fitted, not after!

Have had shutter blinds on two houses now and really love them.

As a PP said, they don't actually cut out all the light so we pair them with heavy curtains for total blackout (also gives a softer look).
We have tall windows so the top third tilts separately, you can leave them open and just tilt the lower ones for privacy.
Had bifold ones in our previous house which could be folded back but in this house (with even larger windows) we went for separately hinged ones that sit in a frame.
Used a local company and have been very pleased.