Shutters, Blinds or Curtains? Help me decide please?

[MovingThisYearDefinitely]

We are moving into a new build house next week & will need window coverings for the entire house, just can't decide. Considering Shutters, but wondering if they may make rooms a bit dark because they're static, whereas blinds can be fully pulled up, but the negative being they don't fully exclude light as well as shutters would. Also the expense of Shutters is a consideration. Not ruling out curtains either. Would appreciate hearing your for & againsts for all & anything I haven't considered!

We had shutters installed 4 months ago. They're fab! We went for 76mm louvre because we wanted to maximise the light. Ours have hidden tilt rods. We had nets before, and the shutters definitely make the room lighter.

I have mostly Roman blinds, apart from wooden Venetians in one room. I wish I'd had shutters but I do have a Victorian house.

Think about what suits the style of your house. Also, think about warmth. I love the look of the wooden Venetians but wish I'd had curtains in that room as I think they'[d be warmer and it is the coldest room in the house.

Forgot to say, they don't fully exclude light.

It depends what you need them to do. I have mainly blinds and curtains together. The curtains give warmth and the blinds are more for light control.

Bathroom and kitchen we just have blinds.

Today we have had our bay measured up for blinds and we have gone for wooden venetian, there is also curtains across the bay.

I am leaning towards the Shutters really. They look so nice. Just not sure if we can swing it financially with everything else we need to buy, so trying to talk myself out of it perhaps? Do you mind telling me approx how much you paid skippy?

We paid £2400 for 3 windows. 2 bays and one smaller non bay.

Why not look at each room in turn and work out what's best? We have shutters in our bedroom as it faces the street and we wanted something to keep the light out at night but be able to just open half way in the morning when getting dressed. I wouldn't bother having them in my lounge though because you can't see in there from the street. We've got curtains in there which we only really draw in the winter. Have got a mixture of roller blinds and curtains in the kids rooms. Would love shutters in their rooms but can't afford them.

Thanks skippy. Yes, I think I will do that Anjelika. We will probably get someone out from one of the blind/shutter companies too to measure & price up. That will help us decide!

Blinds2go do shutters. I would put your measurements in, get a price and look around other shutter companies to see if it’s favourable. (That’s what I’m going to do)

Thanks Jane. Great idea. I didn't realise you could do that.

There's a company that do bloc blinds that totally black out the light for bedrooms. Our designer suggested you only ever use black backing to a blind or solid shutters as from outside then it's not noticeable if the blinds are open or closed . So more for security but helps with aesthetics too.

We have blinds all through. Love them! Very easy to clean.

For those that went for shutters, have you found much improvement in the warmth of the room?

I haven't noticed any improvement warmth wise.

@Myfutureisland - I think shutters made our bedroom less warm to be honest. I keep thinking about getting curtains too but we would only use them in the winter and they would make the window area look a bit cluttered.