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Shutter advice please!

10 replies

WinterGold · 30/08/2025 15:08

We currently have vertical blinds (pulled to one side in the photo) which I absolutely hate, and am looking for some new ideas. I don’t want curtains and am thinking of either plantation shutters to match those on the other windows of the room or those blinds that go within the sealed unit.

My dilemma is; as my existing shutters are white, would they look odd against the dark surround of the door and/or would the sealed unit blinds also look mismatched with the plantation shutters?

Shutter advice please!
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StreetStrife · 30/08/2025 15:21

I'm a big fan of shutters but I don't think I'd put them there, on an internal sliding door. They'll be in the way when they're open, and potentially block quite a lot of light which it looks like the room needs.

In frame blinds would look better and be more functional - as long as they still allow you to slide the door. It looks like they might block that. Maybe it would work on the other side of that door though, but a bit of a clunky solution. Blinds in the glass unit would also be good but I always worry about them breaking and being so expensive to replace.

Personally I'd go for a very lightweight curtain, given that it's an internal door. Possibly even a voile weight.

WinterGold · 30/08/2025 15:26

@StreetStrife Thank you - I hadn’t considered a voile curtain. In the past we’ve had “traditional” curtains, and you’re correct, because of the conservatory, the room can be dark and they just added to the gloom.
The living room is mainly used in the evenings anyway, so voiles might be the ideal compromise.

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Bluevelvetsofa · 30/08/2025 15:50

I would have said in frame too, but for the fact that it might impede the sliding doors. I think voiles are a good idea.

Beachtastic · 30/08/2025 15:51

I'd go for curtains too. What I learned quite recently about making curtains look nicer is that you need to hang them quite close to the ceiling and very wide of the window, so that when open they don't obstruct any of the window. It can actually make the room look bigger. I've done this wrong for years!

Advocodo · 30/08/2025 16:04

WinterGold · 30/08/2025 15:08

We currently have vertical blinds (pulled to one side in the photo) which I absolutely hate, and am looking for some new ideas. I don’t want curtains and am thinking of either plantation shutters to match those on the other windows of the room or those blinds that go within the sealed unit.

My dilemma is; as my existing shutters are white, would they look odd against the dark surround of the door and/or would the sealed unit blinds also look mismatched with the plantation shutters?

Just interested in why you hate the vertical blinds as I was thinking of getting them for my French windows.

LibertyLily · 30/08/2025 16:39

Another vote for voiles and as @Beachtastic said, hang them as wide/high as possible to maximise light/make windows and indeed the room itself appear larger.

Definitely lose the awful vertical blinds which imo should only be used in an office situation.

WinterGold · 30/08/2025 17:00

LibertyLily · 30/08/2025 16:39

Another vote for voiles and as @Beachtastic said, hang them as wide/high as possible to maximise light/make windows and indeed the room itself appear larger.

Definitely lose the awful vertical blinds which imo should only be used in an office situation.

So, outside of the window recess then?

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user1471538283 · 31/08/2025 09:01

I've got nearly linen weight curtains ceiling to floor on my french doors in the lounge. But I love the misty light that comes through voile curtains.

Ceiling to floor curtains have been a revelation and I've got them in the bedrooms as well. I used a track at the ceiling rather than a curtain pole.

WinterGold · 31/08/2025 09:42

Thank you for all replies - these are really useful and got me thinking in a completely different direction.

@user1471538283 What sort of fitting do you recommend for voiles please?

@Advocodo Ive just fallen out of love with my vertical blinds. They weren’t the standard straight slat ones, these have a gentle curve with an embossed fabric, which makes them look less “industrial” but my pets constantly trample around in them when looking through the glass and break the beaded links.

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