Shutters vs Curtains

[mustincreasebust]

We have 2 huge bay windows in our living room and main bedroom which are single glazed. The windows are slightly knackered but periody looking. They need work but as we live in a conservation area the cost of replacing them is a bit prohibitive for the next few years.

Can anyone share their experiences and reflect on the pros and cons of shutters for single glazed windows? I like the way they look but I am worried about keeping heat in during the winters.

are you talking about slatted or solid?

Why not have both? You could have double/triple thermal lined curtains but hook them back mostly then use on colder nights etc. I have venetian blinds and curtains, the curtains are more 'decorative' but usable. My mother has a bay and has her curtains going across the front of it if that makes sense, but it's easy enough with rods from the ceiling etc. to have them going round the bay.

HerHonesty, slanted are ones we are looking at.

Envelope Duvet, never thought about having both tbh, my main worry will be cost. We are doing up the whole house so on a bit of a budget. I suppose if we ended up going for curtains we can always plan on getting shutters in a couple of years.

Must - I had someone in to give me a price for shutters on my large bay window. The price they quoted was about the same price as a new window.

Can you sew? My mum is making me some but if you can sew (I can, but mum is really good) curtains are about the easiest things to knock up, just sewing in straight lines. Lining is cheap (few £ a metre then you can choose the one you want - so in your case really thick thermal) and fabric can be too (if you avoid big brands - I got a 'copy' of laura ashley £25pm fabric on ebay for £6.50 pm).

Hello
I have draughty single glazed period windows
We have illfitting original solid wood shutters - they are good for security and do keep some heat in but we have to have one of those sausage dog things underneath the shutters of our french doors in winter (barely open the shutters in winter tbh) and I would like some curtains as well tbh but the framing of the window means that poles/tracks are a nightmare to fit.
Solid shutters look nice and do some good to keep the warmth in but I think a good pair of well fitted/lined curtains might be better - and is also a softer look.
HTH

envelope duvet - how did you find a copy of LA fabric on ebay? I am looking for some fabric

Well, not a copy as such - it was only red gingham so easy to find Just do a few differnet searches and alot of same style type things come up (I liked a Cath Kidston stripe fabric, put in stripe fabric and found something quite similar). Curtain poles can be fitting from the ceiling too, mums bay window went up to the ceiling bar abit of frame, so impossible to fit tracks or poles there. I think you can get tracks too for the ceiling, but I am a pole person Globaltex do alot of fabric (which is one of the ones I am going for) and it's that kinda 'vintage' laura ashley feel (ie. chintz ) Actually, you can often get vintage laura ashley fabric too from ebay (I have a 'thing' for the 90's LA!)

I had a quote from sandersons for slatted shutters for my bay window.

Lovely, but my oh my the price was ££££££

We still havent got anything up at the windo w!!

we have slanted on a bay window. not sure how much it really keeps the heat in, marginally i am sure. however if you think you may change your windows eventually then dont put up shutters, asn you will have to pay to take them out and put them in again.

also on a big bay shutters would be at least 1k.

Slatted shutters are very expensive, even DIY shutters which you have to measure up for and fit yourself.
They are not great for adding insulation, solid shutters are much better for that...

You could have your windows repaired and draft-proofed whcih will help keep the warmth in and is much much less expensive than having them replaced.

Roman blinds (with thermal lining) are a cheaper option than curtaind and I also found these blinds on a recent internet search which may be good for you
www.tuiss.co.uk/features/energy-saving-blinds

HerHonesty, doh why didn't I think of what would happen if I changed the windows!!

Pannacotta, thanks for the link to the blinds, I will see if they would work on bay windows.

Thanks all, you lot are super.