Shutters vs. Blinds: Choosing the Best Window Treatment
Choose the perfect window treatment for your home. Many homeowners contrast shutters vs. blinds when planning their home decor. But what are the differences between shutters and blinds, and which solution should you choose? Let’s find out.
Differences Between Shutters and Blinds
The primary difference between shutters and blinds is their construction. Shutters are usually fixed to the sides of a window and swing open, sometimes folding to conserve space. Blinds hang from the upper part of the window and extend downward, offering more flexibility. Also, most shutters consist of wood or composite material, whereas blinds can be made of aluminum but are more commonly made out of wood or composite material.
Shutters and blinds both have their benefits and disadvantages. To understand the difference between each window treatment, you can check out the most prominent characteristics of each solution below.
Benefits of Shutters
Shutters offer several benefits to homeowners looking to improve the value and aesthetic appeal of their homes. Let’s review the main reasons millions of consumers purchase shutters for their homes.
1. Easy Maintenance
Unlike blinds, shutters offer the crucial advantage of easy cleaning. To maintain their appearance and condition, gently wipe the slats with a damp cloth every week. This effortless routine will give your shutters a neat, orderly look and provide you with extra time to relax.
2. Temperature Control
Installing wood shutters will create an extra barrier next to your glazing, decelerating heat transfer through the windows of your home or office. Improving insulation with shutters will result in a more comfortable living or working environment.
3. Privacy and Natural Light Control
Window shutters offer the freedom to customize how much light enters your room. In addition to natural light control, shutters also increase the privacy of your home, preventing any unwanted attention whenever you close them.
4. Improved Safety
High-quality shutters provide a quick, easy way to make your home more secure. They serve as an extra obstacle, making it difficult for intruders to break into your home or office and preventing theft.
5. Increased Home Value
Shutters stand out from most window treatments as a product that will increase the value of your home. Even if you have no plans to move anytime soon, investing in shutters will yield extra profit when you decide to sell your home.
Disadvantages of Shutters
Although shutters represent one of the best available window treatments, they still have minor drawbacks. The joys of owning shutters far outweigh the following disadvantages.
1. Challenging Installation
Installing shutters proves challenging, especially when dealing with window hardware that sticks out. To protect against potential harm, shutters should always be installed using strong screws, brackets, and hinges. This approach will also lengthen the lifespan of your shutters.
2. Limited Flexibility
Some shutters display limited flexibility because they remain fixed in one place, which restricts their functionality. However, manufacturers built them to last for a long time, allowing you to invest your money in other areas of your home instead of regularly replacing your window treatments.
3. High Cost
The high-quality design of window shutters commands a high price. While they may not rank as the priciest window coverings, shutters can cost four times more than blinds of the same size. Remember that choosing shutters is an investment. Homeowners with limited budgets tend to choose shutters only for their front elevations, hanging them on windows facing the street.
Benefits of Blinds
Blinds remain the best solution for homeowners who want a more affordable option for increasing the functionality from their window covering. Their flexibility and affordability make them popular for residential and commercial applications.
1. Easy Adjustability
Blinds offer adjustable style and functionality. This adjustability can improve the look and livability of homes with any architectural style. Customized blinds with cordless, motorized, or manual controls allow you to adjust light, privacy, and airflow, making them a versatile, practical solution for any room.
2. Wide Variety
You will have plenty of options when choosing blinds. Manufacturers make window blinds with various materials, colors, patterns, and textures, allowing you to match your blinds to your interior design or create a whole new look.
3. Affordability
Window blinds became popular because of their affordability. They represent a cost-effective option compared to other window treatments, such as shutters. In general, they are more budget-friendly to buy, install, and maintain, allowing homeowners to create stylish windows without spending a lot of money.
4. Child Safety
In the past, hanging cords posed a hazard to young children who did not grasp the danger of playing with blinds. Modern blinds have a cordless design that eliminates the risk of entanglement.
5. Simple Installation
With most blinds, installation takes a matter of minutes, not hours. A trained installer can set up blinds for your entire house in a single day. The simple installation procedure for blinds allows homeowners to save money on labor costs.
Disadvantage of Blinds
Although aluminum and fabric blinds offer several significant advantages, they also have a few drawbacks. Their lightweight construction makes them prone to the wind, and they sometimes take damage from slight knocks.
1. Wind Vulnerability
Blinds tend to rattle when subjected to wind, creating a minor disturbance. This effect also occurs due to wind from a fan or even a sudden change in air pressure. For a few homeowners, installing blinds in a bedroom might create issues because they can disturb your sleep if you leave the windows open during a balmy night.
2. Prone to Damage
Window blinds break easily, especially ones made of aluminum or plastic. Mishandling the cords or slats can affect the functionality and appearance of your blinds. Even a strong gust of wind can cause your blinds to flap and bend, potentially causing damage to them.
3. More Maintenance
Cleaning window blinds proves somewhat burdensome and laborious. Maintaining blinds requires diligent upkeep dedicated to each slat, which takes time and physical exertion. Modern blinds possess complex mechanisms that require a higher level of maintenance. Neglecting maintenance over an extended period will lead to parts wearing out or becoming jammed.
Cost Comparison: Shutters vs. Blinds
When shopping for shutters or blinds, the prices may vary depending on window size, installation fees, and any customizations. In general blinds command a lower price tag compared to shutters. You can find the average costs of the two window coverings below.
Shutters Average Cost per Window:
- Faux wood: $150 to $500
- PVC or Vinyl: $100 to $300
- Genuine wood: $300 to $750
Blinds Average Cost per Window:
- Vinyl: $11 to $250
- Aluminum: $25 to $125
- Synthetic: $25 to $90
- Faux wood: $50 to $250
- Natural wood: $150 to $350
Shutters and Blinds: What to Consider Before You Buy
Shutters and blinds are so different it’s hard to compare them unless you have owned both window treatments. Here are the things you should consider regarding looks, longevity, and maintenance.
Aesthetics
When deciding between blinds and shutters, you should consider the features that will enhance your everyday experience. You should also select the option that aligns with your taste, as it will reflect your personal style. Although window blinds and shutters share some similarities, their appearances remain distinct.
Durability
When comparing shutters and blinds, always consider their durability. Buying low-quality window blinds could lead to issues such as breakage, but choosing high-quality, wood blinds ensures long-lasting performance.
Shutters crafted with durable materials ensure maximum longevity. Proper installation will increase durability and shield your shutters against damage during regular use.
Maintenance
Cleaning blinds, especially ones with small slats, requires lots of time and attention to detail. It also takes patience and precision. Even with regular maintenance sun exposure often leads to the discoloration of brightly-colored window blinds.
On the other hand, shutters deliver an effortless cleaning experience with wide spaces between each louver and no cords to deal with. You can ensure these shutters remain attractive for a long time by regularly maintaining them.
What’s the Best Choice for You? Bumble Bee Blinds
Select the ideal window treatment for your home: shutters or blinds. Our team of experts can help you make a well-informed decision. Contact Bumble Bee Blinds today at (888) 541-1030 to schedule a consultation.