Blinds vs Shutters
When it comes to blinds and shutters, which window treatment is the ideal solution for your Bluff City home? There’s only one way to find out: compare them!
Blinds are a traditional window treatment that have been covering windows in Bluff City for as long as memory serves. And shutters are a modern window treatment that has exploded in popularity in the past 20 years. Let’s explore how these two window treatment veterans go up against each other when it comes to durability, energy efficiency, cleaning, special window shapes, and home resale value.
Styles
Blinds come in metal, hardwood, faux wood, and vertical styles. With more than 300 colors and textures to pick from, blinds allow you to match your window treatments to your style –right down to the pattern.
Plantation shutters are available in Polywood® and Ovation® wood. We offer Polywood in three premium white paint colors – and a custom paint color program for hues of beige, yellow, and grey. Ovation wood shutters come in 28 wood stains and 11 paint colors.
Durability
When properly maintained, blinds last an average of 5 years. However, shutters can last more than 50 years.
Energy Efficiency
When closed, the thin slats on blinds can’t block much of the airflow and heat from outside. But shutters, with their thick louvers and tailored mounting, seal off the influence of the external climate. Actually, Polywood plantation shutters insulate up to 70% better than comparable traditional wood shutters – and 1600% better than aluminum blinds!
Cleaning
Dusting the thin slats of blinds can be challenging – especially with the cords that run through from top to bottom. When plantation shutters are installed with a hidden or rear-mount tilt rod, just tilt the large louvers back with your hand and wipe the louvers, unobstructed.
Special Window Shapes
Traditional blinds can only fit rectangular-shaped windows, not arched, circular, octagonal, or triangular windows. And blinds would only hide the beautiful window you fell in love with when you bought the house, anyway. Shutters, however, can be custom-made to fit your windows just right, regardless of their shape, letting you have access to the view and control over privacy – while enhancing your specialty-shaped windows’ charm.
Home Resale Value
When your home is estimated for resale, all the permanent fixtures are examined. Blinds can be moved from one house to another, but shutters are custom-installed and become part of your windows and home. Actually, they add value to your home not only by being a permanent asset, but also by being an energy-efficient one!
We summed up the differences between blinds and shutters in this table for you. Picking between the two window treatments depends on your style, your windows, and your budget.
|
| Blinds | Shutters |
| Styles | Metal, Hardwood, Faux Wood, Vertical | Polywood and Ovation Wood |
| Durability | Last about 5 years | Last 50+ years |
| Energy Efficiency | Minimum | Maximum |
| Cleaning | Difficult | Easy |
| Special Window Shapes | N/A | Customizable to fit any window shape |
| Home Resale Value | No effect | Increases home resale value |
Between Blinds and Shutters, Which Is the Perfect Solution for You?
It comes down to personal preference. And, when you’ve decided, we’ll be here to walk you through the process of designing them for your windows. Call us at 276-685-5343 or fill out the form below to schedule your free in-home consultation today!
