Beautiful, practical window shutters are the perfect way to dress any home offering privacy with a touch of timeless elegance; these stunning additions also provide light control from sunny rooms as well! But before you spend this investment, there are a few things that you must keep in mind to ensure it’s the perfect choice for your home and lifestyle.
- Your Budget
Often amongst the most expensive options on the market, they tend to last much longer than either curtains or blinds and can also potentially add value to your property. Prices range from very expensive to affordable depending on your material, size and style choice. Plantation shutters made from wood are typically the most expensive option, while vinyl or composite materials offer a less costly alternative that still looks fantastic. Don’t forget to also consider the cost of shutters themselves and professional installation, in order to have a more accurate view of your overall investment. For Gloucester Window Shutters, visit https://theshuttermarkets.co.uk/shutters-near-me/gloucester/
- Material Matters
Your choice of material will affect how good your shutters look but also how long they last. Wood shutters look exquisite and provide great insulation, but they typically need more elbow grease than other options and aren’t a good fit for rooms that may experience moisture like the bathroom. Other materials are moisture resistant (great for kitchens and bathrooms), easy to clean, will not warp/shrink/swell or crack like wood, available in white as well as many colours and you can choose between vinyl shutters or composite ones. Be sure to take into account the different requirements of each room when choosing your material.
- Room Function and Light Control
Consider the way in which you use each room and your need for light control. For bedrooms that need to be dark, choose shutters with a rabbeted edge and for living areas, controlled light can find the perfect balance using adjustable louvres. Specialised shapes: Bay windows or other unusually-shaped openings may need custom solutions, which can impact cost as well as installation time.
- Maintenance Requirements
Each type of shutter material requires different methods to keep them clean. There is nothing to do with vinyl aside from light cleaning but a wooden shutter may require occasional treatment or repainting. Factor into your decision-making how much time you are willing to put in with upkeep.
- Installation Method
You can install shutters inside the window recess for a seamless built-in appearance, or outside the recess to conceal the entire window frame. For windows with deep recesses, space-saving inside-mounted shutters are ideal and give a neat visual appearance, but they take up half of the window if you have shallow depth or want to get as much light in.