In this blog, I share the 9 reasons why we chose plantation shutters from Perfect Shutters for our bay windows.
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When we decided to move from our new build property, 10 years ago, we were looking for a house with period features and it was the bay windows of our now, 1930s home, that really sold the house to us!
It didn’t take us long to realise that bay windows are really tricky to cover due to the angles of the bay.
We looked at so many options and having just ploughed our savings into the purchase of the house our options were limited.
We opted in the end for a bay curtain pole. Which I despised, instantly! More on that later!
Fast forward 10 years and I finally managed to persuade my husband to invest in shutters for our bay windows and a few weeks ago Perfect Shutters fitted our custom-made bay window plantation shutters.
And they really are nothing short of perfect!
We are absolutely delighted with them. For so many reasons too!
9 reasons why we chose shutters for our bay windows.
1. Privacy
If like us, you live in a property that looks directly out onto the street then shutters offer you varying levels of privacy and light that curtains and blinds simply can’t. Curtains are either open or closed. Blinds are open, closed or tilted.
The shutter style, configuration and louvre you choose will determine the amount of light coming in and how easy it is to see into the room.
You can have full privacy while still allowing light into the room.
We opted for the full height shutters with a mid-rail which allows us to tilt the top sections of our shutters, keeping the shutter’s lower section closed for maximum privacy.
This is great if you have young children like me who have a tendency to run around naked!
Top tip
For upstairs windows angle your louvres down into the room so that those looking up will only see the bottom of the blade.
On downstairs windows slant them up, so that only the top of the Louvre becomes visible to passers-by.
2. Security
As well as privacy, one of the greatest benefits of shutters is the ability to let in natural light without allowing passersby to see into your home.
Strategically adjusting the louvre means not only are people completely unaware of the contents of your home, but they also won’t be able to determine whether or not someone is home.
When going away for a period of time it can be difficult to know what offers the best security when it comes to curtains or blinds.
Leaving them drawn or down throughout the day can look rather obvious, but shutters make it much harder for intruders to figure out if someone is home or not.
3. Stand the test of time
Shutters are a huge investment, but you can relax in the knowledge that they come with a 5-year guarantee and with the ever-increasing popularity of the shutters you can rest assured they will stand the test of time.
4. Energy efficiency & temperature control
As well as giving you the flexibility to choose whether to keep your shutters open or closed for privacy, you can also maximize natural light allowing you to take advantage of the heat from the sun in the winter months. Helping lower energy bills ~ something we are all very concerned with these days.
Shutters are also great in the summer months when the heat from the sun gets too much.
Granted this doesn’t happen too often in the UK but when we are in the midst of a rare heatwave simply closing all of your louvres ensures your home stays comfortably cool.
5. Easy to clean
How to clean shutters was something I researched a lot! It’s still early days but so far a microfiber cloth has worked wonders for collecting the dust.
I may also use the brush option on our hoover as I have used that method on our Venetian blinds very successfully over the years.
We were also provided with touch-up crayons should we get any scratches on them.
6. Adjustability ~ No more fighting with the bay curtain pole rings!
Shutters can be quickly adjusted allowing you to control the amount of light that enters the room with ease.
If you have a bay curtain pole with passing rings you will immediately understand what I mean about fighting with your curtains!
This style of curtain pole (that is designed for bay windows) allows you to have a bend in the pole and allows the curtain rings to glide over the joints.
Or so they say!
I won’t miss the daily battle of tugging at the curtains to get the rings over the brackets.
7. Interior design flexibility
By this, I mean that they are well suited to those who, like me, get bored of their interior decor quickly!
Their classic, timeless design means you can redecorate around them with almost any colour or pattern.
We have only just redecorated the living room so we won’t be changing it anytime soon (in case my husband is reading this!).
8. Makes the room feel bigger
Having removed the curtains coupled with the compact design of the shutters the living room now feels far more spacious.
9. Incredible curb appeal!
Pulling onto the drive or walking up is such a joy now! Weeks later and I still have to pinch myself that I finally, after 7 years of waiting, have shutters! It’s like the icing on the cake!
Shutters are by no means the cheapest option but as you can see there are so many reasons why they are such a good long-term investment and with the option to spread the cost of your shutters over a monthly payment plan they are more affordable than you might think.
How it works
Step 1 ~ Choosing the right style of shutter
The first step was to meet with one of the shutter designers from Perfect Shutters to discuss which type of shutter would work best for our bay windows.
Whether you are looking for a traditional or modern look there are several options available. Wooden shutters can be made to fit any bay shape too.
There are three types available in the Bay Window Plantation Shutter Range.
Full height shutters
Full Height Shutters cover the entire window area from top to bottom offering complete privacy & light control. They can even elongate the look of your windows.
Tier-on-tier shutters
Tier-on-Tier Shutters cover the entire height of your window. They are very versatile as both top and bottom panels can open independently, varying the amount of light and privacy.
Café style shutters
Café Style Shutters cover only the lower half of the window area, adding stylish privacy to street-level and street-facing windows, whilst the empty top half lets the light flood in.
They also come in a huge variety of colours as well as a variety of different finishes for locks and hinges.
During the visit, you’ll be shown a live demo video of what your choice of shutter might look like on your windows. I got very excited when I was shown this during our visit!
Step 2 ~ Full technical survey
A surveyor will visit to carry out a full technical survey in order to design your shutters.
Step 3 ~ Your shutters are then manufactured and are put through a 45-point check before shipping!
Step 4 ~ Your shutters are installed by Perfect Shutter experts.
I cannot recommend the team enough.
Their attention to detail was second to none and they left the house cleaner than it was when they arrived! They were also incredibly patient with all my silly questions!
Perfect Shutters offer a complete measuring and installation service for Plantation Shutters throughout the following areas: Liverpool, Merseyside, Southport, Wirral, Chester, Cheshire, and Lancashire, Greater Manchester UK. We will travel to most areas.
Our experience with Perfect Shutters was absolutely fantastic from the initial site survey right through to installation. No question was a silly question. Every single member of staff we spoke with was a credit to the company. It’s like one very big happy family.
Bay window shutters have literally transformed our house both internally and externally. The best decision we’ve made in a long time!
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