I have said before, that some things I can DIY and make cheap things into amazing things, and some things I just have to bite the bullet and pay for it. They are ‘spensive! For me, they are even worth the price if you have to save up for a year to get them.
Here are 12 reasons that I El. Oh. Vee. Ee. my plantation shutters.
- Light! They let in more light than other window coverings, because the slats are wide. And if you open them up, they let all the light possible in!
- Dark! My babies sleep so well during the day because if they are closed, their rooms get really dark. These are great for naps!
- No cords or strings to tangle! Yay!
- No lopsided blinds- Hooray!
- Windows look dressed, even if you don’t have window treatments- I am still working on some window treatments, but I have some that I won’t do anything with and they still look great!
- Energy efficiency! They keep out the heat/cold. If you keep them shut (which I seldom do) they keep a lot of the hot or cold out, only decreasing your utility bills
- Shutters increase your home value
- They don’t warp or bend (as long as you don’t get the heavy ones!)
- When the windows are open, the wind doesn’t blow blinds all over the place
- They look really fancy from the outside and dress your home up
- Nice clean trim around the windows
- And how could I forget- They are SOOO easy to clean!
The Cons to Plantation Shutters:
- Expense- I will tell you that it cost about $4,000 for 12 windows (4 of those are double windows and that includes install.) Yikes. I almost had to sell a kid. They are more than double the price of a nice set of blinds.
- You leave them when you move! These are built in, and you leave them if you move. It is a big expense for a home, if it is temporary.
- I am not in love with the ones that are made for glass doors- they are big and bulky and we are trying to find a different solution for that area.
Ok- that list is a bit lopsided. So, I guess you know how I feel about plantation shutters! For me, they are worth the long term investment and the expense. We planned when we bought the house for a “shutter fund” and we made sacrifices in other areas to make it happen. And both my husband and I have mentioned a million times that it was well worth it.
I am going to add a really fabulous picture of my plantation shutters as soon as our office makeover is complete! I can’t take a picture because we have a quarter inch of sheet rock dust on everything, and more sanding to do tonight! I will post an updated picture in a week.
I’m with you …..lurve those shutters! I am desperately trying to budget them in to our potential new build. I am prepared to go with out, mirrors, light fittings, door handles even doors anything just get those shutters!!
Really enjoyed reading your post, and like you, I love shutters
I’m also in agreement that they are expensive, but, as they add value to the house I think that they’re well worth it 🙂
The biggest benefit for me though is, as you said above, the control that they give you over the light coming in to the room. For me they are unrivaled in this sense. The fact that they look amazing is a bonus!
I’ve just priced for ONE window in UK- £2,000 !!! Eek. I want them but can’t afford this. £4,000 for 12 windows is unbelievable to me. Wish ours were cheaper!
I have just sent of measures for my first quote…..9 windows and I have a horrible feeling they will be way over my budget. I’m in Australia so they are bound to be very expensive!!
Have you tried the california company is brighton? Diy shutters are waaay cheaper.
While I love plantation shutters, I disagree with you on the light piece. They let less light in than standard wood blinds because you lose so much of the window to the plantation shutter frame. If you have big windows, they are great. Smaller windows become a lot smaller because of the frame.
The reasons mentioned above are enough to convince you that plantation shutters are very functional and will keep it protected against the changing climate.