Solid or Louvre Shutters – Which is Best for Your Home?
Two of the most popular types of window coverings found in homes across London and the south-east of England are solid wood shutters and louvred shutters. However, which one is best for your home? Here The Bespoke Shutter Company, who supply and install louvre and solid shutters in Essex, Hertfordshire and across London, weigh up the advantages of both types.
Privacy and Security
Solid shutters offer more protection from prying eyes than louvre shutters. The latter still offer a degree of privacy, but you should opt for the former if your windows are close to the street, or if you are worried about crime and break-ins. Businesses which deal with sensitive paperwork, such as legal documents or patient records, should also opt for solid shutters.
Insulation
Both types of shutter are excellent insulators, which mean they keep the heat in during the colder winter months, and the warm air out in the hotter summer months.
If you live on a street with a lot of through traffic, or in an area where there is a lot of human footfall, then solid shutters are the better option. They should drastically cut down on the amount of extraneous noise, which is particularly beneficial during unsocial hours – and for many homes close to town centres and in many areas of London.
Light and Air Control
Overall, louvre shutters offer more flexibility than solid shutters when it comes to regulating the amount of sunlight which gets into your rooms. This is because you can adjust the angle of the panels so you can always get some light into your room, even if the windows are closed.
And if you want to ensure that the room doesn’t get too stuffy, but you still want a modicum of privacy, you can open the windows but close the shutters which means that air can still circulate through the panels. In contrast, with solid shutters, you don’t have that option – they are either open or closed.
However, if you want a total blackout, then solid shutters are the answer. This is particularly useful if you are a light sleeper, or there is a streetlamp directly outside your property.
A Question of Style
Both solid and louvred window shutters offer plenty of kerb appeal – which means they will automatically add value to your home should you ever think of selling it. However, if your house has a lot of intricate external features, then the simplicity of solid shutters may be the better option. They also work particularly well on period properties.
Indoors, louvred panels may be a better option, particularly if you have comparatively small rooms. Solid panels can be rather claustrophobic and can make the space seem smaller than it actually is.
Cleanliness
Both types are easy to clean when compared with curtains or blinds – all they need is an occasional brush or wipe-down. However solid shutters are slightly more accessible as you don’t need to get between any panels.
Louvre and Solid Shutters from The Bespoke Shutter Company
At The Bespoke Shutter Company we supply and install both louvred and solid shutters in Essex, London and Hertfordshire. Our solid shutters are made from cedar or other hardwoods so they will be extremely long-lasting as well as stylish. And our range of louvred shutters include café-style, tier-on-tier and full-length varieties, which means you have plenty of choice over how much of your windows are covered.
Our experienced, professional team will be able to advise you on which type will work best for your home or business. If you would like to get in touch, or would like to have a free, no-obligation quote, simply email us at info@bespokeshutters.com or call us on 020 3131 3155.
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