Five Reasons Why White is Still the Most Popular Shutter Colour
Even though there are plenty of options when it comes to the colours your shutters can be, most people prefer to stick to either white or off-white. Here The Bespoke Shutter Company, who supply plantation shutters in London, explain why.
The Tradition
Many people like to stick with the past when it comes to their colour choices. Plantation shutters have historically always been white – the name can be traced back from the Southern states of the USA, and the plantations which grew crops including tobacco, sugar cane and cotton. The big family farmhouses there used white as the main colour – alternatives at the time weren’t widely considered or thought of. The main reason was to regulate the heat of the sun – a factor which still applies today.
Even before then, shutters were often white; when the Ancient Greeks needed a practical window covering they were typically used white marble.
The Energy Efficiency
The main reason for sticking to white or off-white shutters is because the colour reflects heat so well – which was a common problem in warmer climates such as the Southern USA and Mediterranean countries.
An integral part of plantation shutters are their panels or louvres – when these are closed, the white colour reflects solar radiation away from the window and stops it from heating up the room. In summer, this avoids the need for air conditioning making the home more energy efficient.
And in colder winter months, the panels can be opened to let any direct light heat up the space and then closed in the evening to trap the heat in the room, lowering the burden on central heating and any other radiators or heaters.
The Light Effects
The reflectivity of white shutters means that they can help to brighten a room (or keep it bright even if the shutters are closed).
This is most easily achieved when the louvres are opened, and the light bounces off and reflects onto the ceiling to make the whole area much brighter. The increased light in a room can reduce the need for artificial lighting and help you save money. White shutters reflect artificial lights within the room to make them more effective, so (particularly if time-controlled or dimmer switches are in place) your electricity bill should go down.
The Versatile Style
The beauty of white (or off-white) is that it is very neutral and goes with virtually any other colour. So, if you have other, subtle neutral tones in the rest of the room, or bolder, brighter colours, white shutters will match wonderfully with whatever you have in place.
And it also means you can change your own colour tastes over time and the shutters will still fit in.
They are Still Easy to Clean
Often, the recommendation for any home furnishings is to avoid white at all costs, because you can easily see any build-up of dirt. However, white shutters are incredibly low-maintenance – they only need the occasional wipe down or vacuuming to remain pristine.
For a more detailed look at how to keep your shutters clean, check out our previous blog post here.
Plantation Shutters in London from The Bespoke Shutter Company
Our plantation shutters can come in a variety of styles – including full-length, tier-on-tier and café-style shutters, which we can fit to homes and businesses in Essex, Herts as well as north and south London.
To see our full colour range, this link - as you can see, you can still opt for something other than white if you like.
If you would like to know any more about the shutters we can fit to your home or business, you can also click here and fill in the online form, or call us on 020 3131 3155 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation where we can help you find the perfect shutters for your home.
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