If it's time to start looking for window treatments, you may be asking yourself what the best solution for your home is. If you've had blinds before you may be tempted to continue with blinds. But you also might be wondering if you should choose plantation shutters. So what are the differences between the two? And which is the best for you?
Style
It goes without saying that personal preference should be your first consideration. There might be deal-breakers as far as design or functionality that will make you choose one over the other. It's best to go to a local store and see your choices in person before making a decision. Next, consider the style of plantation shutters vs. blinds and how they would fit in with your home's design. One might flow better than the other.
Also, If you're not going to buy from a custom shutter and blinds company, you'll have to think about your limitations on color matching and stains. Plantation shutters from a big-box store won't have the color options that a custom shutter store will have.
Cost
Of course, cost is a large factor in which you'd choose. It's widely known that plantation shutters carry a higher cost than blinds and there are several reasons. Generally, more wood is used and the functions are more complex. Everything has to be made of high quality to support the weight of the louvers. Cheaper plantation shutters tend to cut corners on quality, making them susceptible to early breakage and wear and tear. If your budget is tight, it's a better choice to choose quality blinds from a custom blinds company than cheap plantation shutters from a big-box store.
Quality window treatments can raise your home value, so it's always best to choose good quality in the end. Whether you're choosing plantation shutters or blinds, consult a local shutters and blinds company to help you decide which is best for your home and budget.
Adding window shutters to your home can be a significant investment. So it is crucial to choose the right shutters for your home. You may consider choosing faux wood shutters to save on costs, but there are significant differences between real wood vs faux wood shutters. So what should you consider before buying one or the other?
Wooden Window Shutters
Genuine wood shutters are, of course, comprised of real wood. Solid wood has an elegant look that cannot be matched by faux wood. They will elevate any room in your home on their own. Also, staining your shutters to a specific shade can only be accomplished by real wood shutters.
Even though they may cost a little more, the return on value will be greater than faux wood shutters. Their quality and genuinity can be a huge selling point if you were to ever put your home on the market.
Faux Wood Shutters
Faux wood shutters are attractive to budget-conscious homeowners, but they come with a payoff. The shutters on the cheapest end sometimes come with structural and durability issues. If you were to ever sell your home, a buyer might be put off by the lack of quality. Faux wood shutters often come with deeper grooves to mimic genuine wood, making them hard to clean. In a large home full of shutters, it can make dusting a taxing chore.
Of course, faux wood shutters have their pros, too. Besides being a little easier on the wallet, they're also better for humid climates. Real wood shutters are susceptible to warping, potentially ruining your large investment. Take your climate into consideration when choosing between real wood and faux wood shutters.
If you have more questions about the pros and cons of real wood vs faux wood shutters, contact Clearview Shutters today. With over 30 years in business, we can help design shutters for your home that you can enjoy for years to come.
When you're about to invest a significant amount of money on your home by buying new window treatments, it's only natural to do a little research and find out where you can get the best product. Plantation shutters don't come cheap for a lot of homeowners and it makes sense that you're not going to want to waste money on an inferior product. But while you're wondering what the best plantation shutters brand is, you might want to ask yourself another question first: what even makes plantation shutters the best?
Material and Durability
Whatever the brand is, you're going to want to make sure your home gains value from it. If you're going to buy the cheapest plantation shutters, don't expect them to look or perform very well. They also won't raise your home's value as much as, say, custom plantation shutters. This is where a professional company would come in. Faux wood products and mass-produced non-customizable products are going to look inferior to those found at a professional plantation shutter company. When you hire a local company, you'll be able to match colors to those already found in your home. This means your new shutters will blend in perfectly.
Installation
While you're searching for the best plantation shutter brand, you might also want to consider who is going to be installing your shutters. A local shutter company is going to take care of your order from start to finish, making sure everything fits perfectly. Do-It-Yourself shutter installation is rarely up to par with the finish work of an experienced shutter specialist.
So the answer is that the best plantation shutter brand is going to be from a custom shutter company. One that can make sure the job is right from start to finish. That way, you can be sure that you've invested in a durable product that will last a long time.
Why Sunburst Shutters?
If you have arched windows in your house, you may be wondering the best way to cover them. Finding a window treatment for arched windows is no easy task. Blinds and shutters from big box stores simply won't work, as there's no way to customize their products for this type of situation. If you're wanting the best product, you're going to want to go with custom shutters. And sunburst shutters for arched windows are a great way to go! Though some might be worried about their style, there's no denying their functionality. Here are a few things to consider before you install sunburst shutters in your home.
The Perfect Fit
Curtains might be tempting as a cheap solution to needing window treatments on arched windows. But that affordability comes at a cost - For one thing, you'll be trying to fit a rectangle into a hole. Rather, you'll be trying to cover a semi-circle with a rectangle. And that's just not going to give you the clean, elegant look you're probably wanting. But custom shutters take care of that issue. You won't have to worry about conflicting shapes or whether your furniture and floors fully protected from excess sunlight. And you won't have to worry about privacy issues either when. Your sunburst shutters will make it so that your windows are completely covered, edge to edge.
Are They Outdated?
This question is probably highest on your list of concerns. But not every sunburst shutter is the same and you can work with your professional shutter company to get the shutter you desire. Varying widths and styles make it easy to design custom shutters that will represent your home the way you want them to. You can also match existing colors of paint or stain to make your sunburst shutters fit in flawlessly with the rest of your home's colorways.
Are There Other Options?
If you're not quite sold on the idea of installing sunburst shutters, there are, of course, other options available. You can install standard shutters in the shape of an arch. This works for both large windows with an arched top or small arched windows. These types of shutters give more of a modern look that works well in craftsman-style homes.
Another option is to leave the arch uncovered. If privacy isn't a concern in the area, you can always go this route for an option that delivers lots of warm, natural light. An uncovered window will give your room an inviting, airy feel that you might prefer to the above options.