Blinds vs Shutters
When it comes to blinds and shutters, which window treatment is the right solution for your San Diego home? There’s only one way to find out: compare them!
Blinds are a traditional window treatment that have been covering windows in San Diego for as long as memory serves. And shutters are a contemporary window treatment that has burst into popularity in the past 20 years. Let’s explore how these two window treatment veterans go up against each other when it comes to durability, energy efficiency, cleaning, special window shapes, and home resale value.
Styles
Blinds come in metal, hardwood, faux wood, and vertical styles. With more than 300 colors and textures to choose from, blinds allow you to match your window treatments to your style –right down to the pattern.
Plantation shutters are available in Polywood® and Ovation® wood. We offer Polywood in three premium white paint colors – and a custom paint color program for tints of beige, yellow, and grey. Ovation wood shutters come in 28 wood stains and 11 paint colors.
Durability
When well kept, blinds last an average of 5 years. On the other hand, shutters can last more than 50 years.
Energy Efficiency
When closed, the thin slats on blinds do little to block airflow and heat from outside. But shutters, with their thick louvers and custom mounting, seal off the effects of the external temperature. As a matter of fact, Polywood plantation shutters insulate up to 70% better than comparable traditional wood shutters – and 1600% better than aluminum blinds!
Cleaning
Dusting the thin slats of blinds can be challenging – especially with the cords that run through from top to bottom. When plantation shutters are set up with a hidden or rear-mount tilt rod, you simply tilt the large louvers back with your hand and wipe the louvers, unhindered.
Special Window Shapes
Traditional blinds can only be mounted on rectangular-shaped windows, not arched, circular, octagonal, or triangular windows. And blinds would only conceal the charming window you fell in love with when you moved into the house, anyway. Shutters, conversely, can be custom-fashioned to fit your windows perfectly, regardless of their shape, letting you have access to the view and control over privacy – while enhancing your specialty-shaped windows’ beauty.
Home Resale Value
When your home is appraised for resale, all the permanent fixtures are taken into consideration. Blinds can be moved from one house to another, however shutters are custom-installed and become part of your windows and home. In fact, they boost the value of your home not only by being a permanent asset, but also by being an energy-efficient one!
We condensed the differences between blinds and shutters in this table for you. Selecting between the two window treatments is based on your style, your windows, and your budget.
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| Blinds | Shutters |
| Styles | Metal, Hardwood, Faux Wood, Vertical | Polywood and Ovation Wood |
| Durability | Last about 5 years | Last 50+ years |
| Energy Efficiency | Minimum | Maximum |
| Cleaning | Difficult | Easy |
| Special Window Shapes | N/A | Customizable to fit any window shape |
| Home Resale Value | No effect | Increases home resale value |
Between Blinds and Shutters, Which Is the Ideal Solution for You?
Well, that’s up to you to decide. And, when you do, we’ll be here to guide you through the process of designing them for your windows. Call us at 760-405-8887 or fill out the form below to schedule your free in-home consultation today!
