Blinds vs Shutters
When it comes to blinds and shutters, which window treatment is the right solution for your Tampa home? We recommend you compare them!
Blinds are a traditional window treatment that have been covering windows in Tampa for as long as memory serves. And shutters are a modern window treatment that has exploded in popularity in the past 20 years. Let’s explore how these two window treatment veterans perform on durability, energy efficiency, cleaning, special window shapes, and home resale value.
Styles
Blinds come in metal, hardwood, faux wood, and vertical styles. With over 300 colors and textures to select 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 supply Polywood in three premium white paint colors – and a custom paint color program for shades 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 can’t block much of the airflow and heat from outside. But shutters, with their thick louvers and made to order mounting, seal off the effects of the external temperature. Actually, Polywood plantation shutters insulate up to 70% better than similar 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 installed with a hidden or rear-mount tilt rod, all you have to do to clean the large louvers is tilt them back with your hand and wipe the louvers, unobstructed.
Special Window Shapes
Traditional blinds can only be mounted on rectangular-shaped windows, not arched, circular, octagonal, or triangular windows. And blinds would only obscure the elegant window you fell in love with when you bought the house, anyway. Shutters, conversely, can be custom-crafted 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’ elegance.
Home Resale Value
When your home is appraised for resale, all the permanent fixtures are considered. Blinds can be moved from one house to another, but shutters are custom-installed and become part of your windows and home. Actually, they add value to your home not only by being a permanent asset, but also by being an energy-efficient one!
We summarized the differences between blinds and shutters in this table for you. Choosing 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?
It all depends on you and your taste. And, when you’ve picked one, we’ll be here to walk you through the process of designing them for your windows. Call us at 813-580-7288 or fill out the form below to schedule your free in-home consultation today!
