What to Know About Shutters vs Blinds

Shutters and blinds solve the same basic problem: covering a window. Still, they do it in different ways and at different price points. If you’re trying to decide between the two for an upcoming project, here’s what separates them, beyond which one happens to be on sale.

Blinds vs Shutters: How They're Built

Blinds are made of individual slats, whether wood, faux wood, aluminum, or vinyl, that tilt open and closed and stack at the top of the window when raised. Shutters use solid panels with louvers built into a frame mounted directly to the window, and most styles don’t raise like a blind.

Interior shutters use wider louvers for more light and view. In comparison, traditional shutter styles use narrower louvers for a more classic look. That’s worth knowing before you commit to one over the other for a specific window, since it changes how the finished look reads in the room.

Light Control and Privacy Between Blinds and Shutters

Both interior shutters and traditional window blinds are a great addition to your home if light control is a concern, while also preserving a sense of style. Simply tilt the louvers on your plantation shutters or the slats on your window blinds to gently adjust the amount of incoming light.

Shutters vs Blinds: Durability and Maintenance

Because wood and composite shutters are built to last for decades and are designed to work like a fixture of your home, their daily upkeep is relatively simple. Because there's no cord mechanism to wear out or fabric to fade over time, even when they collect a little bit of dust, they still look well-tended. Shutters, on the other hand, while relatively easy to maintain, require more cleaning than natural wood blinds, which can be tricky, and they are prone to moisture damage if not kept in an appropriate room.

Style and Resale Value of Shutters and Blinds

Shutters read as a permanent architectural feature, like trim or cabinetry, which is why they tend to add more to a home’s resale value than blinds do. They tend to suit traditional, craftsman, and farmhouse-style homes especially well.

Meanwhile, blinds are easier and less expensive to update if your style changes or you move into a new color scheme down the road, which makes them a comfortable fit for rentals or rooms you expect to redecorate again before long. If you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time, that trade-off is worth thinking through.

Shutters vs Blinds: Which Costs More?

Custom window blinds, whether wood, faux wood, or aluminum, are almost always going to be the more affordable option when comparing them against shutters, because shutters are custom-built to your home and window shape. However, over time, interior shutters, also called plantation shutters, are better known for adding value to your home, both in terms of curb appeal and resale value.

Can You Mix Shutters and Blinds in the Same Home?

Absolutely, and a lot of our customers do. Shutters in a formal living room or dining room, paired with blinds in bedrooms or a home office, is a common and practical combination. There’s no rule that says every window in the house needs to match, as long as the choice in each room makes sense for how that space gets used and how much light or privacy it needs.

Motorizing Your Custom Blinds and Shutters

Many local homeowners don't know that both window blinds and interior shutters can be motorized using smart technology. You can turn your windows into smart devices that seamlessly integrate with your home's existing smart ecosystem. Simply program your shutters or blinds to open and close on a schedule you create in a user-friendly, customizable smartphone app.

For decades, our team has been installing motorized window treatments throughout Missoula and is always here to answer any questions you have about whether motorized window treatments are right for your home.

Compare Shutters and Blinds near Missoula, MT

Still not sure which is right for your home? Contact us to schedule a free in-home consultation. We’ll bring samples of both shutters and blinds so you can compare them side by side in your own windows, serving Missoula, Florence, Stevensville, Victor, Hamilton, and the surrounding Bitterroot Valley. There’s no pressure to decide on the spot, either.