Window shutters are a premium product for window coverings in Scotland today. If you are looking at giving your home that extra touch, installing shutters will undoubtedly be high on your priority list. They provide unparalleled light control, additional insulation to keep those bills down, extra soundproofing, the finest privacy, incredible longevity, and more (we could go on!) plus, of course, they look absolutely stunning!
Understanding the different types of shutters, though, can be a problem. Like any industry, we can get a little carried away with our terms, such as tier-on-tier or ‘café style’ – what do these mean and which are the ones you want? At the Scottish Shutter Company, we have the answers!
In this article, we compare the top three types of window shutters so that you can see what’s what. Let’s dive right in!
What Are the Top Three Shutter Types?
When it comes to shutter styles in the UK, most people go for one of the following:
- Full Height Shutters
- Tier-on-Tier Shutters
- Café Shutters
Within these overall designs, you can also opt for solid panel or louvred shutters, so let’s take a moment to look at these two differences:
Solid panel does what it says – the shutters are made from a solid sheet of wood (or whatever material you have chosen). This means that when it comes to blocking out the light or helping with your home insulation, you simply cannot get any better. No one ever complained about privacy with solid panel shutters (except when they’re open!).
Louvred shutters are more likely to be the image you have in your head when you think of shutters. A collection of smaller slats placed at an angle, louvred shutters can be adjusted to block out the light or to let it come in even when the main shutter is closed, making them the most versatile shutter type. Louvred shutters never truly block out 100% of the light, though good ones come extremely close!
There are other differences between the two, including maintenance and longevity benefits, but these are minor when compared to the largest factor: how they look.
For most people, the biggest reason to choose between a solid panel or louvred shutter is personal taste – and that’s great! But this isn’t an article debating the pros and cons of louvred vs. solid shutters – we’re here to explore the difference between the main styles, so let’s get to it!
Full Height Shutters
First, we come to full-height shutters. These (you’ve guessed it) cover the full height of your windows, meaning they go from the bottom to the top. No bit of glass won’t be covered by a full-height shutter, so if you’re looking to block out the whole window, you’ve come to the right place.
Like all three of the shutter styles we’re looking at, full-height shutters can be full panel or louvred – a closed-panel, full-height shutter is practically a wall!
Tier-on-Tier
Tier-on-tier shutters cover the same area as a full-height shutter, but they differ in that the top and bottom areas are separate shutters, so you can close the top and leave the bottom open, or vice versa. Tier-on-tier provides extra flexibility and versatility to your room’s window coverings and can closely mimic full-height shutters when all closed. Why not simply choose tier-on-tier over full height every time? We’ll get to that.
Café Style
The café style of shutter has a complete bottom tier, just like tier-on-tier, but doesn’t use a top tier, leaving that area open or enhancing it with some beautifully crafted mouldings.
Unlike full panel and tier-on-tier, café style never provides full light coverage.
Choosing Between the Three
When it comes to choosing which shutter style you prefer, it’s often about the room you are putting the shutter in and what you are planning to do there – plus there’s a lot to do with personal aesthetic, too!
Situation 1 – Bedrooms
In a bedroom, you typically want the room to be darker while you sleep, and privacy is a top priority. For this reason, we recommend either full height or tier-on-tier.
Situation 2 – Living Rooms
Like bedrooms, living rooms like to have the option for total darkness, especially if you’re the type of person who likes home cinema or cosying up at night with some subdued interior lighting. Like bedrooms, full height and tier-on-tier often win in living room situations.
Situation 3 – Kitchens
It’s not often that you sleep in the kitchen, so the idea of darkness is typically unnecessary. Kitchens benefit from that natural light look, and if you are lucky enough to have a home with a view, you’ll want to see it as much as possible. Café style and tier-on-tier are beloved in kitchens.
Situation 4 – Bay Windows
If you have a dining section in your kitchen, or a dining or living room with a bay window, then shutter style is a key consideration. Café style, often paired with curtains or Roman blinds for those times when you want to shut the outside out, is a perfect solution for beautiful bay windows providing lots of natural light while maintaining privacy, while both full height and tier-on-tier offer good light coverage.
Situation 5 – Bathrooms
Not all shutters are wooden! There are several beautiful vinyl and other materials that are 100% waterproof and perfect for bathroom use – so there’s no need to feel you can’t put shutters here. As for style, privacy is key for bathrooms, but if you’re lucky enough to be high up then you may want to consider style over total blockage. Full height and tier-on-tier are obvious choices.
Situation 6 – Uniformity of Style
One question that often comes up is whether you can mix and match your shutter styles – and the answer is yes! Full-height styles often include a mid-rail, which makes them match both tier-on-tier shutters and your existing window architecture for aesthetics. Café style in the same range as tier-on-tier or full height will complement each other beautifully, and choosing a vinyl finish for a bathroom or kitchen can have the same smooth look as wooden shutters elsewhere in the house.
When it comes to making sure there’s no jarring of styles, you needn’t worry.
Shutter Style FAQs
Q: Why not always use tier-on-tier rather than full height?
A: The answer comes down to personal taste and maintenance. A full panel full-height shutter has a certain look that tier-on-tier cannot possibly match (as there will always be the midline), and that’s enough reason for some to opt for the full-height, but also, there is a matter of longevity. By the nature of design, tier-on-tier shutters have more points of stress and moving parts than full-height shutters, requiring a little more maintenance and care. Purchasing quality shutters minimises this greatly, of course, and at the Scottish Shutter Company, we use only the finest quality shutters with reliable, long lives.
Q: How can café style shutters block all the light?
Often, café style shutters are used in rooms where darkness is never really wanted, but you can also pair the shutters with other coverings, like blinds or curtains, to provide an exceptional aesthetic that is incredibly warm and inviting.
Q: Do shutters actually save on bills?
Yes! Your shutters will provide far better insulation than other window coverings. They are edge-to-edge coverings made from quality materials that will provide insulation to keep heat in during the cold months and help regulate cooler temperatures in summer. They really are the best of both worlds.
Q: Where can I get the best shutters?
What a perfect question! Speak to us at the Scottish Shutter Company. We’re here to answer any of your shutter-related questions and offer showroom visits to see what the shutters look like in person. Why not download a brochure or contact us today?
