Will Window Shutters Block Out Light?

Window shutters are a popular choice for homeowners.

Adding a timeless elegance to any room, there’s no doubt that they look stylish. But what about light control? Do window shutters block out light?

This blog explores the light-blocking capabilities of window shutters, helping you to decide if they are the perfect solution for your home. By the end, you’ll understand how window shutters can enhance your home’s light control and aesthetics.

Light Control: Blackout Vs Darkening

When discussing whether window shutters block out light, it’s important to understand the difference between light-blocking and blackout solutions.

Light Blocking

Light-blocking window covering solutions significantly reduce the light coming into a room. 

Light-blocking window coverings don’t diffuse light, as with some blinds and curtains; they stop – -block – light from entering at all. Because they do not make a room 100% dark, they are suitable for rooms where you want darkness but don’t need total blackout. 

Blackout

Blackout window coverings, on the other hand, offer near-total darkness. 

No light can penetrate blackout fabric, meaning blackout window coverings are great for:

• Bedrooms that face the rising sun
• People who are sensitive to light
• Rooms near street lamps
• Children’s rooms
• Cinema rooms

Will Window Shutters Block Out Light?

One of the main features of window shutters is their superior light control. We’ll cover the other benefits further down, but first, let’s explore the factors which affect a shutter’s ability to block out light. 

Shutter Style

Window shutter is a bit of a ‘catch-all’ phrase. It is often used synonymously to mean shutters with louvres in general. The types of shutters are:

• Window shutters. AKA full-height shutters. As above shutters feature adjustable louvres from top to bottom, giving you control over light levels, efficient noise reduction and total privacy when shut. 
• Tier-on-tier shutters. These look similar to full-height shutters, but each shutter is split into two sections, each individually-operable. Tier-on-tier shutters are ideal for living spaces because they are flexible, providing multiple options for letting light in throughout the day.
• Cafe-style shutters. This type of shutter covers only the lower half of your windows, leaving the top division bare and able to let beautiful sunshine stream in. Cafe-style shutters provide little light control because of this but are ideal for maintaining high privacy levels. 

Solid panel shutters are a further option. We haven’t included them on the list above because they are not louvred, instead consisting of a single solid panel of wood per shutter. 

Because they are made from one piece of wood, solid panel shutters are extremely efficient at blocking out light. However, they offer no flexibility for light control; you’re either in almost complete darkness or bathed in natural light. 

Louvres

Answering the question ‘Will shutters block out light?’ also comes down to the louvres themselves. Louvres are angled slats fixed at regular intervals, and many shutters have them, as we’ve seen above. 

Louvres can be adjusted to redirect light into a room while allowing air and light to pass through the shutter. Slightly angled louvres enable you to enjoy the natural light and beautiful sunshine coming in from the outside. To close out the light as much as possible, you can angle the louvres downwards, but you will still notice tiny gaps – these enable the louvres to move.

There are different sizes of louvres available, typically ranging from 47mm to 114mm. Wider louvres allow more light when they are open or angled, and narrow louvres provide greater light control because they restrict the light more significantly when angled.

To reduce the light ingress further, you can incorporate a dimout blind behind the shutters. This is as close to near darkness as you can get with louvred shutters. 

What If I Want To Blackout My Room?

So do window shutters block out light? If you’re looking for a full blackout experience, window shutters alone won’t get you there.

But what if you’ve set your heart on window shutters? What if nothing else will do?!

First of all, decide if you really do need “black out” or if “pretty dark” will do. Achieving a full blackout effect is very challenging with any covering, as most materials allow some light through the fabric or the fixings. 

Most people find that “pretty dark” is dark enough, and if that sounds like you, then you might want to consider pairing window shutters with room-darkening blinds. This way, you have full control over reducing the light levels in the room when you wish and can enjoy the aesthetics of sophisticated shutters simultaneously.

Other Benefits Of Window Shutters

Do window shutters block out light? Yes, they do, they won’t give a “blackout” effect, but they are effective at room darkening, and the advantages don’t stop there. 

Privacy

Closed window shutters completely block out light and visibility from outside, and you can adjust the louvres to control the amount of visibility you’d like. This allows in natural light while maintaining privacy.

Sound

Solid wood window shutters, in particular, provide a great barrier to noise pollution. Thicker louvres can also help to block out unwanted sounds. 

Temperature

When closed, window shutters reduce heat transfer and help regulate indoor temperatures. In the heat of the summer, closing your window shutters blocks out the burning sunshine and keeps your home cooler. In winter, they act as insulation and reduce your heating costs. 

Maintenance

Properly installed window shutters are simple to maintain compared to other shading solutions. Made with durable materials and often finished with scratch and stain-resistant applications, their flat surfaces can be easily cleaned. 

Style

Window shutters combine elegance with impressive functionality, fitting seamlessly into most inside spaces. Another huge benefit of adding shutters to your home is that they can hike up your property’s appeal.

Safe

Unlike the dangling cords of many blinds, not to mention curtains that can be yanked down accidentally or difficult to clean, shutters provide a risk-free window covering for family homes. They also act as a barrier for open windows, meaning you can enjoy the fresh breeze whilst restricting access to children and pets. 

Window Shutters: Popular For Good Reason

On top of a multitude of benefits, window shutters do block out light. They are a versatile window treatment solution that offers exceptional light control for your home, and they look incredible in all sorts of interiors. 

Ready to explore our range of window shutters? Request a copy of our brochure here and find out what we’ve got to offer.