Plantation Shutters vs. Other Window Treatments

PDeciding how to dress your windows is one of the first topics that comes up after a home purchase. If the home you purchased already has a treatment, like blinds, you may have found yourself wondering if your existing window treatment is providing you with the best in appearance, maintenance, and home value.

When choosing from window treatment ideas, you can choose from what is known as a hard or soft window treatment. Hard window treatments include blinds, shutters, and most types of shades, while soft window treatments include curtains, valances, and drapes. Within each category, there are different types of each treatment. There are many different types of curtains, for instance, as well as many different types of blinds, shades, drapes, and shutters.

What Exactly Are Plantation Shutters?

Plantation shutters are hard window treatments that have been around for centuries, treasured for their ability to block out light, thereby controlling temperature and providing a form of insulation. These days, plantation shutters are also valued for their privacy, ambiance, and status as a permanent, sophisticated window treatment. Being a beautiful, permanent window dressing is what makes plantation shutters increase the resale value of every home that has this window treatment.

Plantation shutters come in a variety of materials and forms. The traditional plantation shutter is all-wood, with panels that extend from the top to the bottom of a window. This look remains classic and timeless, but there are now even more plantation shutter design options, including combining soft and hard treatments through the use of a café shutter for the lower half of the window and a valance to outfit the top. The movement of all plantation shutters is controlled using the tilt rod, which moves the louvers that beautifully filter sunlight.

Shenandoah Shutters offers a new option for plantation shutters — the patented Softedge design. With the Softedge design, installing plantation shutters in tilt-ins or casements is no longer difficult. Instead, the Softedge conceals the hinges, giving your home the harmonious appearance that you want and expect from plantation shutters.

Which is Best: Faux Wood, Vinyl, or All-Wood Plantation Shutters?

Vinyl plantation shutters and faux wood plantation shutters are less expensive than wood plantation shutters, but the quality of the all-wood plantation shutter is simply unmatched by any other type of shutter. All-wood plantation shutters are by far the most popular type of plantation shutter thanks to their natural beauty, old school charm, and structural integrity. Vinyl, faux wood, and plantation shutters made from other materials are all designed to look like all-wood plantation shutters. So, while you might pay a little more for wooden plantation shutters, you’re actually paying for the real thing. The  gorgeous end result of your investment is absolutely worth every penny.  

When you purchase custom made, all-wood plantation shutters at Shenandoah Shutters, every shutter is sanded by hand in our Richmond woodshop by skilled woodworking experts. Our design consultants work with you to determine the right paint, stain, or specialty wood to match your moulding. The entire experience of buying these all-wood window shutters is simply beyond comparison. Every step of the process is designed to provide you with the optimal window treatment.

Plantation Shutters Vs. Curtains, Drapes, and Fabric Window Coverings

Curtains, drapes, valances, and other fabric window coverings are familiar window treatments. Many households combine soft treatments like curtains with other window treatments, like blinds or specific types of shutters (as in the café shutter). The cost and quality of curtains depends greatly on the type of fabric used, as well as the amount of material. While plenty of curtains add style and color to a room and help block out sunlight, you don’t get any light control with these soft window treatments.

With plantation shutters, you’re in total control as you adjust the louvers to let in just the right amount of light for your needs. With soft window treatments, you’ll spend a great deal of time washing the fabric, which can easily tear or stain and won’t last as long as a hard window treatment. Hard window treatments, particularly all-wood plantation shutters, are easier to clean, often simply requiring a dusting cloth every so often. If you spill a drink on a curtain, your curtain may never look quite the same way again. Splatter a drink on your plantation shutters? Just wipe it down with a soft cloth.

Soft window treatments can be wonderful choices when you need to quickly dress your window in the short-term or paired alongside durable plantation shutters. For a long-term, permanent window treatment, plantation shutters are your best bet for a high-quality window treatment.

Plantation Shutters Vs. Blinds and Shades

Blinds and shades still can’t compare to plantation shutters in their offerings. Much like curtains and drapes, blinds and shades are best used as temporary window treatments. Blinds can easily look worn-out and dated. Think of how often you’ve glanced over at a neighbor’s house only to see their blinds bent in half by a pet or even a curious child. Think of how often the cord or other tool to control the light breaks. You’ll have to replace blinds often, and while they are easier to clean than curtains, it still requires a great deal of time to wipe down the individual louvers. Some stains on blinds never seem to go away no matter how much you clean.

Shades equally run the risk of looking worn-out and at the same time offer minimal light control. With blinds, you can at least slightly adjust the louvers to filter in some degree of sunlight. Shades are either opened or closed, not allowing for the kind of nuance that plantation shutters provides.

Some blinds and shades are aesthetically pleasing, even using high quality materials to craft the window covering. But, no matter how stylish the blinds or shades, they simply won’t increase the resale value of your home.

All-wood plantation shutters control light, are effortlessly attractive, easy to clean, and increase your home’s value. These plantation shutters provide the maximum return for money spent and truly contribute to your home in a way that is simply unparalleled by other treatments and materials.
Ready to take your windows to the next step? Contact Shenandoah Shutters today to set-up your free, in-home estimate and design consultation for your custom made, authentically wooden plantation shutters. Invest in the best for your home and rest easy knowing that we offer a 100-year lifetime warranty on our handcrafted shutters.