Expert guide: how to pair Plantation Shutters with curtains
Pairing Plantation Shutters with curtains can give you the best of both worlds. Plantation Shutters offer a practical solution to privacy, insulation, and light control. Adding curtains increases these benefits while adding softness and texture to a space.
What are Plantation Shutters?
Plantation Shutters are solid window furnishings consisting of panel(s) with rotating louvers. These louvers allow you to control light and privacy, but can also be angled to let in natural light or views. The louvers can be rotated 180° in either direction.
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Our PolyLux® shutters are durable, washable, VOC Free, and pet and child friendly. They won’t bleach or blister when exposed to intense UV rays and are aesthetically beautiful. This quality is reflected by a 20-year warranty.
What are the benefits of pairing Plantation Shutters with curtains?
Flexibility:
Combining Plantation Shutters with curtains allows for flexibility in your room. The Plantation Shutters provide effective light and privacy control, while curtains add some colour and texture to your space. Plantation Shutters can also be customised to separate the louver movement so you can keep the bottom section closed for privacy, and open the top louvers to allow light in.
Insulation:
Plantation Shutters are a great way to add insulation to your home. They can protect rooms from both hot and cold external temperatures, so they help keep rooms cool in summer and warm in winter. Having curtains over the top of Plantation Shutters increases these benefits.
Light control:
Plantation Shutters
don’t offer total light blockout. Drawing curtains over the top of them increases the darkness of the room.
Noise control:
Plantation Shutters offer good noise control. This can be amplified by adding lined curtains to offer an extra barrier, reducing the impact of external noise.
Style:
Plantation Shutters are stylish, but pairing them with curtains helps frame a window. Curtains are a great way to add texture, colour and shape to your space while still getting all the functional benefits of Plantation Shutters.
Should I pair Plantation Shutters or Roller Blinds with my curtains?
Both Plantation Shutters and Roller Blinds offer privacy, light control, and thermal insulation. However, if the windows are on the façade of your home, shutters may have better street appeal when looking in.
How do I pair Plantation Shutters and curtains?
Making sure your Plantation Shutters and curtains go together is essential when it comes to your design aesthetic. Here’s what to think about.
Colour
Our PolyLux® Shutters are now available in pure white, making colour pairing simpler and more streamlined. Always match your shutter colour to your architrave for a polished and professional finish. For example, pure white shutters on a vivid white architrave will give a clean and seamless appearance.
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If you’re choosing sheer curtains, be sure to order fabric samples and hold them against the shutter or wall. This helps you check how lighting and surroundings affect the curtain’s appearance. Matching or complementing the tone of your curtains to your shutters ensures a cohesive and balanced look. Pure white shutters pair beautifully with cool-toned curtain fabrics such as pure white, light grey, or soft blue-grey. If you prefer warmer curtain tones like beiges or warm greys, ensure they harmonise with the overall palette of your space, including your walls and flooring.
Fabric
Certain curtain fabrics will allow different levels of light control, insulation and privacy. All of the following curtains pair well with Plantation Shutters.
Sheer curtains
Sheer curtains over Plantation Shutters are a great look. The curtains diffuse sunlight and add texture to a room. Leave your sheer curtains closed during the day to create a luxe finish that bathes your room in filtered light. Through sheers you’ll be able to see the classic horizontal lines of shutters juxtaposed with the soft vertical folds of your curtains, adding depth to your space. Great for: Bedrooms or living spaces where you want to add some softness to the structure and practicality of Plantation Shutters.
Blockout curtains
These provide additional thermal insulation on top of that provided by Plantation Shutters. While the shutters won’t totally block out light, you can add blockout curtains for complete darkness. Great for: Bedrooms, media rooms or anywhere else you need total darkness.
Lined curtains
Lined curtains give a cosy, luxe feel and are also extremely functional. In winter they block draughts and keep the heat inside your home. In summer they prevent external heat from entering the room, helping to keep it cool. They’re always a great way to add some extra insulation to your Plantation Shutters while also adding soft folds of fabric to the space, and they can reduce street noise. Great for: Bedrooms, living areas and home offices.