Do Window Shutters Block Out Light?

February 26, 2018

Window shutters are trendy and smart, they save energy, and are so simple to use. For these reasons and more, we are huge fans of interior window shutters. With more than 25 years of experience manufacturing and installing shutters in Kent homes and businesses, we’ve found that our customers soon become as enamoured with window shutters as we are.

Are you considering window shutters? If so, you probably have some questions you want answering before making up your mind. One of the most frequently asked questions our prospective clients have, is, do window shutters block out light?

It’s logical that people think that shutters might let too much light in due to the small gaps between the shutter’s louvers. Light entering is a problem for shift workers, and studies show that people exposed to light while sleeping get around 10 minutes less sleep a night. Ten minutes might not seem a big deal, but they were also likelier to feel fatigued during the day and wake up confused during the night.

If window shutters will block out the light or how much light will be blocked depends largely on the shutter design. However, as a rule of thumb, shutters will block a substantial amount of light from coming into a room when closed completely.

Do shutters provide blackout?

It’s important to understand that it’s almost impossible to completely block out all light from any room unless it is windowless. With that said, despite the slight gaps between the louvers of window shutters, they have better blackout capabilities than most window blinds or standard curtains.

When fully closed, window shutters block out a surprisingly large amount of light. This is especially true for plantation shutters with large louvers. Shutters with wide slats are perfect if you want to flood a room with light when you open them during the day and excellent at blocking most light from entering when closed at night. As there are fewer slats in shutters with large louvers, there are fewer gaps through which light can pass. However, if you opt for shutters with small louvers, there are more gaps for light to penetrate, which reduces the shutter’s blackout capabilities.

Unlike blinds or curtains, shutters are a window treatment that is considered permanent. We build our shutters into a frame created to fit your window size exactly, which we seal inside the window frame. As such, there are no edges around the outside of the shutter itself that light could penetrate.

With shutters, the only gaps to allow light into the room are those between the individual louvers. Therefore, they are an excellent option if you want to limit the amount of light accessing a room without investing in a less attractive blackout blind.

Shutters and total blackout

If you are a light sleeper or a shift worker, you may require complete darkness in your room during the day and are wondering if window shutters block out light enough to meet your requirements? For night workers or those with young babies, interior shutters can meet your needs for a dark room. But for absolute darkness, we recommend incorporating a blackout blind with the shutters into your window setup. Having a blind between the window and the shutters will ensure that as little light enters the room as possible. A combination of blinds and shutters will provide you with as much blackout as it is possible to achieve.

If you’re planning to combine blinds with interior shutters, consider white shutters. When used with blocking out light in mind, darker shutters can make a room feel smaller and gloomier than it is. This is especially true if you already have dark walls, flooring, or furniture in the room.

Solid panel Victorian shutters to block out light

If the idea of louvered shutters combined with blinds to prevent light entering does not appeal to you, another option is Victorian style solid panel shutters.

The advantage of solid panel shutters is their simplistic design, as, unlike plantation shutters, they do not have moveable slats. You can open or close the panels to let light in or block it out, instead of the possibility of having the shutters half open, as louvred shutters offer.

Conclusion

Ultimately, notwithstanding the understandable common belief to the contrary, interior shutters do a good job of blocking out light. Compared with most curtains or blinds, shutters are the more useful option for reducing the amount of light entering a room. However, you can add a blind or a heavy curtain to your windows for extra light prevention and a more substantial blackout effect.

For more information and guidance regarding interior window shutters don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, as our team are always delighted to help.

Contact
Diamond Shutters

As suppliers of quality window and shutter blinds for the last 15 years, we take pride in providing our clients with quality products that represent exceptional value

To find out how we can help transform your home through installing our beautiful looking window shutters, please call on the number below or fill out the contact form, and we will get back to you without delay

Call : 0208 302 2447

Email : sales@diamond-shutters.com

Do Window Shutters Block Out Light?

Contact Diamond Shutters

Contact
Diamond Shutters