Shutters for My Home: Which Material Is Best?

As the first window dressing choice for light control, privacy and insulation in the home, shutters are becoming ever-popular in the UK. Associated with Mediterranean allure, they are sought for their style as well as their practicality. 

Wood, faux wood, and PVC/vinyl are the three main materials that your bespoke shutters could be created from, each with their own pros and cons. Every customer has different needs and budgets, which is why it’s important to consider all your options before making a final choice. In this article, we will help you decide which material is best for your shutters and examine the pros and cons of each. 

Wooden Shutters 

Famed for its beauty and durability, wood is an elegant choice for shutters.

Pros of wooden shutters: 

Attractive: As a popular material in the home, wood is celebrated for bringing warmth and charm to an interior.

Highly customisable: They have a wide range of colour and staining options available, making it easy for wooden shutters to complement your existing decor. 

Durability: Wood is also known for its strength and long lifespan, as long as it is maintained well and cleaned often. 

Easy Maintenance: Just a quick dust between the slats is all you need to keep your wooden shutters looking their best, along with re-varnishing every now and then. 

Cons of wooden shutters: 

Affected by humidity: Being a natural material, wood is affected by humidity, which can lead to mould, rot or warping. This means they may not be the best choices for moisture-rich environments like bathrooms and kitchens. 

Price: Wooden shutters have the strength and beauty that makes them so desirable, and these benefits also arrive with a slightly higher price tag than the other two materials – in this case, you are paying for longevity. 

Faux Wooden Shutters

Seeking the natural look but at a more affordable cost? Faux wooden shutters could be the answer you’re searching for. 

Pros of faux wooden shutters: 

More affordable than real wood: Many people opt for faux wooden shutters if they desire the beauty of natural wood but without the full price tag – making this material a good compromise between appearance and budget. 

Resistant to moisture-rich environments: While natural wood is not recommended for kitchens and bathrooms, faux wooden shutters are made of a synthetic material that mimics natural wood, allowing you to enjoy ‘wooden’ shutters in these moisture-rich rooms without the associated bending or warping. 

Cons of faux wooden shutters: 

More limited colour choices: The range of colour choices for faux wooden shutters are not as extensive as natural wood, though there is still an attractive selection of options available. 

Heavier than wooden blinds: Their extra weight may mean you require more sections to cover a whole area or window. 

PVC/Vinyl Shutters 

A great value-for-money option that offers a clean, contemporary look. 

Pros of PVC shutters: 

Cost-effective: With a low price-tag relative to wooden shutters, for example, this material is ideal for customers seeking a more affordable option for their home. 

Resistant to humidity: Unaffected by moisture-rich environments, PVC and vinyl are the best choices for kitchens and bathrooms. 

Easy Installation: Whilst still a robust option, PVC/Vinyl also is the lightest material in weight, making it easy to transport and install. 

Simple to keep clean: Thanks to their easy-wipe surface, plastic is also very easy to keep dust and blemish-free. 

Cons of PVC shutters:

Shorter lifespan: However, despite its cheaper price tag, this window dressing has a lifespan that is not as extensive as its wooden and faux-wood counterparts, and may need to be replaced sooner. It’s important to note that regular upkeep will help its longevity. 

Conclusion

Every window dressing has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important you make the right choice for your home. The most crucial thing you can do to ensure the quality, longevity and perfect fit of your shutters is to choose a supplier with the experience and expertise to guarantee a superb final result – a supplier such as Angel Blinds & Shutters. 

Considering shutters but need some expert guidance? Angel Blinds & Shutters supply and install bespoke shutters to give your home the perfect finishing touch it deserves. Offering the choices of wood, faux wood and PVC, you can be sure to find a material that enhances your interior style. Simply contact us for advice, or to arrange a free home visit and measurement.