Shutters: yes or no?

I love maximum light and solar gain during the day so colonial shutters are a definite no in the U.K.
When I lived in the tropics they were great at cutting down the glare and keeping the place cool.

Are you sure? Some folk find that - unless they completely collapse back - they greatly reduce the natural light, and they do not look authentic on period buildings. Unless on a plantation! But I’d have thought they would decrease condensation..

I have them on the bay window in my bedroom and I love them

No condensation problems and they let in lots of light

Highly recommend them. Have just had them fitted to all the windows in our new bungalow. They certainly don’t cut out the light, and there is a good clearance between them and the window so any condensation dosn’t touch them. DD1 has had them for some while now and recommended them. They make the room look light and bright. Possibly cost a bit more than curtains but we think well worth it.

Having lived in southern France for 15 years I cannot understand why they are not standard in UK as they are here. The climate calls for it!

They shade the sun in summer and keep the heat in winter. It's possible to hook them slightly open so can have airflow.

We have loads of windows all with double glazing, lined curtains and shutters. Never had a problem with condensation.

My friend has had them fitted in her lovely period home, and they do look most attractive. However - they do cut out a lot of natural light, even when the slats are opened fully. Also, with the type of full length shutter she has, in order to swing them back you do need space, and have furniture postioned so that you can get the shutter back against the wall - in other words, a large room. They have been excellent in the very hot weather and have helped to keep the room cool.

My husband and I are both involved with interiors, and his comment is that the gap between the windows and the shutters, plus the fact that they are just slats would not give you condensation problems. However, from the design point of view, make sure you are happy with the fact that if in situ constantly (ie not folded to the sides) you are happy with the feeling of not being able to see out. You may of course have space to fold them back and intend to do so. I would also recommend that you look/consider from outside too, at the proposed 'lines' that will be there once fitted, because you will always then be looking at the lines of the windows AND the lines of the shutter panels, and sometimes this can look very 'busy' and cluttered

I love ours....we started with them in the lounge. I was worried about the lack of light but it isnt an issue. They keep heat in in the winter & the house cool in the summer. We have now had them fitted throughout the house. Best decision we have made. No condensation issues. Windows can be opened easily. We have the bathroom & en suite ones made of moisture proof material. Expensive but worth it in my opinion! Go for it.

I have had no condensation problems over 10 years.
Love them, especially tier-on-tier, i.e. separate lower and upper sections - can close the lower for privacy and still keep the light in upper.

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Dull day today and here is the difference between open and closed, no internal lights on. Building work outside!

My uncle and aunt have them. We last visited on a rainy day. The room was very dark and they had to put the lights on so we could see them.
I suspect that they're fine in hot sunny places but are fashionable here just now. However, it's people's choice.

I am afraid that we do get condensation overnight on our windows when our shutters are closed, but I am pretty sure we did before they were fitted as well. Simplest way of dealing with that is using a window vacuum. The shutters don’t get wet themselves, though, and it has not adversely the shutters so far and this is their third winter.
We are really pleased with our shutters, which we have on south facing windows upstairs and down, in place of curtains. You can adjust the angle of the blades in blocks so that you can let more or less light in and we don’t find they cut out too much light.

We were going for shutters but too expensive. Instead from Blinds direct we got blinds in white that let daylight still flood through and they can be opened from top or bottom for privacy. I can see the beautiful skies without anyone looking in the bottom half and still see to do my crocheting. They are wonderful and easy to install yourself and cheap but don't look cheap. Don't get shutters just cause everyone else has be the one to save some money!

My daughter has them. Double glazed windows and NO condensation. I think they look fab ?

I have had mine, on all our windows, for about 10 years. I love them. You can close whatever shutter you need, to block excessive sunlight. I wouldn't be without them.

I live in a 215 year old house and have old wooden shutters in many of the rooms. They fold right back into the window frames. I use them all the year round unless it is very hot. I also have curtains in the bedroom which I close after the shutters. There is some condensation but I also get it in rooms without shutters. It does not affect the shutters. As my flat is on the ground floor I feel they are also good for security.

Do you mean indoor or outdoor shutters?

I grew up in an old house with indoor shutters. They caused no problems at all with condensation, but that was in the days before central heating.

I loved them, the rooms became a couple of degrees warmer when they were closed - always a good thing in the west of Scotland in those days and the rooms were really dark at night when the lights were off.

I have no experience of outdoor shutters, except in Spain, where you take the windows down in the summer in most places.

I love mine. Had them up for over four years now. I only got them put up in the living room as that’s all I could afford but if I could afford it I’d have them all over. No problems at all

I have wooden shutters , really love them. They act as extra insulation, great for privacy and no need for curtains. I have had no condensation but I must point out I live in a newish house with triple glazing. Only downside is there is a little light seepage at the top and bottom of the shutters ok for downstairs but in summer if you’re a light sleep it could be an issue.

We are having new French doors with built in Venetian blinds, no dusting!!

I love my shutters. They look wonderful. They finish the windows so well. There is no need to keep drawing curtains (better for asthma etc) and, since they are wooden, any condensation doesn’t effect them at all. I have had mine for 7 years and they look as good now as they day they were fitted.

Also, for those who say that they reduce natural light, be aware that each section can be fully opened (as you would a window).

I had them in my last house - I love shutters, my present house is an Arts and Craft 1920s house and they just wouldn’t suit its country cottage style - otherwise I’d have them at every window!

I have them in my living room. They r excellent. They look good, r easy to clean, adjust how much light to let in.
I am very happy with them.
There is such a large variety available , that u will be spoilt for choice.

I have them in my living room. They r excellent. They look good, r easy to clean, adjust how much light to let in.
I am very happy with them.
Have has no undue condensation problem with them
There is such a large variety available these days , that u will be spoilt for choice.