Are Shutters More Expensive Than Blinds and Curtains?

When you begin researching window dressings, price is often the first thing on your mind. If you’ve looked at high-street blinds or ready-made curtains, a quote for made to measure shutters can sometimes come as a surprise.

 

The short answer is: yes, shutters usually have a higher upfront cost. However, the "real" cost of a window dressing isn't just the number on the receipt, it’s how long it lasts, how much value it adds to your home, and how much it saves you on your energy bills.

Comparing the upfront costs

It is helpful to look at where your money actually goes with each option:

Off-the-shelf Blinds and Curtains

These are the cheapest option because they are mass-produced in standard sizes. They are often made from synthetic fabrics or thin aluminium. While they do the job, they rarely offer a perfect fit and often need replacing every 3 to 5 years as they fade, fray, or the mechanisms fail.

Made-to-measure Curtains

High-quality, lined curtains can actually be very expensive—sometimes matching the price of shutters. When you factor in the cost of premium fabric, professional sewing, and heavy-duty curtain tracks, the price gap starts to disappear.

Plantation Shutters

Shutters are a joinery product. They are made from solid hardwood (like our sustainably sourced Paulownia) and are engineered to be a permanent part of your window. Because they are custom-built to the millimetre, they require more craftsmanship than a simple roller blind.

 

 

The "Cost Per Year" argument

This is where shutters really win. A standard roller blind in a sunny window will likely start to look tired and brittle within a few years. Curtains can hold onto dust and odours, eventually requiring expensive dry cleaning or replacement.

Shutters are built to last for decades. They don’t warp, they don’t fray, and they don’t go out of style. If a set of DIY shutters lasts 20+ years, the "cost per year" is significantly lower than buying four or five sets of "cheap" blinds over the same period.

 

Image Credit: @this_home_bird

 

 

Saving money on energy bills

One cost that people often forget to factor in is insulation. Standard blinds offer very little thermal protection. Shutters, however, act as a secondary glazing layer.

 

By trapping a pocket of air between the shutter and the window, they reduce heat loss in the winter and keep rooms much cooler in the summer. Over several years, the savings on your heating and cooling bills can actually help pay back the initial cost of the shutters.

Why DIY changes the price game

The main reason people think shutters are "too expensive" is because of the quotes they receive from full-service companies. These companies have to cover the cost of surveyors, installers, and sales commissions.

 

By choosing DIY, you remove those "hidden" costs. You get the exact same premium hardwood product used by the professionals, but you only pay for the materials. This typically makes DIY shutters about 60% cheaper than a "measure and fit" service—bringing them much closer to the price of high-end curtains.

 

Image credit: @tw_terrace

 

 

Adding value to your home

Finally, consider the resale value. Most buyers view curtains as "second-hand fabric" and expect them to be removed. Shutters are viewed as a high-end architectural feature that stays with the house. They increase "kerb appeal" and can actually make your home more attractive to potential buyers, effectively acting as an investment in your property's value.

 

 

Image credit: @georgianlodgehome