Not sure which style of plantation shutter is right for your home? You're in the right place. Whether you're after privacy, light control, insulation or simply a classic look, there's a shutter style to suit every window and every home. Here's everything you need to know.
Full Height Shutters
Full height shutters are the classic plantation shutter, a single panel that covers your entire window from top to bottom. Clean, simple and timeless, they're the most popular style we offer and work beautifully in almost any room.
Who are they best for?
Full height shutters suit almost every window and interior style. They're a great choice if you want a streamlined, uncluttered look and full control over light and privacy in one panel. They work especially well in living rooms, bedrooms and home offices where you want a neat finish that complements your décor without fuss.
If you're not planning to open the panels back frequently, full height shutters are the most practical option , they're simpler to operate than tier on tier and give a cleaner overall look.
The mid-rail option
A mid-rail is a horizontal bar that divides the slats across the middle of the panel, allowing you to tilt the top and bottom slats independently. This is a popular addition on taller windows — you can keep the top slats open for light while angling the lower slats for privacy. It's a great way to get some of the flexibility of tier on tier shutters without the additional cost.
Things to consider
Whether you need a mid-rail
Worth considering on taller windows for light and privacy control
How often you'll open the panels
If rarely, fewer wider panels will look cleaner and let more light in when closed
Room brightness
If the room is already dark, full height gives you the most control over maximising light
Tier on Tier Shutters
Tier on tier shutters, also known as double hung shutters, are split into two independent sections, allowing you to open and close the top and bottom panels separately. They offer the ultimate flexibility when it comes to balancing privacy and light.
Who are they best for?
Tier on tier shutters are ideal if privacy is your main concern but you don't want to compromise on natural light. They're a brilliant solution for bedroom and living room windows overlooking a busy road or neighbouring property — keep the lower panels closed for privacy while folding the top panels back to let the light pour in. They're also one of the most popular choices for Victorian and Edwardian sash window style bay windows, where their classic look fits perfectly with the period architecture.
Things to consider
Budget
Tier on tier is generally more expensive than full height due to the additional hardware and complexity
How often you'll use the independent opening
If the answer is rarely, full height with a mid-rail might be simpler and better value
Window size
They work best on taller windows where the two tiers are well proportioned
Café Style Shutters
Café style shutters cover the lower half of your window only, leaving the top section open. Inspired by the street-side cafés of Paris and Amsterdam, they're a beautifully simple way to add charm and character to your home.
Who are they best for?
Café style shutters are the perfect choice if you live on a busy street or ground floor and want to stop passers-by peering in, without sacrificing the natural light coming in from the top of the window. They work particularly well in kitchens, living rooms and period properties where you want to preserve the look of the window and let light flood in.
Things to consider
Window height
Café shutters work best on standard height windows, on very tall windows they can look unbalanced
What you'll put on the top half
Works great left bare or paired with a blind or curtain for evenings.
Street level
How overlooked is your window and how much of it needs covering
Perfect Fit Shutters
Perfect Fit shutters are a no-drill shutter blind designed specifically for uPVC windows and doors. Rather than being fixed to the wall or window recess, the panels clip directly onto your window frame using a specially designed bracket, meaning no drilling, no mess and no damage to your frames.
Who are they best for?
Perfect Fit shutter blinds are ideal if you have uPVC windows, tilt and turn windows, French doors or patio doors and want a clean, neat finish without any visible fixings or framework. They're a particularly popular choice for modern homes and conservatories, and because the shutters clip directly onto the door or window frame, they move with it when you open it, making them as practical as they are stylish.
Things to consider
Window and door compatibility
Perfect Fit shutters are only suitable for uPVC windows, French doors and patio doors with rubber beading between the frame and the glass. They are not suitable for timber frames, sliding doors or bifold doors, for these we'd recommend full height bifold shutters.
Bracket depth You'll need to measure your window or door beading depth to ensure you order the correct bracket size. Check out Perfect Fit shutters measuring guide.
Glass clearance You'll need at least 25mm of clearance around the glass for the shutters to fit correctly.
Not Sure Which Style is Right for You?
Here's a simple way to think about it:
Choose Café Style if you want to keep the top of your window open for light and only need privacy at the lower half, great for ground floor rooms and period properties.
Choose Tier on Tier if you want full flexibility to control light and privacy independently at the top and bottom of your window, ideal for busy roads and sash bay window.
Choose Full Height if you want a classic, clean look with full coverage of your window and simple operation, the most versatile and popular choice for any room.
Choose Perfect Fit if you have uPVC windows, French doors or patio doors and want a no-drill, no-fuss solution that clips neatly onto your existing frame.
Still not sure? Our team are on hand to help. Try our Live Chat or send us an email and we'll point you in the right direction.