By the 18th and 19th centuries, glassmaking and window pane installation had evolved to the point that most buildings could afford to have any glass fitted in their windowpanes, at least if they could afford to pay the window tax.

However, even with this in mind, shutters were still widely used in the 19th century, and in places such as the American Frontier, they were more popular than ever before, and for reasons that were equal parts an assertion of wealth and the result of practicality, depending on exactly where they were based.

In terms of practicality, they were often still used early on during the travels westward because glass windows were still a non-trivial expense that could not be wasted on log cabins and wooden buildings that might need to be abandoned quickly.

As a result, most windows were fitted with oiled paper, which whilst not transparent was at least translucent enough to allow light in.

Given that paper is not particularly resistant to the elements, it needed an additional layer of protection, which was often provided by solid wood shutters.

As frontier settlements became towns, these shutters were still used even as the paper was replaced by glass, primarily as a security method to secure buildings with valuable goods in them such as saloons and shops.

By contrast, in the American South, wooden shutters were used less as a necessity when battling the elements and more as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

This was particularly the case with plantation complexes, which is why louvred shutters which can also be opened are known as plantation shutters. These were typically placed on the outside of a building to emphasise their nature as a status symbol, as well as a means to block and reflect bright sunlight.

As the era of the frontier ended with the dawn of the 20th century, wooden shutters have not only endured but a wider variety of them have become more accessible.

For many people living on Brighton, the windows can provide a huge source of light. Regency architecture was always designed to ensure that homes received plenty of natural illumination in an age when homes were lit by gas lamps and electricity was still some way off.

Depending on the time of year, this can be a mixed blessing. While the long light days of summer can provide lots of pleasant evening illumination, they can cause problems in the morning; without effective means of blanking out the light, residents may find they are awoken very early by the summer sun’s dazzling rays.

However, now autumn is beginning a different proposition presents itself. The mornings may be getting darker, but so are the evenings. Now the advantage of having lots of window space can be maximised to make the most of what there is.

This is why having full height wooden shutters in Brighton is so ideal. It is not just that they can keep the light out when required, but they are also great at opening up to let it in, whereas, for example, curtains can take up a lot of space at either end of the window and reduce the amount of light coming in. 

Other reasons for needing the great flexibility shutters offer is the fact that the sun can often be low at awkward angles at times of the day that won’t be a problem in summer – when it is higher – or winter, when it is lower. In Autumn, however, it may be at just the right angle to dazzle. No better time to keep the shutters closed.

The other side of that coin is you may want to keep the shutters open in the evening if the sun is setting, especially if you have a south-westerly view over the sea, where it can be a magnificent sight not to be missed. Either way, the flexibility full height shutters offer provides great flexibility to both let the sun in and keep it out. 

Summer in Brighton has been a hot time this year, with no lack of excuses to head for the seafront. But if the season has been great for splashing about in the sea, lazing on the beach or just getting out and about in the heat, the months ahead are a different prospect.

The end of summer will always bring some disappointments as the days get shorter, the leaves start to fall and cricket stumps are pulled up at Hove for the last time this year. But this year brings a real sense of foreboding as the Energy Price Cap soars and many will worry about how to keep their homes warm, especially in Regency buildings with high ceilings.

However, this is where the use of full height window shutters in Brighton can prove invaluable. The reason for this is that wooden shutters are by definition made from a material that insulates and, because they are made-to-measure and don’t leave lots of gaps for cold air to sneak through, will help keep the warmer air inside the room on cold nights. 

This could prove particularly essential in the winter ahead as the temperatures drop, as homes with good insulation will be better equipped to cope with the heating being used sparingly in order to keep energy bills down. Indeed, now may be a good time to invest in insulating measures of various kinds.

February is the coldest month of the year in Brighton, based on figures from the weather station at nearby Shoreham Airport, with an average of around six degrees. Being a seaside town and further south than most of Britain, the winter will be milder than in nearly every other part of the UK.

Even so, it will still get cold, so now is the time to take steps to ensure your home is kept as well-insulated and warm as possible, helping you use less energy while still remaining warm in the coming months.

When redecorating your bathroom, there are so many fixtures and fittings to consider, you might not even think about how to dress the windows until the last minute. Although it can be tempting at this point to opt for the safe choice of blinds, it is worth opening your mind and thinking of wooden shutters instead.

This is because there are so many benefits of choosing shutters for your bathroom, starting with being able to control privacy in this personal space. As shutter slats can be open either partly or fully, homeowners can easily alter the exposure they want through their windows.

Café-style shutters are particularly ideal for this, as the top part can be kept open to allow light into the room, while the bottom half can be closed when one is changing or in the shower. This also enables homeowners to control the amount of light in the room, which is particularly useful in a small or dark bathroom.

Another benefit of shutters in bathrooms is they are easy to clean. They simply need wiping down when they become dusty. They are known to dry quickly, preventing them from deteriorating in the moist air. This is unlike blinds, which easily become damp and, therefore, end up mouldy in humid washrooms.

Although many people would think wood is not the best material for bathrooms, many shutters are now water-resistant and are made with co-polymer coating, which means they can last a long time in moist conditions.

 

Check out our full height window shutters in Brighton by taking a look here.

This summer, the United Kingdom had a particularly strong and long-lasting heatwave, meaning that many people were looking for innovative ways to beat the heat.

However, for people who own solid wood shutters, one of the best ways to keep the heat out in summer and keep warmth from escaping in winter is to close the shutters.

A study by English Heritage found that shutters could reduce the amount of heat that was lost by over 50 per cent, with similar results found for stopping heat from getting in.

This is one of the benefits of shutters that you might not have expected, but there are other considerable benefits that range from the obvious improvements to privacy, lighting and ventilation, to other more unexpected benefits.

Here are just a few more benefits to plantation shutters.

 

Easier To Clean

Curtains can be a bit of a nightmare to clean, and so many people either limit their curtain cleaning to an occasional dusting or do not bother at all, which means that they are at risk of containing potential contagions, pathogens, allergens, and dust.

Shutters can simply, easily and efficiently be wiped clean, not requiring any more maintenance than that to last years.

 

Soundproofing

Because plantation shutters are made from a more solid material than traditional curtains or even Venetian blinds, they can be very effective when closed as a soundproofing material.

Part of the reason for this is the material; the solid wood construction blocks out external noise in the same way a door does, and because of this external noise is reduced.

This can make shutters very useful as a home studio or home office soundproofing solution as an augmentation to other soundproofing methods, allowing for more professional communications and better results.

To achieve similar results, curtains have to be particularly thick and made from a material suitable for soundproofing, which is less likely to be found in a home setting.

Many homeowners would love to renovate their properties, but with the cost-of-living crisis forcing most people to look after their pennies, they might not have enough money spare to carry out their redecorating plans.

However, there are still things that can be done to give your home a new lease of life. Firstly, The Telegraph suggests a fresh lick of paint to make a room feel completely different.

It also suggested painting ceilings, woodwork, walls and floors in the same colour to create a “complete look”, saying this “feels cocooning and lovely”.

Plastering wallpaper can also transform a room. However, the publication recommended avoiding feature walls, as stylist Gabby Deeming said: “It smacks of lack of commitment.”

“Wallpaper is at its best in the round,” she stated, saying when it is done properly, it can look “beautiful”.

Simply rearranging furniture and fittings can make a room feel different, with Ms Deeming telling readers: “I like to change the position of some chairs, or rotate a table, or swap some lamps around.”

Texture is also important when redecorating a room, such as a velvet sofa or leather upholstery. The trick is to mix it up, so there is not too much repetition.

Fitting split shutters for windows can also make a huge impact in updating a room. In addition to adding luxuriousness and value to the property, shutters have many practical advantages too. These include keeping cold air out during the winter, and heat out in the warm summer months.

When it comes to solid wood shutters, the best way to ensure you achieve a stunning and timeless aesthetic where your home interiors are concerned is to go for a set in a beautiful classic shade of white.

White is wonderful for embracing a clean and minimalist look and feel at home, making them the perfect addition to any stylish and contemporary interior design scheme.

They really stand out and bring your windows to life in a way that curtains simply don’t achieve and they tie in really well with a range of different design concepts, everything from the Mediterranean look to French decor or even shabby chic.

If you’re new to interior design and don’t want to make poor choices that you then have to live with for years, white is the obvious option for your shutters since the colour is easy to match up with other shades and it’s quite hard for it to go wrong. 

You’ll also be able to redecorate over the years without anything to worry about, since white works well with all sorts of different shades and colour palettes.

Practically speaking, going for white shutters is a wise investment, since white fabric will show signs of wear and tear comparatively quickly. In contrast, your shutters will really stand the test of time and look as good as they did when they were first installed, even many years down the line.

Shutters are also very easy to clean and maintain, so if you have noticed that the white is starting to dull somewhat, simply wipe the slats down with a microfibre cloth to bring them back to life in an instant.

At this time of year, there may be a great temptation to invest in new blinds, curtains or shutters. While the long daylight hours can bring a great delight to many, not least when walking along the shore or sitting out on a lovely light evening, the mornings can be an issue.

This is when you need solid panel shutters in Brighton, for while the summer sun may rise earlier in the north, it is still more than bright enough to wake people long before their alarm clocks go off. For some, this lack of sleep can be quite a problem, not least if they have young children who are literally up at first light.

While midsummer sunrise in Brighton comes before 05:00, anyone fancying an early night might appreciate the shutters before the sunset, which comes at nearly 20 minutes past nine in the evening.

Just as relevant, however, is the brightness of the sun in the day. While the daylight hours are longer further north, the sun gets higher in the south, up to 62 degrees at noon. That means if you are indoors and want a break from the sun or want to work without being dazzled, shutters can be invaluable in the day.

All this may make it sound like such shutters are chiefly of use in midsummer, which will soon pass. However, the fact is they can be just as important, if not more, later and earlier in the year. A low sun in autumn and winter can be even more dazzling, getting as low as 16 degrees above the horizon in December.

It is also worth noting that solid wooden shutters are great insulators, helping keep the heat in. That matters little in summer, but come the winter it will be of great benefit, especially this year with energy prices expected to rise again in the autumn.

Quite simply, solid wood shutters do not just help prevent premature awakening in summer or dazzling winter sun. They can also play an invaluable part in keeping your home warm when these long, sunny days of summer are a distant memory.

Households up and down the country are growing increasingly concerned about the rising cost of living, but this has not stopped half of Brits planning to renovate their home this year.

According to the latest findings from Experian, the majority of the country want to update their home before 2022 is over, with one in ten of these doing so to make their property more energy-efficient. This will help them pay for household energy bills, as these continue to rise, reported the Express.

Head of consumer affairs at Experian James Jones told the newspaper: “As the cost-of-living crisis continues to squeeze families, households are being forced to tightly budget.”

The survey found as much as a third of people are planning home improvement jobs to add value to their property, as well as boost their mood. This will help them if they go to sell their home, as they will be able to increase their equity and, potentially, release some cash.

One way to increase the asking price of a property and improve its energy-efficiency is to install shutter blinds in your Brighton home.

These look chic and stylish, from both the inside and outside, helping to boost the home’s kerb appeal and get viewers through the front door.

In addition to this, they are excellent at keeping houses warm during the winter, as they create a substantial barrier to the outside and prevent heat from escaping.

Solid shutters, in particular, are a good choice for cold houses, as the block of wood prevents any heat loss.

Having a home you are proud of is incredibly important and while you may have definite ideas for the big parts, paying extra attention to the details is a great way to ensure you have everything perfected for your space. 

Window coverings may seem like the last task on your to do list, but choosing the right kind can really change the entire look and feel of a room.

Blinds are a popular option as they are easy to install, easy to use and come in a range of colours and styles. The simplicity of blinds is part of what attracts people to them and the option to have them hidden is also a huge bonus. However, blinds can feel dull and boring and while functional, they add little to a room aesthetically.

Shutters are a fantastic alternative to those who want both style and functionality. Shutters act not only as window coverings but also as a feature of your home. Aesthetically, they are wonderful and can add a classic and fashionable touch to any room. 

Durability is also a huge positive. Well-made shutters can last a lifetime and if maintained properly will look incredible for years, whereas alternatives like blinds and curtains often deteriorate from exposure to sun and various cleaning products. 

Shutters are also fantastic insulators, which only makes them more desirable. They are able to be opened and closed depending on whether you want to retain heat or allow air flow. 

There is also a wide range of materials that they can be made from, meaning you have far more flexibility when choosing the style that is right for you.

Low maintenance, durable and stylish, shutters are a fantastic way to add character and individuality to your home and are sure to be a talking point for guests. 

 

For bespoke window shutters, visit The Brighton Shutter Company today.