When it comes to window coverings, be they blinds, shutters or curtains, the biggest concern for many people is to make sure they are effective when covering up, keeping out excess light and prying eyes alike.

However, it is equally important that they can also be adjusted to maximise the amount of light you let in, especially during the day. That may be simple enough with curtains, but when it comes to blinds and shutters the style and design you use may make a big difference.

This is why having split shutters for windows in Brighton can be so beneficial, especially if you live in one of the many Regency homes with tall windows in the city. With summer coming, you can maximise the light of the long days ahead.

You may even find there are times when you can enjoy being able to see out into the sky at night, when some interesting celestial phenomena is visible, which can even include the Northern Lights.

The idea that this phenomenon, normally only witnessed at far northern latitudes, could be visible as far south as Brighton might have seemed inconceivable to some, but the light show of 23-24 April was witnessed very clearly even in the Scilly Isles and Cornwall. Moreover, this also happened in March. 

With the Solar cycle approaching its maximum, there may be many similar occurrences over the next two years in particular.

Of course, light pollution may play a role, especially if a street light is positioned outside your home. But otherwise you may make a lot of astronomical observations through a clear window, which also means you can be warmer indoors on a clear night.

At the same time, split shutters can still provide you with excellent cover when used, keeping all light out and also helping to keep some heat in. They offer a flexibility that can help you enjoy great control of how much light, northern or otherwise, is visible.

There are many different options when it comes to window coverings and the type you choose will be entirely dependent on your own personal style and taste, however, window shutters are a fantastic option and have many benefits over other types of window coverings.

Firstly, shutters are incredibly low maintenance. Once installed they require little to no care except a gentle wipe every now and again. As they are usually made from wood, cleaning them is extremely easy and can be done very quickly with minimal effort.

Window shutters also are more durable than curtains. Curtains can be easily torn, stepped on, or pulled off the curtain rail and are prone to fading from sunlight, which can damage them and be expensive to repair or replace.

Shutters are usually fitted to the window and as they are so sturdy, are unlikely to break and do not fade from the sunlight, making them a fantastic long-term investment.

They are also incredibly versatile and can be fitted to most sizes and shapes of windows. Curtains on the other hand may not be suitable for windows that are incredibly tall or shaped as they have to sit on a rail.

Window shutters also give you greater control. You are able to adjust panel shutters to filter as much light and air in as you desire. This allows you to enjoy natural light while still maintaining privacy simply by adjusting the angle of the shutters.

This makes them an excellent choice for areas such as the bedroom and living room as it allows you to enjoy the comfort of your home in privacy without having to go without natural light to do so.

While curtains are a great option, they can often limit what you can do in a space and you only have the option of opening or closing them, whereas shutters can be used in many different ways to suit your needs.

One of the most fascinating aspects of shutters and blinds is how there are so many fundamentally different ways to cover a window in a way that blocks out light, looks fantastic and helps improve security.

There are few systems better than solid wood shutters for succeeding at all three, but that does not mean there are no possible alternatives. For example, Germany and other parts of continental Europe feature one of the most unusual types of residential window shutters that can be found anywhere.

The core technology of roller shutters is not unusual at all, and most retail locations, offices and industrial complexes feature roller shutters at some point because they allow for heavy-duty security and protection from most kinds of physical entry attempts.

There are some examples that are strong enough to even prevent ram raids and other high-speed ramming attacks, and they are versatile enough to be used in garages and on the backs of vans.

However, what is unusual in the UK at least is using roller shutters on windows that are not part of a shopfront, but instead, use smaller roller systems to provide light control and a high level of security for homes and apartments.

Known in German as Rollladen, roller shutters are used in the same way plantation shutters are as an exterior window protector that is activated from within either via a pulley system or via electronics.

A variation of these allows for the entire shutter set up to swing out to allow for ventilation.

Practicality is the main factor here, as there is not a lot that can be done to make roller shutters look more aesthetically pleasing, but they have developed an appeal as part of modern or industrial-themed architecture where the visibly functional aspect of the shutters is a benefit and not a problem.

If you are thinking of installing panel shutters, you might have looked at various designs and styles, but what about the colour?

Many people have their own favourite colours and patterns when it comes to interior décor, but the combinations do need to be good to avoid bad mismatches, especially as visitors will be less than impressed if this is not the case.

A second and more specific question may also be asked: What about panel shutters in Brighton? This should be raised because so many of the best windows to have such shutters in are those on Regency buildings, where the white exterior may well match the interior. Equally, however, you may be in a red brick home where different approaches would be better.

Whatever kind of property you live in, the internal colours of your home should certainly have an impact. According to US-based shutters firm LAS Home (and Americans use shutters more than we do) the best advice is that given by Better Homes & Gardens: That you should use two or three colours only in the exterior and these should not clash badly with the shutters.

Instead, it suggests a base colour and an accent colour, as well as colours that complement the homes around you – something worth noting if the whole street is clad in white stucco plaster.

According to Martha Stewart, black could be a very dynamic option for shutters on a home with a white exterior, helping to emphasise the highlights of the design. 

Of course, your shutters face inwards rather than outwards, so you might also want to consider the colours on the inside of your home. These can, of course, be entirely independent of the external appearance, but it is worth considering what may fit well with both the internal and external décor.

For that reason, it is certainly worth checking out different options, not least if you have wider decorating plans for your home. With careful selection, you could use shutters to greatly enhance your home’s appearance, both inside and out.

Shutters are a great option for window coverings that are easy to care for, work well all year round and also look amazing in the home. However, shutters can sometimes gather dust which can leave them looking less than perfect.

Luckily, it is relatively easy to clean your shutters meaning you can enjoy beautiful, dust-free window coverings all the time.

Something to keep in mind when cleaning your shutters is to make sure you use cleaning products that are suitable. Depending on the material, some products may be damaging.

Painted or solid wood shutters should only be cleaned with gentle, safe products. Usually wiping your shutters with just warm water and a soft cloth can do the job, however, buying a gentle polish is also suitable if you need something extra.

If your shutters are metal, you may be able to clean them with stronger detergents however do keep in mind that they should not be left damp. Drying off the shutters after wiping will ensure they stay clean and do not become damaged.

One easy way to keep them clean is to simply give them a dry wipe with a soft, clean cloth regularly. This will displace any gathering dust and keep it from building up meaning cleaning will be a breeze.

You may also use a vacuum along the top of your shutters to remove any dust that has gathered along the edge. This makes it easier to clean the hard-to-reach places that are often missed.

If you find your shutters gather marks and fingerprints, take care to only open them in the proper way. Usually, shutters have a rod that can be tilted or rotated in order to open and close the shutter which helps you to avoid handling the shutter itself.

The climate emergency has many manifestations, but for people living in a coastal town like Worthing, the effects of stormy weather and rising sea levels are sure to be the greatest concern.

Dramatic pictures of a massive crack in the cliffs at Seven Sisters has revealed once again what the forces of nature can do, and while erosion of chalk cliffs has been a continual geological process carrying on down the ages, a more volatile climate could accelerate the process.

All that may leave householders wondering what they can do about a global situation, but it is all of us who contribute to the problem, so we can each be part of the solution too. This even applies to the blinds fitted in windows. 

Fitting plantation shutters in Worthing homes is a smart move because they are made from solid wood, which can be sourced from sustainable forests. This makes it an organic material and also a sustainable one, as well as having fine insulation qualities to help keep energy bills down on colder days. 

The value of wooden plantation shutters has been highlighted by the Low Carbon Buildings website for this very reason, emphasising these different ways they can help reduce our carbon footprint.

Using wood also means less plastic. It is true that plastic is, like wood, plastic is a good insulator because it does not conduct heat in the way that, for instance, metal does. However, it can only be recycled so often and, as we all know, far too much ends up in landfill, in streams and rivers and, ultimately, the sea.

For those living in Worthing and other seaside towns in Sussex it is not just the accelerated weathering effect on chalk cliffs that poses a problem. So too does plastic pollution washing up on the beach. But with plantation wood shutters, there is no way what covers your windows in 2023 will one day end up polluting the sea.

 

The vast majority of panel shutters are horizontally aligned and have been for centuries, but why is this the case, and why do we so rarely see the reverse?

The reason why horizontal shutters are so common is that historically Venetian blinds and shutters have always been made with horizontal louvres, and they are perfectly suited for controlling the light levels of a room.

However, a much rarer configuration, at least with shutters, is shutters with vertical louvres instead of horizontal ones, which can provide a very dramatic look, particularly for rooms with larger windows.

Given the popularity of floor-to-ceiling blinds and the development of effective window coverings for larger and taller windows, it may seem surprising that vertical louvres are less common, but the reasons why are based more on practicality and function than feasibility.

From a feasibility standpoint, they can certainly be manufactured; vertical solid curtain blinds exist and can be commonly seen in many public buildings. All that would need to be done in addition to this construction process is to create a solid panel around the vertical louvres.

This certainly could be made, but why is it far less common than horizontal shutters?

Part of the reason is expense; by definition, a vertically-aligned panel shutter would have longer louvres than a horizontal one, which for many solid wood shutters increases the manufacturing costs to ensure the shutter is as solid and long-lasting as people expect it to be.

As well as this, there is an issue of practicality. Most shutters with louvres are plantation shutters that are designed to open and close as well as have adjustable shutters.

As these panels can be opened regardless, the practicality benefits of vertical shutters are vastly reduced compared to floor-to-ceiling vertical blinds, given that many panels can be opened individually.

Horizontal louvres provide more precise light control and can create the perfect ambience for a building.

The image of Brighton has always been that of an attractive seaside town, although some have seen it in slightly disparaging terms as being slightly downmarket and seedy, at least compared to neighbour Hove. 

However, the best people to ask might not be the large number of holidaymakers who still come to ‘Sussex by the Sea’, but local residents. That is what The Argus has just done. 

By and large, the vox pop responses were positive, with many praising the city and its liberal social culture and one praising the “seagulls [actual birds, not the football team] and sunsets”.

However, the comments were a bit more mixed when it came to the built environment. While one praised “The Lanes, the North Laine, the parks,” she also lamented the decline of Madeira Drive. 

One said the city “needs a spring clean these days” and another called it “a bit tired and grubby in places”, although he would still not want to live anywhere else.

Another respondent actually found a positive in the mix of good and bad, claiming that “knowing that it has always, always been a balance of the sublime and the shabby” was a good thing, as he could “walk unafraid through shanty towns and five-star hotels”.

However, some may not be so keen on the thought that the downside to the appearance of parts of Brighton might be anything to do with their own home’s appearance. Could more window shutters in Brighton help this?

The answer is surely yes, because attractive shutters certainly look more stylish than grubby old curtains, while fitting them could be a part of a wider window renovation project. 

Indeed, in a city where it is not just fancy hotels but many apartments for everyday living that are building in Regency style, having stylish window spaces could add some extra lustre in the most visually prominent places.

It may be that many love Brighton ‘warts and all’, but there is no reason for its residents not to make it look even better.

 

There are many good reasons to fit stylish shutter blinds in Brighton, which go so well with the tall windows common in the city’s Regency architecture. But the way your windows look, while important, is not the whole picture.

In order for your shutters not just to perform a utility role in your home but also to match up with the rest, you may need to consider the design and how these fit with other fixtures, fittings and furnishings in your home. For example, you may want the colours or the materials used in your shutters to match up with your bookshelves, and vice-versa.

Indeed, it appears that the average Brighton and Hove resident is much more likely to have a lot of bookshelves than most. A new survey by the Holiday Cottages website has revealed Brighton is in the top five UK locations for book lovers.  

According to a spokesperson for the website, this is not surprising. She said: “Brighton and Hove is a city famed for its creative and culturally rich environment, so it makes sense that this seaside city is in the top five UK literary hot spots.”

Indeed, one might reflect on the many famous books and series set in the city, from Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock to Agatha Christie’s Evil Under the Sun and Bethan Roberts’ My Policeman. One can only hope that not all the literature on Brighton book shelves is crime-related. 

Often if you are shopping for window coverings you can read lots of articles discussing the relative merits of blinds compared with shutters. While these are certainly worth reading to give you food for thought and ideas to discuss with our experts, it is just as important to make sure you are also thinking about how your choice will fit with the rest of your home.

 

As a shutter company can attest, the time when most people look into installing wooden shutters is during the summer, as they can help brighten up a room whilst also controlling the light and heat, making summer lounging more enjoyable.

However, in order to keep shutters and blinds functioning at their best all year round, they need to be carefully taken care of during winter.

With that in mind, here are some top tips to protect and take care of window shutter systems during the cold, wet winter months.

 

Keep Temperatures Consistent

The biggest concern for people when it comes to shutters is the issue of condensation, which is caused by heat colliding with a cold surface such as a window. This can lead to the build-up of mould, which not only can cause health concerns but affect your shutters too.

Whilst there are a lot of approaches you can take to minimise the amount of condensation your windows will deal with through ventilation and double glazing, one of the best solutions is to avoid rapid fluctuations in temperature.

Set your central heating to a lower, consistent temperature that it can remain on throughout the day.

 

Avoid Air Drying Clothes

Drying clothes near a radiator using a clothes horse inherently increases the humidity in the room, which in itself can make condensation worse.

If you do not have a tumble dryer, try to cycle the rooms you dry clothes within in order to avoid all of the moisture being concentrated in one place, and take advantage of dehumidifiers and extractor fans wherever possible to avoid extra moisture which can affect the shutters.

 

Dust Then Wipe

Keep on top of dusting and wiping the louvres, starting by using a feather duster to wipe away dry dust before taking to the shutters with a slightly damp microfibre cloth.