There is a fine line between a beautiful hot summer’s day and an unbearable heatwave, and in recent years a lot of homeowners have struggled with the latter.

A heatwave, in particular one that pairs high temperatures with high humidity, can quickly go from highly enjoyable to painful or even dangerous, particularly if you live and work in a place that gets especially warm in summer.

However, respite can come from an unlikely source in the form of your wooden shutters, regardless of the form they take.

Part of the reason for this is the same reason why the right shutters can help you sleep better at night; they block out light and heat.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, it is best to keep windows and shutters closed during the hottest points of the day and then open windows in the evening to allow cool air to circulate at night.

However, naturally, this should not mean sitting in darkness, meaning that the controlled light of louvred shutters can avoid glare and oppressive heat whilst letting the sunshine in.

Alongside this, many shutter designs are white, off-white or an otherwise light pastel colour, which makes them perfect for reflecting sunlight back rather than absorbing it, further reducing the heat coming into a room.

The materials conventional shutters are made from as well are a surprisingly important factor and can make shutters worth it on their own.

Wood is a natural insulating material, and this not only means that it helps to keep homes warm in winter but also absorbs heat during the summer without conducting and transferring it to the rest of the room they are installed in.

The thicker they are and the higher quality wood they are made from, the better they will be at this, and this not only will make homes more comfortable, but they will also reduce energy bills.

Over the summer months during a particularly potent heatwave, one potential suggestion for helping to keep the heat out of a home was to fit solid wooden shutters that could not only create shade but also keep the blazing heat out.

With winter approaching and temperatures plummeting, could these very same shutters also help to keep your home warmer?

The answer is an emphatic yes, regardless of whether your shutters have been fitted to the inside or outside of your windows, as long as they fit across the entire area of your window and are made from solid material such as wood, a natural insulator.

To understand why, it is important to understand why any insulating material works in the first place.

Insulation works to stop heat flow, which can occur through either thermal conduction (where two objects of different temperatures touch each other) or thermal radiation, where the heat (or cold) that radiates from an object affects another object, such as how being near a fire keeps you warm.

Glass is famously very good at conducting heat, which is why it can sometimes feel colder than the ambient temperature, as well as why extreme temperature differences can cause it to shatter. Double glazing fixes this by having a vacuum layer between two sheets of glass which theoretically stops the cold from getting in as much.

Wooden shutters help this process partly by adding yet another layer between the cold air and your room, but also because the wood has many small holes and fibres that trap the cold air and create a barrier against the cold, similar to how a woollen coat keeps you warm precisely because it has holes between the fibres.

As a result, not only is a wooden shutter a beautiful addition to any room and not only has it proven effective at keeping the heat out in summer, it may be a sound investment to keep the heat in as well this winter.

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.

Bay windows are a highly sought-after feature in a house, whether for a period Victorian or Edwardian era home, or a more modern property. They were introduced to grander mansion houses in the UK during the Renaissance period, from the late 15^th century to the early 17^th century.

They are windows made up of three panels or more, which protrude beyond the exterior wall, on either the lower or upper floors. The most typical style of bay window is a hexagonal or octagonal shape, but they can also be curved or square. Upper storey protruding windows are usually referred to as oriel windows.

Until the late 19^th century, building regulations meant that bay windows were limited to grander styles of architecture and mansion houses. However, a rule change in 1894 meant that ordinary houses could enjoy the benefit of extra space and light, and the extended views afforded by a bay window.

While bay windows are a very attractive and desirable feature in a property, they can present a challenge when it comes to window dressings. Maintaining the sense of space and light control while providing adequate insulation and privacy takes some extra consideration.

Curtain rails are difficult to fit to bay windows, as they are often an irregular size. Even if a rail is installed, it is very tricky to achieve a close fit, meaning that the curtains let heat escape and light filter in. They can also look bulky, and detract from the sense of space created by the window.

Therefore, shutters are a great choice for bay windows, whatever the style of the property. They can be custom made to fit exactly, providing perfect blackout and privacy when you need it, and much more effective insulation. Full height shutters cover the entire window; ideal for lower floors where you want maximum light and privacy control.

For upper floor windows which are not overlooked, café style shutters are a popular choice. They are half-height, allowing the light to flood in. For the best of both worlds, you could also opt for tier-on-tier shutters, where the top and bottom half can be operated independently.

 

For more information on shutter blinds in Brighton, talk to us today.