Why Are Vertical Shutters So Rare? | The Brighton Shutter Co
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.
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