What’s the Difference Between Shutters and Blinds?

Although shutters usually cost a bit more than other window coverings, they are a fixed feature. That means they add value to your home, but they also have a durability that even blinds can’t match.

Shutters help increase privacy while giving you greater control over airflow and how much natural light enters the room. They have a unique style, quite literally, as shutters are custom designed to fit your windows. Shutters are a true marriage between form and function.

With most shutters, you control light and airflow via adjustable slats. Both plantation and louvered models feature adjustable slats and they’re the most common types of interior shutters, particularly in Arizona.

There are also shutters made from solid panels. Common styles in this type include Shaker, board and batten, and raised panel. This type is less common Phoenix because they don’t allow gradations of light; they’re either open or closed.

Although also custom made for your windows, blinds tend to be more affordable than shutters. Similar to shutters, the adjustable slats on blinds offer great light control.

Also like shutters, blinds come in a variety of styles and materials. The two main categories are vertical and horizontal.

Vertical blinds are more commonly seen on larger windows and sliding glass doors. The slats adjust in much the same way as horizontal blinds, only from side to side instead of top to bottom. Panel blinds also run vertically, but they open and close by moving along a track.

The most popular horizontal blind style is Venetian blinds. Other styles include:

• Mini blinds have smaller slats, generally 1″ wide
• Micro blinds are even smaller than mini, with slats that are 1/2″ wide
• Pleated blinds (sometimes called pleated shades) are made from a solid piece of material with pleats similar to the body of an accordion
• Cellular blinds (sometimes called cellular shades) are similar to pleated but are made from two pieces of material, with the space in the middle serving as insulation

Blinds are great for blocking light, an important feature during Arizona’s hot summer months. And with so many materials and styles available, it’s easy to find the right look for your décor.