Do plantation shutters block light, heat and noise?
Plantation shutters control light and glare very well, but they are not blackout. Here is what to expect for light, heat and noise, and how to fill the gaps.
Do plantation shutters block out light? They control it very well, but they are not blackout. Tilting the blades lets you dial daylight from full glare down to a soft glow, and closing them gives good privacy, yet some light shows around the blades and the edges. Here is what to expect from shutters for light, heat and noise, and what to add when you need a darker or quieter room.
In short
- Shutters give fine control of light and glare. Some light shows around the blades and the edges.
- For a very dark room, add a blockout blind or blockout curtains.
- Angling or closing the blades stops direct sun reaching the room, which can make a sunny window more comfortable.
- Shutters do little for noise. Glazing is the better place to start.
- Choose by the job: darkness, glare, privacy, view or comfort.
Do plantation shutters block out light?
Closed plantation shutters block most of the direct light. The blades overlap when tilted shut, so the view and the glare are gone, and the room falls into a soft shade.
Light still gets in in three places:
- Between the blades. Even when tilted shut, blades typically meet along an edge rather than being sealed.
- Around the edges. The frame, the hinges and the joins between panels can all be small paths for light.
- Where panels meet. The D-mould, an overlap lip on the panel edge, blocks the view through the gap between panels. It is standard on every panel we make.
There is no single figure for how much light a shutter blocks, because it depends on the blade angle, the frame, the window and how bright it is outside.
Glare, privacy and view
Where shutters shine is the middle ground. Tilt the blades partly open and you cut glare while keeping some view and daylight. Tilt them shut and you have privacy, and you can adjust them through the day as the sun moves. A roller blind is either up, down or somewhere in between, and it cannot redirect light the way blades do.
Are plantation shutters blackout?
No. Plantation shutters are not blackout. If a room must be as dark as possible, another layer does the heavy lifting. This table shows how the options differ. Many people search for "blackout" and it means the same as blockout, which is the word we use.
| Option | What it does | Where light still gets in |
|---|---|---|
| Plantation shutters | Fine control by tilting the blades | Around the blades and the edges |
| Blockout roller blind | Stops light passing through the cloth and gives night privacy | Around the edges of a conventional blind |
| Cassette roller blind | A headbox, side channels and bottom channel close the gaps around a blockout blind | Far fewer edge gaps than a conventional blind |
| Double roller blind | A blockout layer plus a daylight layer (Screen or Light Filter) on one set of brackets | Around the edges, as with any roller |
| Blockout curtains | Coated, opaque cloth with no light passing through | At the edges, top and bottom |
Read blockout, light filter or SunScreen if you want help choosing a fabric type.
How to make a room with shutters darker
You do not have to give up shutters to get a darker room. Layer a second covering with them.
- Close the blades fully and check the angle so they seat against each other.
- Add blockout curtains on a track that is wider and higher than the window, so the fabric overlaps the wall and covers the frame. To frame a window, add at least 30 per cent to the window width.
- Or choose a blockout blind instead of shutters in the room that matters most. A cassette closes the gaps further, though it needs 50 mm of clear depth.
Our guide on how to pair plantation shutters with curtains covers the clearances you need, and the blockout curtains page shows the fabrics.
Do plantation shutters block out heat?
Shutters can make a sunny window more comfortable, but they are not a substitute for shade outside the glass. Most heat enters a room as sunlight through the window. A closed or angled shutter stops direct sun reaching your floor, furniture and skin, and it puts a covering close to the glass. How much difference it makes depends on your glazing, the window's aspect and how you use the blades.
As a general guide, external shading such as an eave, a tree or an external screen stops more heat than any internal covering, because it keeps the sun off the glass in the first place. Internal coverings then handle glare and the sun that gets through.
| Window faces | What tends to happen | What to do with the blades |
|---|---|---|
| North | Low winter sun reaches deep into the room; summer sun is higher | Open the blades in winter to enjoy the sun; angle them in summer |
| East | Bright, low morning sun | Tilt to cut glare in the morning |
| West | Low, hot afternoon sun | Close or angle the blades early in the afternoon |
| South | Little direct sun | Use the blades for privacy and softening light |
If a window overheats badly, consider adding shading outside, and use shutters to control the sun that remains. A SunScreen roller blind is another option that cuts glare and keeps the view.
Do plantation shutters block out noise?
Shutters are not a soundproofing product. They are a hard, rigid covering with gaps at the blades and the edges, and sound passes through gaps, so the effect on outside noise is modest at best.
If noise is the main problem, start with the window itself: glazing and door seals usually make more difference than any internal covering. Soft furnishings such as curtains can help a little inside a room. Our guide on whether curtains and blinds reduce noise explains what to expect.
When shutters are the wrong first choice
Shutters are excellent for controlling and softening light, but three kinds of room usually call for a blockout-first approach.
- A home theatre or media room. Darkness matters more than the look of the window. Blockout, a full cassette and motorised control are the starting points, and our home theatre blinds page sets them out.
- A nursery or nap room. We suggest ZeroGravity cordless, blockout and cassette roller blinds for nurseries, and the nursery blinds page explains why.
- A bedroom that needs to be as dark as possible. Blockout, a cassette, a double roller and face fit are the tools here, covered on the bedroom blinds page.
You can still use shutters in these rooms for their look and their daytime control, provided a blockout layer sits with them.
Which covering suits which job?
Use this table as a starting point. It matches the job to the covering, and shows where shutters lead or trail.
| Job | Best starting point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The darkest bedroom | Cassette or blockout roller blind, or blockout curtains | Fit and layering matter as much as the product |
| Glare without losing the view | SunScreen roller blind, or shutters with the blades partly open | SunScreen gives daytime privacy only |
| Flexible privacy through the day | Plantation shutters | Adjust the blades as the sun moves |
| Night privacy | Blockout blind or blockout curtains | Shutters closed also give privacy |
| A cooler room in afternoon sun | Shutters angled, with external shading if possible | Depends on glazing and aspect |
| A quieter room | Glazing first | Coverings help only a little |
If you want shutters and the darkest room possible, use both. If you want the darkest room and are not fussed about the look of shutters, a blockout blind or cassette is the more direct route. Our plantation shutters guide shows how shutters fit into the rest of the range.
Tip: On the first evening after your shutters go up, close the blades with the room lights on and look for glow around the edges. It tells you quickly whether a second layer is worth adding.
Questions
Do plantation shutters block out light?
They control light very well by tilting the blades, and closed shutters cut most of the direct light. Some light will show around the blades and the edges.
Are plantation shutters blackout?
No. If a room must be as dark as possible, add a blockout blind or blockout curtains.
Do plantation shutters block out heat?
Angling or closing the blades stops direct sun from reaching the room, which can make a sunny window more comfortable. How much depends on your glazing and the window's aspect.
Do plantation shutters reduce noise?
Shutters are not a soundproofing product. Gaps around the blades and edges let sound through, so glazing is the better place to start if noise is the main problem.
How do I make a room with shutters darker?
Add a second layer, such as blockout curtains on a track wider than the window or a blockout roller blind. Keep the shutter blades fully closed as well.
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Keep reading
Plantation shuttersAre plantation shutters worth it? Value, lifespan and resalePlantation shutters suit some windows far better than others. Weigh where they earn their keep, how long they last and what to check before you buy.
Plantation shuttersPVC or timber plantation shutters: which suits your room?PVC suits wet rooms and painted finishes, while timber suits dry rooms where you want grain or a stain. Compare the two room by room.
Plantation shuttersHow to pair plantation shutters with curtainsShutters and curtains work well together when you plan the clearances first. Here is where to fit the track, which fabrics suit and when to skip curtains.
