Inspired Glazing supplies and fits made-to-measure plantation shutters and interior window shutters. We offer full height, tier-on-tier, café style, bay window and tracked shutters for bifold and sliding doors, in hardwood, MDF or waterproof vinyl. Shutters give you fine control over light and privacy, add a little insulation, and become a permanent part of the room in a way blinds and curtains do not. We measure and fit them ourselves across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, west Kent and north West Sussex from our base in Fifield near Windsor.
What are plantation shutters?
Plantation shutters are interior shutters made of hinged panels fitted with horizontal louvres. You tilt the louvres to angle daylight up to the ceiling, block the view from the street, or close them fully for privacy. The panels themselves swing open to clear the window completely for cleaning or ventilation. Most are fixed into a frame inside the window recess, so they look built in.
Shutter styles
Full height shutters
Each panel covers the whole window from top to bottom. A horizontal mid-rail is usually added on taller windows, so you can tilt the upper and lower louvres independently. Full height shutters give a clean, simple look and are the most popular style for living rooms and bedrooms.
Tier-on-tier shutters
Two separate sets of panels, one above the other, each opening on its own. You can fold back the top tier for daylight while the lower tier stays closed for privacy. That makes this style ideal for street-facing rooms and ground-floor bedrooms. It also suits sash windows, because the upper and lower sashes can be reached separately.
Café style shutters
Café style shutters cover only the lower part of the window, usually up to about half or two-thirds height. They give privacy at eye level and leave the upper glass clear for maximum light. They are popular in kitchens, bathrooms and period terraces, and are often the most affordable way to try shutters.
Bay window shutters
Bays are where shutters really shine, and where good measuring matters most. Each face of the bay gets its own panels, set on a frame that follows the exact angles of the bay, whether square, angled or curved. Done well, the shutters line up across every face and turn the bay into a feature. If you are replacing the bay windows themselves, see our bay windows page. We recommend fitting shutters once the new frames are in.
Solid and special-shape shutters
Solid panel shutters have no louvres and give complete blackout and a traditional look. Shutters can also be made for arched, circular and triangular windows, including gable apex glazing.
Tracked shutters for bifold, sliding and French doors
Wide glazed openings need shutters that move out of the way completely. Tracked shutters hang from a track above the opening and either fold back concertina-style (bifold track) or slide past one another (bypass track). That works well with bifold doors, patio doors and French doors. The shutters need enough space to stack beside the opening, and inward-opening doors need some clearance. We check both carefully at the survey.
Materials: hardwood, MDF and vinyl
- Hardwood is the premium choice: light, strong, stable and available in painted or natural stained finishes that show the grain. Being lighter, it suits wide panels and tall windows where heavier materials could sag over time.
- MDF (often with a hardwood or composite frame) gives a smooth painted finish at a lower price. It suits dry rooms such as living rooms, bedrooms and studies, but it does not like moisture, so it is not a good choice for bathrooms.
- Vinyl or waterproof PVC shutters do not swell, warp or absorb water, and they wipe clean. They are the right choice for bathrooms, en-suites, kitchens near the sink, and windows that regularly get condensation.
Use the material that suits each room. Many homes have hardwood in the living spaces and vinyl in the bathrooms, with a matching colour and louvre size so everything looks consistent from outside.
Choosing louvre size, colour and tilt rod
- Louvre size: wider louvres give a more open view and a contemporary look, and they suit larger windows. Narrower louvres suit smaller and cottage windows.
- Tilt rod: a visible front rod is traditional. A hidden tilt mechanism gives a cleaner, modern look, and you simply move a louvre to adjust the rest.
- Colour: whites and off-whites are timeless. Greys and blacks suit modern aluminium frames, and stained wood suits period interiors. Hinges and hardware come in different finishes too.
- Frame: recess-fitted frames sit neatly inside the reveal. Where reveals are shallow or the window opens inwards, the frame can be fixed to the face of the wall.
Shutters, privacy and energy
Closed louvres add an extra layer between the glass and the room. That can help cut draughts and keep a room a little warmer on cold nights and cooler on sunny afternoons. It is not a replacement for efficient glazing, though. If your windows are old, our guides to energy rated windows and double vs triple glazing explain where the real savings come from. Shutters do not use cords, which makes them a sensible choice for children’s rooms. Fix the panels open or keep them closed when not in use, so small fingers are not caught in the hinges.
Shutters or blinds?
Shutters cost more than most blinds, but they last for many years, feel like part of the house, and are easy to keep clean. Blinds give more choice of fabric and colour and stack out of the way more fully. Many homeowners use shutters in the main rooms and blinds elsewhere, such as rooflights or utility rooms.
How we measure and fit shutters
- Design visit. We bring samples of materials, colours and louvre sizes, look at how each window opens, and measure every recess accurately, checking it is square.
- Quote. You receive a written quote by window, with style, material, colour, frame and hardware listed.
- Made to measure. Each shutter is made to your exact sizes. Bays are made to their surveyed angles.
- Installation. We fit the frames, hang and align the panels, adjust the louvre tension and check that every panel opens cleanly past the window handles.
Most homes are fitted in a single visit.
Caring for shutters
Dust the louvres with a soft cloth or a duster, or vacuum on a low setting with a brush head. Wipe vinyl shutters with a damp cloth. Use only a barely damp cloth on painted wood and MDF, and dry it off straight away. If the louvres start to feel loose over the years, the tension can usually be adjusted.
Book a free shutter consultation
For a free measure and quote for plantation shutters, call 01753 965 005 or request a quote online.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between full height and tier-on-tier shutters?
Full height shutters use single panels that run the whole height of the window, often with a mid-rail so the top and bottom louvres tilt separately. Tier-on-tier shutters have two independent sets of panels, one above the other. You can open the top tier for daylight while keeping the bottom tier closed, which is ideal for street-facing rooms.
Can I have plantation shutters in a bathroom?
Yes, but choose waterproof vinyl or PVC shutters rather than MDF or wood. Vinyl does not absorb water, swell or warp in steam and condensation, and it wipes clean easily. Café style vinyl shutters are a popular bathroom choice, giving privacy at bath and basin level while leaving the upper glass clear for daylight.
Do shutters work on bay windows?
Bay windows are one of the best places for shutters. Each face of the bay has its own panels on a frame made to the bay's exact angles, whether square, angled or curved. Accurate measuring is essential so the louvres line up across every face. If you are replacing the bay windows, fit the shutters after the new frames.
Can shutters be fitted to bifold or sliding doors?
Yes, using tracked shutters. The panels hang from a track above the opening and either fold back concertina-style or slide past each other. You need enough space at the side for the panels to stack, and inward-opening doors need clearance. A measuring visit will confirm whether your opening suits a bifold or bypass track.
Are shutters better than blinds?
Neither is better in every room. Shutters are a longer-term investment: durable, easy to clean, cord-free and part of the look of the house. Blinds cost less, offer more fabrics and colours, and stack away more fully, which suits rooflights and tall doors. Many homeowners use shutters in the main rooms and blinds elsewhere.