Plantation shutters are a great style decision if you are looking to increase your home’s privacy and light control, whilst enhancing your home’s décor. But when it comes to choosing the best shutters for you, one crucial factor is often overlooked: the size of the louvres. Louvres, the slats within the shutter panel, play a significant role in how much light enters your space, the level of privacy for the room, and the overall aesthetic of your windows. Whether you’re transforming your living area or preserving past architecture, the right louvre size can make all the difference.
What are Shutter Louvres?
Before we explore the different shutter size options, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what we mean by ‘louvres.’ Louvres are the horizontal slats within the shutter panel that you tilt to control your room’s natural light and privacy. At ShuttersUp, our plantation shutters come in five standard louvre sizes: 47mm, 63mm, 76mm, 89mm and 114mm being the largest. Each size offers unique benefits for the amount of light control and privacy, as well as being visually appealing. Larger louvres offer more light to filter through but offer less privacy, whereas smaller louvres provide greater privacy and less light.
What size louvre is right for you? Let’s take a look at the specific size benefits.
Choosing a Smaller Shutter Louvre Size
Our smaller louvre sizes (47mm, 63mm, and 76mm) are perfect for those who prioritise privacy or have smaller windows. These sizes are especially popular in traditional or period properties, where the goal is to maintain the original characteristics of the home. If you’re the proud owner of a Victorian or Georgian house with original sash windows, smaller louvres can enhance the architectural details without overwhelming the space.
Smaller louvres are also a perfect choice for rooms where privacy is essential, such as bedrooms or bathrooms. The compact size of the slats ensures that passersby have a blocked view of your interior, even when the shutters are slightly open. Additionally, the smaller slats create a cosy, intimate feel, which is ideal for spaces where relaxation and seclusion are important.
Furthermore, smaller louvres offer the advantage of being compatible with solid shutters or tier-on-tier designs, which are popular in older / period homes. Solid shutters offer sound absorption and insulation benefits, making them a wise investment for properties with single-glazed windows. A tier-on-tier design, where the lower shutters feature a solid panel and the upper shutters have small louvres, provides the best of both worlds: privacy at the bottom and adjustable light through the top.
Larger Shutter Louvre Sizes
For those with modern or contemporary living spaces, ShuttersUp’s larger louvre sizes (89mm and 114mm) are often a favourite choice. These louvres are designed to complement large windows, allowing plenty of natural light to flood into the room whilst maintaining a minimalist look. Fewer slats within the shutter panels means fewer lines that are visible from the outside, creating a sleek, uninterrupted view.
If you are deciding what size slats would be well-suited for communal spaces – such as living rooms, open-plan kitchens and dining areas – then larger louvres are a great choice. These spaces are typically the hub of the home, so privacy is usually less of a concern. The wide louvres allow you to maximise the amount of light entering the room, creating a bright and airy atmosphere that’s perfect for socialising, cooking, or simply relaxing with your loved ones.
In modern-style properties, homeowners often prefer full-height shutters with hidden tilt rods to make the design more streamlined. The tilt rod is the mechanism that allows you to open and close the louvres, so hiding it behind the shutter panel minimises visible lines. This contributes to a ‘less is more’ approach that is popular in contemporary design. By choosing larger louvres and a hidden tilt rod, you can create an open, spacious feel that is ideal for today’s modern living spaces.
Choose ShuttersUp No Matter the Louvre Size
At ShuttersUp, we offer a range of louvre sizes to suit any style of window, room, or personal preference. Whether you’re drawn to the privacy and traditional look of smaller louvres, or the clean, modern aesthetic of our larger ones, our expert team is here to help you make the perfect choice.
Our bespoke approach means that we don’t just sell shutters – we craft them specifically for your home. We take the time to understand your space, your style, and your needs to ensure that the shutters we install are the perfect fit in every way. We have the expertise to create shutters that will elevate your space and provide you with years of enjoyment.
Conclusion
Selecting the perfect louvre size for your plantation shutters is about finding the balance between light, privacy, and style. Whether you’re aiming for a modern, open-plan look with larger louvres or preserving the charm of an older property with smaller slats, the right shutters can transform your home. At ShuttersUp, we offer a bespoke service that ensures your shutters are tailored to your exact specifications, so you can enjoy the perfect combination of beauty and functionality.
Explore our range of plantation shutters today and discover how the right louvre size can enhance your home’s character, comfort, and value. No matter your preference or need, ShuttersUp is here to help you find the perfect fit for your windows and your lifestyle.
