When you search online, it’s easy to be a little overwhelmed by the types of shutters on offer. You can choose between different designs, materials, and window styles.

With this in mind, we’ve created this quick guide to different shutter styles, explaining which is most popular for different settings and applications around a typical home.

When you’ve finished reading, you’ll clearly know what’s available and what will work beautifully in your space!

The different types of shutters available

Window shutters come in various shapes, sizes, and materials.

In this guide, we’ll look at the most popular settings for:

Popular for living rooms: Tier-on-tier shutters

UK living rooms often face the front of the property, making them easily overlooked by passers-by or neighbouring properties. With this in mind, privacy becomes essential for any window dressing in a room where you might put your feet up and relax, so why not consider living room shutters?

Owing to the balance of privacy and light control they offer, tier-on-tier shutters are always a very popular choice in the lounge and living rooms.

Like full-height shutters, they span your windows from top to bottom. However, you can maintain privacy without compromising daylight with top and bottom sections that can be opened independently.

Popular in a bay window: Café-style shutters

Many UK homes have bay windows – a beautiful feature that increases the light entering your room. Since bay windows offer a more expansive view of the street, they also give passers-by a better idea of your space.

With this in mind, cafe-style shutters are an excellent and popular choice as bay window shutters.

Covering just the lower half of your window means your living space is not overlooked – but still allows lots of daylight to enter, keeping your room bright and fresh!

cafe style shutter ideas for windows
blackout shutter blind bedroom

Popular for bedrooms: Shutter and Shade

Effective light control is essential in a bedroom. This makes a shutter and shade combination an especially popular choice.

Behind your shutters, you’ll find a fully retractable honeycomb blind. By sliding the blind closed and closing your shutters and louvres over the top, you’ll shut out virtually all the light coming through your windows.

Whether you’re a shift worker, a light sleeper, or the parent of a child that wakes up as soon as the sun rises, this kind of blackout blind and shutter combination can transform the quality of your rest.

Popular for bathrooms & kitchens: Waterproof shutters

While there’s no doubt that wooden shutters make stunning window dressings – the natural wood construction makes them impractical for areas that experience high humidity or direct water contact.

This is where interior shutters made of tough ABS are perfect. Even up close, ABS shutters look virtually identical to wooden shutters but are completely waterproof.

This makes them ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, home swimming pools, or any other setting where wood isn’t practical.

water resistant shutters
outside shutters in situ

Popular for outdoor use: Aluminium shutters

When people think of exterior shutters, they tend to think of the traditional board and batten shutters or raised panel shutters – but more modern options are available.

Although plantation shutters are often considered an internal window dressing, choosing aluminium exterior shutters gives you all the aesthetic appeal of louvered shutters but with rigid materials and coatings that match the elements.

Even when inspected closely, our exterior window shutters look similar to interior shutters. However, they’re designed to add a layer of security to your home, with robust locks that will deter any unwanted attention.

Popular for conservatories: Shaped shutters

Conservatories and orangeries can be unique spaces in a home – but they’re often under-used because it can be challenging to regulate the temperature all year round.

Special-shaped shutters made-to-measure for the windows in a conservatory add a much-needed layer of insulation to your room. Since they’re fixed directly to the window frame, they suit standard and roof windows.

As well as insulation, shutters add the ultimate in light control, making your conservatory a pleasant place any time of day!

unconventional window shapes
solid shutters in bay window

Popular for a traditional look: Solid shutters

If you’ve got a traditional home – or a home with a traditional interior design feel – solid panel shutters can complement the space.

The lack of central louvred panels means that your options for controlling the light are reduced – but this creates a window dressing that offers absolute privacy and stands out as a vital design feature in your room.

Solid shutters are usually available in a broad range of colours too. This lets you make your shutters even more of a feature by matching a tone found elsewhere in the room.

Popular for French doors: Tracked shutters

Although a window shutter is often fixed directly to a window frame, it’s also possible to mount a shutter on a discreet track in front of a window.

This makes track shutters and sliding shutters the ideal choice for French doors and patio doors. You can choose between bypass and bi-fold designs, too – so you can select a style that doesn’t interfere with the operation of your doors.

Which types of shutters are suitable for your home?

Hopefully, this inspires you to the kinds of shutters that could work well in your home.

If you’re still not sure, don’t panic! If you’d like more inspiration and ideas, our design team will happily talk you through the types of shutters that will work perfectly in any setting.

window shutters

Get in touch today!

Why not contact your local Shuttercraft?

Author Image

About the Author

Maddie Racher

Maddie is a creative and detail-driven Digital Marketing Executive with over two years of experience at Shuttercraft. With an eye for interior design and a love for home and lifestyle trends, Maddie plays a key role in shaping the brand’s voice across digital channels.

She leads on social media strategy, website content, blogs, email marketing and brand development, bringing a fresh, thoughtful approach to every piece of content. Maddie is passionate about ...

Recent Blog Posts

Full Height Bedroom Shutters

Plantation Shutters: Wood vs Composite

Choosing between wood and our composite plantation shutters? Discover the pros, cons and best rooms for each before you decide…

Full Height White Kitchen Shutters

Fresh Shutters Giving Back

Transform your home this Spring with exclusive Shuttercraft offers. Premium shutters, expert fitting, and timeless design, ends 31st May

How Window Shutters Help Keep Your Home Warm in Winter

Discover how Shuttercraft shutters help keep your home warm in winter by reducing heat loss, improving insulation, and adding timeless…

New Year, New Love, New Shutters

Transform your home this New Year with exclusive Shuttercraft offers. Premium shutters, expert fitting, and timeless design, ends 14 Feb

Black November Has Arrived: Exclusive Savings on Premium Shutters

Transform your home this Black November with exclusive Shuttercraft offers. Premium shutters, expert fitting, and timeless design, ends 30 Nov

Are Shutters Suitable for Small Windows?

Wondering if shutters work on small windows? Discover how made-to-measure shutters add style, privacy, and light control to even the…

Keeping Your Home Cool: How Shutters Help in Summer

Discover how shutters help keep your home cool in summer with style, insulation, and smart light control. Perfect for comfort…

How Much Do Bay Window Shutters Cost?

Find out how much bay window shutters cost, what affects the price, and why they’re a stylish, long-term investment for…

Are Shutters Worth the Investment?

If you're considering upgrading your window dressings, you may have found yourself asking, “Are window shutters worth it?” With a…

Choosing the Best Material for Shutters

When choosing internal shutters, the material you select is just as important as the aesthetics. Your choice will influence not…

Window Shutters Explained: How They Work

Learn how window shutters work, their practical benefits, and how they can elevate your home's style, comfort, energy efficiency and…

Do Plantation Shutters Provide a Blackout Effect?

Find out if plantation shutters offer a true blackout effect, how they compare to other options, and tips to maximise…

Modern bedroom with white window shutters showing how light and insulation can be controlled

The Insulation Benefits of Window Shutters

If you’re looking to enhance insulation, shutters are a great choice. Let’s take a closer look at how shutters help…

Cleaning white shutters with a microfibre cloth

The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Window Shutters

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to clean shutters, including the best…

Conservatory Guide: Maximise Light and Privacy With Blinds and Shutters

In this guide, we'll take an in-depth look at what a diverse range of window coverings can bring to a…

How Much Do Shutters Cost in 2026? The Price Guide

Shutters are an extremely valuable addition to any home, providing privacy as well as optimum light, heat, and temperature control.…

10 Stunning Indoor Shutter Ideas to Instantly Enhance Your Property

Whether your home features a modern or traditional design, shutters add a stylish touch that enhances both its interior and…

Plantation Shutters: 5 Key Benefits That Elevate Your Home

Plantation shutters, often referred to as window shutters or shutter blinds, are a timeless and versatile window treatment that offers…

Café Style Shutters: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying

Café style shutters are one of the most popular types of window treatments on the market as they are an…

20 Boho Bathroom Décor Ideas to Transform Your Space

The bohemian, or boho, aesthetic is one of the most popular modern interior design styles, with many homeowners adopting this…

TikTok-Inspired Home Design: The 5 Biggest Trends Right Now

TikTok isn’t just a place where people watch entertaining videos, from viral dances to pop-culture moments, it’s where many go…

Top 5 Home Improvement Trends That Will Transform Your Space in 2025

As the new year begins, many people are turning their attention to freshening up their homes for the year ahead.…

Are Shutters Energy Efficient?

Shutters aren’t only attractive and highly functional window treatments, they are also known for their energy efficient capabilities. As a…

Ultimate Guide: Farmhouse Bathroom Décor Inspiration

Farmhouse bathrooms have become extremely popular in recent years, with homeowners flocking to adopt simplistic, naturalistic, and rustic tones to…

The Ultimate Plantation Shutters Guide: Everything You Need to Know

When exploring new window dressings for your home, it’s important to consider plantation shutters. Not only do they provide a…

Image of a bedroom with shutters on the windows.

Peaceful Living: Can Shutters Reduce Noise?

Your home is your inner sanctuary away from the outside world. Depending on where you live, external noise can sometimes…

25 Bright and Modern Master Bedroom Design Ideas

Are you wanting to transform your master bedroom? Perhaps you’re looking to bring a different feel to the oasis of…

10 Top Tips for A Sustainable Home In 2024

In this guide, we’ll walk you through our 10 top tips for making your home more sustainable

30 Modern Living Room Ideas That Will Transform Your Space

Your living room is the heart of your home. It is likely where you spend most of your time relaxing,…

alternatives to blinds white portchester shutters in kitchen

Alternatives to Blinds: 8 Stylish Window Covering Options

If you're looking for alternatives to blinds, it's easy to assume that curtains and shutters are your only choices.

White wooden shutter blinds in a period bedroom

Our Guide to White Wooden Shutter Blinds

White wooden shutter blinds are one of the most timeless and versatile window treatments available for homes in the UK.

perfect shutters

Perfect Shutters: How to Make Your Home Look Magnificent

With so many different shutter types to choose from, finding the perfect shutters for your home can take some time.

Can Shutters Be Repainted or Refurbished?

Can shutters be repainted or refurbished? We explore which shutter types can be updated, when it’s worth it, and when…