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Everything You Need to Know Before Ordering Made to Measure Shutters

Plantation shutters are one of the most popular window coverings in the UK, and for good reason! They offer a timeless look while giving you complete control over privacy, light, and ventilation. Whether you’re upgrading a single room or transforming your entire home, choosing the right shutters can make a huge difference to both the appearance and functionality of your space.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know before ordering your shutters, including styles, colours, louvre sizes, frame options, measuring considerations, and installation advice.

What Are Shutters?

Shutters are a permanent window covering made up of framed panels fitted directly to your window recess. Within each panel are adjustable louvres (slats) that can be tilted open or closed to control light, privacy, and airflow. You can either open the panels fully, or simply rotate the slats to get your desired level of light and privacy.

Unlike curtains or blinds, shutters become part of your window itself, creating a clean, built-in appearance that suits both modern and traditional homes.

Benefits of Shutters

  • Excellent privacy control without completely blocking natural light
  • Adjustable louvres allow precise light control throughout the day
  • Durable and long-lasting compared to many traditional blinds
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Faux wood offers a durable, waterproof finish.
  • Child-safe design with no dangling cords
  • Improve the appearance and value of your home
  • Suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and conservatories
  • Help create a more energy-efficient home by adding an extra layer of insulation at the window

Our Chelsea and Soho shutter collections are both manufactured from durable faux wood with a smooth painted finish, offering the classic look of traditional shutters with excellent durability and easy maintenance.

Choosing Between Chelsea and Soho Shutters

We offer two shutter collections:

Chelsea Shutters

Our Chelsea range offers the greatest flexibility, with eight painted colour options available. It’s ideal if you’re looking to coordinate your shutters with existing décor, paint colours, or interior design schemes.

Soho Shutters

Our Soho collection is available in our two bestselling colours and offers a faster delivery time, often delivered in 7-10 working days. This range is perfect if you’re looking for a quicker turnaround while still achieving the same timeless shutter appearance.

Both collections are made from high-quality faux wood and are suitable for use throughout the home.

Shutter Styles

The first decision you’ll need to make is which shutter style best suits your window and how you want to use the room.

Full Height Shutters

Full Height shutters cover the entire window from top to bottom and are the most popular shutter style in the UK.

They provide excellent privacy, light control, and insulation while creating a clean, elegant appearance.

Best suited for:

  • Living rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Most standard window types

Why Choose Full Height:

  • Most versatile style
  • Timeless appearance
  • Maximum privacy
  • Available with optional mid rails

Café Style Shutters

Café Style shutters cover only the lower portion of the window, leaving the upper section completely open.

This style is particularly popular in townhouses, period properties, and street-facing rooms where privacy is important but natural light is still desired.

Best suited for:

  • Dining rooms
  • Street-facing living rooms
  • Kitchens
  • Period properties

Why Choose Café Style:

  • Excellent privacy at eye level
  • Allows maximum daylight into the room
  • Traditional European appearance
  • Perfect for windows already divided into upper and lower panes

Tier-on-Tier Shutters

Tier-on-Tier shutters feature two independently operated sections within a single frame.

The top and bottom panels can be opened separately, allowing you to customise privacy and light levels throughout the day.

Best suited for:

  • Large or tall windows
  • Period properties
  • Sash windows
  • Rooms where light & privacy needs change throughout the day

Why Choose Tier-on-Tier Height:

  • Ultimate flexibility
  • Independent top and bottom panels
  • Ideal for balancing privacy and natural light
  • Works particularly well when aligned with existing window transoms

Shutter Colours

Choosing the right colour is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

Classic White

Our bestselling colour and the option we recommend most often – available in Chelsea & Soho ranges.

Classic White is designed to complement the majority of white uPVC window frames, helping the shutters blend seamlessly with your windows for a clean, integrated look.

Best suited for:

  • White uPVC windows
  • Modern homes
  • Most interior colour schemes

Ivory

A softer off-white alternative – available in Soho & Chelsea ranges.

Ivory is ideal if you want a warmer look than pure white. It can also be an excellent choice for older properties where window frames may have naturally aged or slightly discoloured over time.

Best suited for:

  • Traditional homes
  • Older properties
  • Homes in areas with higher air pollution
  • Customers who find bright whites too stark

White

A clean, neutral white that works beautifully in both modern and traditional interiors.

This colour is currently only available in our Chelsea range.

Bright White

Our brightest white option, ideal for contemporary interiors where a crisp, fresh finish is desired.

This colour is currently only available in our Chelsea range.

Ecru

A warm neutral shade that pairs beautifully with natural materials and softer interior palettes.

This colour is currently only available in our Chelsea range.

Light Grey

A subtle modern grey that works well in contemporary homes without feeling overpowering.

This colour is currently only available in our Chelsea range.

Grey

A slightly deeper grey that adds contrast and sophistication to a room.

This colour is currently only available in our Chelsea range.

Dove Grey

A soft, elegant grey that complements both warm and cool colour schemes. This is the darkest shade of grey we currently offer.

This colour is currently only available in our Chelsea range.

Shutter Options

Shutters are one of the most customisable window coverings we offer here at Unbeatable Blinds. You can tailor both their appearance and operation to suit your home perfectly. From louvre sizes and tilt rods to frame styles and panel layouts, there are several options to choose from.

While the variety of choices may seem overwhelming at first, each option plays an important role in how your shutters look and operate. Below, we’ll explain each option and help you decide which is best suited to your windows and personal style.

Louvre Size

Louvres are the horizontal slats within your shutter panels that tilt open and closed.

The size you choose affects both the appearance of your shutters and how much light enters the room.

64mm Louvres

Our most popular option.

Suitable for virtually all window sizes and interior styles.

Best for:

  • Small windows
  • Medium windows
  • Traditional interiors

76mm Louvres

A balanced option offering a slightly more contemporary appearance.

Best for:

  • Medium to large windows
  • Modern homes
  • Open-plan spaces

89mm Louvres

The largest option available.

Best for:

  • Large windows
  • Contemporary interiors

Tilt Rod Options

Tilt rods control the movement of your shutter louvres. At Unbeatable Blinds, you can choose from 3 different options.

Standard Tilt Rod

The traditional shutter look.

A visible control rod runs down the centre of the panel and is used to open and close the louvres.

Benefits:

  • Classic appearance
  • Most popular option
  • No additional cost

Clearview Tilt Rod

A discreet control rod mounted towards the rear of the panel near the hinge side.

This creates a cleaner look from the front while still providing smooth operation.

Benefits:

  • Less visible than a standard rod
  • Cleaner appearance
  • Great value alternative to Hidden Tilt

Hidden Tilt Rod

The operating mechanism is concealed entirely within the shutter panel.

Benefits:

  • Cleanest appearance
  • Contemporary styling
  • Smooth operation
  • Particularly suitable for larger panels

Panel Positions

The number of panels your shutters require will depend on the size of your window.

Based on your measurements, you’ll be offered the most suitable panel layouts.

Depending on the width of your window, shutters may be manufactured as:

  • Single panel
  • Two-panel
  • Three-panel
  • Four-panel

Depending on the number of panels required you’ll be shown a few options on how you want them to open. For example if you had a single panel, you could have this open from the left or right. Or, if you had 2 panels, you could have them both open from the left or right, or have one open from either side.

The opening direction determines how the panels stack when opened and can often be selected based on personal preference or room layout. You can see a selection of the different panel layouts available below.

Frame Styles

Your shutter frame provides the structure that secures the panels within the window opening.

L Frame

L Frames sit neatly within the recess and provide a clean, minimalist finish.

Best for:

  • Most standard installations
  • Recess fitting
  • Windows that are less than 15mm out of square

Z Frame

Z Frames sit against the face of the wall and create an architrave-style finish around the window.

Best for:

  • Windows more than 15mm out of square
  • Installations at the front of the recess
  • Customers wanting a more built-in appearance

Mid Rails (Full Height Shutters Only)

A mid rail is a horizontal divider fitted across the shutter panel that add strength to your shutter and allow the upper and lower louvres to be operated independently.

Mid rails are commonly positioned:

  • Halfway up the shutter
  • In line with an existing transom or glazing bar
  • At a specific height chosen by the customer

For larger shutter panels, a mid rail may be required to provide additional structural support. If your shutter requires or includes a mid rail, you’ll need to provide the desired mid rail height when ordering.

Divide Height (Tier-on-Tier Shutters Only)

The divide height determines where the shutter splits into separate upper and lower sections.

This measurement is usually positioned:

  • At the centre of the window
  • In line with an existing transom
  • To match existing glazing bars

Choosing the correct divide height helps create a balanced appearance and allows the shutter design to align with the existing window.

Easy DIY Measuring & Installation

At Unbeatable Blinds, we don’t offer a measuring or fitting service—and that’s by design. Instead of passing on the high costs of installation, we’ve invested in creating simple, step-by-step measuring and fitting guides that give you everything you need to install your shutters with confidence.

If you’re comfortable using basic DIY tools such as a drill, spirit level, screwdriver and tape measure, installing your shutters is a straightforward project that most customers can complete over a weekend. Our clear instructions walk you through every stage of the process, making it easy to achieve a professional-looking finish without paying for expensive installation services.

Choosing to fit your shutters yourself offers several advantages:

  • Save hundreds of pounds by avoiding installation charges.
  • Enjoy significantly lower shutter prices, as we don’t build fitting costs or service surcharges into our products.
  • Install your shutters at a time that suits you, with no need to wait for fitting appointments.
  • Gain the satisfaction of completing a simple home improvement project using standard household tools.

Our goal is to make measuring and fitting as simple as possible, so you can enjoy beautifully fitted shutters while benefiting from some of the most competitive prices available online.

If DIY isn’t for you, you can always arrange installation through a trusted local fitter or handyman, using the same measuring information and fitting instructions we provide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Before placing your order, avoid these common mistakes:

Not checking whether the window is square

Always measure diagonally corner-to-corner to confirm your window is suitable.

Forgetting to check handle clearance

Window handles can affect where shutters can be positioned within the recess so it’s important to check you have enough clearance.

Choosing the wrong frame style

L Frames and Z Frames are designed for different installation scenarios, so it’s important to select the correct option.

Not considering neighbouring windows

If ordering shutters for multiple windows in the same room, small size differences can affect louvre alignment and overall appearance. You may want to adjust your measurements depending on the difference between your windows.

Guessing mid rail or divide heights

Take the time to measure carefully to ensure everything aligns correctly with your window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are shutters suitable for bathrooms?

Yes. Our faux wood shutters are an excellent choice for bathrooms thanks to their durable painted finish.

Which colour is most popular?

Classic White is by far our bestselling colour and is the option we recommend for most homes. Our ivory colour is the second best selling and is often chosen if you find your window recess/surround is slightly off-white.

Which louvre size should I choose?

64mm suits most windows, 76mm works well for medium to large windows, and 89mm is ideal for larger openings and contemporary spaces.

Do shutters block out all light?

No. Shutters provide excellent light control but are not a blackout product.

Can I install shutters myself?

Yes. Many customers successfully fit their own shutters using our measuring and installation guides.

Are shutters child safe?

Yes. Unlike many traditional blinds, shutters have no hanging cords or chains.

Ready to Order?

Whether you’re looking for fast-delivery Soho shutters or the wider colour selection offered by Chelsea, made to measure shutters are a fantastic way to improve privacy, light control, and the overall appearance of your home.

Order your free samples, explore our shutter collections, and start designing your perfect shutters today.

Need Help Measuring or Fitting?

Before placing your order, we recommend reading our detailed guides: