Do Window Shutters Provide Total Blackout?

Do window shutters provide total blackout? Window shutters alone will not create a total blackout.

We get asked this question a lot, so we have created this helpful guide to answer it more in-depth.

We have tried to answer some of the most popular questions about this topic.

How black is a total blackout? Many “blackout” products available on the market are not such things.

They make a room darker, and that’s about it. Although they aim to make a bedroom perfect for sleep, nothing provides 100% blackout.

But can shutters be blackout? After all, they’re designed for light control, aren’t they?

At Shuttercraft, we’re here to help, so if you’re wondering, “Do shutters blackout?” we’ve put together this short guide just for you. We’re here to help you make the right decision.

Table of contents

Why do you want total blackout anyway?
What is the difference between blackout and room darkening?
Do window shutters keep out the light?
Do you think blinds or curtains may be more effective?
What are the main window blackout options available for your home?
Will shutters block out light by themselves?
The Shutter & Shade solution
How dark will my room be with shutters?
Will solid panel shutters provide complete darkness?
Can shutters provide better light control over blinds?
Which rooms are most likely to need a blackout window treatment?
Are plantation shutters blackout enough for around the home?
What is the most popular blackout solution?
Where to buy blackout shutters?

Why do you want total blackout anyway?

Perhaps you work nights or have changing shift patterns. You may have young children that find it difficult to nap during the day. You could be a photographer who likes to process photos in a darkroom. You could even be a film enthusiast who wants to create the perfect home cinema environment.

There are several situations where you want total blackout in your home.

Bedrooms for light sleepers/night workers
Nurseries
Photography home development
Home cinemas

Studies have shown that almost 50% of people suffer sleep difficulties due to light pollution. This means a blackout or room darkening solution would minimise that impact on your life.

Whatever your reason, if you want to provide blackout shutters for your home, you’ll want to do it properly.

What is the difference between blackout and room darkening?

Although the two terms sound very different, there is a slight difference. Most of the time, the word “blackout” means window blinds, but it can also mean to shut out all light from a room.

There is quite a bit of online discussion about the effectiveness of blackout blinds. The truth is that no product can ever claim to be 100% effective.

The term “room darkening” is a much more accurate description. There are next to no solutions on the market that remove all traces of external light.

It is worth considering all options to meet the requirements of your home.

Do window shutters keep out the light?

Shutters are designed so that each panel can be independently adjusted to temper the light exactly as you like. Operable louvres provide complete control over the light levels streaming into your home, so you needn’t risk faded fabrics or draw the curtain just because the sun is in the wrong place.

Do you think blinds or curtains may be more effective?

Certain blackout fabrics can also reduce heat loss from your home by up to 25%. This also helps reduce your utility bills and greenhouse gases emitted from heating.

The key difference between blackout and room darkening is this:

Blackout solutions try and block out all external light without more control.
Room darkening solutions provide better levels of light control. They also provide a blackout solution.

What are the leading window blackout options available for your home?

Many options help you block out the light from your home. These all have varying degrees of success.

Depending on your budget and methods for fixing surfaces, these may not suit your requirements. However, you can enjoy a room darkening rather than a complete blackout solution.

Stick-on blackout kit/window film	Thick dark curtains
Roller blinds	Plantation shutters
Shutter & Shade

A cheap solution like blackout window film may seem more affordable in the short term but may not be effective in the long term.

Dark curtains, roller blinds, and plantation shutters offer varying levels of light blocking. But all will have some degree of light bleed around the edges.

Premium window shutters in West Yorkshire

Will shutters block out light by themselves?

Light bleed can happen through the louvres or at the edges of the panels. Traditional solid panels will be better for providing blackout.

The Shutter & Shade Solution

One of the best window blackout options is Shutter & Shade from Shuttercraft. These blackout shades mix pleated honeycomb blind and shutter panels to remove virtually all light from coming in.

Made from premium materials, honeycomb pleated blinds fit directly into a shutter frame. This means they do not flap or snag. The channel creates a seal, stopping the vast majority of light from getting through. We are sure you’ll be happy with the quality for years to come.

Key features

Superior Light Reduction
Lightweight material
Neutral street-facing colour
20 colour choices

Available for Antigua, Bermuda, Cuba, and Fiji, shutter ranges

How dark will my room be with shutters?

Depending on the shutters themselves, it will affect the room’s darkness levels. Natural light will always find a way to get through a window, no matter the covering.

When the blinds are closed, the room’s darkness depends on things like the size of the louvres and how well they are installed.

Larger louvres let in more light when open, and smaller ones provide more privacy. Smaller louvres make the room darker even when open but reduce light bleed when closed.

The five main louvre sizes are:

47mm	89mm
63mm	89mm
76mm

To achieve a good degree of blackout, plantation shutters should come in darker colours, such as black or grey. Smaller louvres let in less light, making them a good solution for many.

Will solid panel shutters provide complete darkness?

Do shutters provide blackout when they have solid panels rather than louvres? In simple terms, no, there will still be a tiny amount of light bleeding around the panels. Solid panel shutters are like products such as blackout roller blinds. The addition of a shutter frame makes them more effective than that.

Can shutters provide better light control over blinds?

Can shutters block light better than window coverings such as blinds? There are variables to consider, but there is a better blackout solution for shutters. There is a combination of shutters and blinds in the form of Shutter & Shade.

Shutters are often better at controlling the light due to the ability to tilt louvres. There will often be more effective forms of light control than blinds and curtains on the market.

Venetian blinds match the light control offered by shutters. Others, such as verticals, rollers, and pleated honeycombs, are functional in different ways. This means they are in a different league when comparing their blackout capability.

Which rooms are most likely to need a blackout window treatment?

Every home has a different requirement, and you alone will know where you require the darkest spaces throughout your home.

If you have a busy family life, you may need a blackout solution for nurseries or bedrooms to help your little ones relax and rest at the end of their busy days.

You know your space best, so you will also know if there are troublesome streetlights outside that leak brightness into your property at night. Those rooms will almost certainly benefit from a blackout solution as well.

Are plantation shutters blackout enough for around the home?

With the different window treatments, you will get different light reduction levels. Each home varies in size and shape, but these rooms will be consistent.

Bedrooms – This is the obvious choice for a blackout solution in the home. This would be the best place to install blackout shutters if you are a light sleeper or night worker.

Nursery – Young children and babies especially need to nap during the day. A blackout solution is perfect for emulating nightfall for the little ones.

Home Cinemas – These popular family rooms aren’t found in every home but are great for a blackout approach. They help get the perfect environment for enjoying movies.

Darkrooms – Fans of developing photographs at home may want their darkroom. To be effective, this needs to be as blackout as possible to achieve the best quality.

What is the most popular blackout solution?

Although blinds and curtains are usually the ‘go-to’ choice for light reduction, another product is on the market. Something that provides blackout blinds for shutters, adding practicality to style.

The Shutter & Shade range is ideal for nurseries, bedrooms and home cinemas. It includes premium blackout shades behind plantation shutters.

A honeycomb blind in an integrated channel in a shutter frame results in almost no light. This makes them the only choice when it comes to your home.

Where to buy blackout shutters?

Are you looking to find out what blackout shutters cost? At Shuttercraft, we know that research is an important part of any buying journey. An initial FREE survey will determine whether our Shutter & Shade solution is appropriate for your home.

With Shuttercraft experts across the UK, you’re never far from the perfect blackout solution. Click here to find your nearest Shuttercraft and find the perfect choice for your home today.