Blinds vs Curtains vs Shutters: The Ultimate Home Guide

You’ve just moved into a new home in Bathurst- or finally tackling that renovation you’ve been neglecting. There are blank window frames looking onto stark realities, sweltering summer sun, and draughty winter chills that seep into every space. But in front of you lies one decision: which window covering will fit the bill: blinds, curtains, or plantation shutters?

This is the everyday decision at Blinds by Design. And it’s never just about what looks best on a magazine page. The best window covering relies heavily on the way you live, the style of your house, the specific conditions required of Central West NSW’s weather, and the level of ongoing upkeep you’re prepared to undertake.m

Blinds vs Curtains vs Shutters at a Glance

What Are Blinds?

Internal or externally mounted inside the recess of the window frame, the blind is probably the most common window covering in an Australian home. Blinds can be made of a great many different types: roller blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds, Roman blinds, and specialist shades such as Duette and Silhouette.

The complete range of Luxaflex roller blinds and internal window coverings can be sourced at Blinds by Design and are manufactured to operate effectively in Australian conditions (UV resistant fabrics, resistant to humidity mechanisms and possible motorised function).

Benefits of Blinds:

Blinds come in a wide range, offer the highest level of space-saving benefit and are typically the most inexpensive way to upgrade to proper window dressings. Roller blinds will almost disappear from view when raised – so you can expand the room and use natural light when you need to. Venetians offer detailed control of light levels – you can bounce light where you need it without compromising privacy. Roman blinds will have a softer fabric style but will offer the same benefits as smaller blinds.

Motorised blinds are a growing trend amongst Bathurst residents – these offer the ability to control blinds with the use of remote controls, wall switches and even phone apps. This is particularly useful if you have large or difficult-to-reach windows and for homes with small children and the added benefit of no cords!

Drawbacks of Blinds:

Ordinary blinds can’t give your home the same warmth and luxury as curtains can. Cheap roller blinds also wear more quickly than high-quality ones, especially if left to the afternoon sun. Venetian blinds are effective for light control, but they collect more dust than the other options and require more maintenance.

Best Rooms for Blinds:

• Kitchen/Dining Rooms (easy to clean)
• Home Offices (high degree of control, not visually disturbing)
• Rental properties (durable and cost-efficient)
• Bedrooms with blockout lining

Blinds are by far the most economical, versatile window covering available today. They will work with just about any room and vary in style from very simple and effective roller blinds to attractive roman blinds.

What Are Curtains?

Curtains are fabric panels that are suspended from an overhead track or rod above the window. For many years, curtains have been an essential part of Australian homes. They add softness, warmth, and completeness to the room that other hard treatments may not.

As one of the most frequently purchased blinds in our range, Luxaflex curtains come in the following styles: Sheer, Blockout and Double-track. They are produced to custom fit your individual window measurements and the fabrics chosen for them are specifically made to withstand Australian sunshine, not fading and deterioration so quickly.

Benefits of Curtains:

Without a doubt, curtains are the champion of thermal insulation. A well-designed block-out curtain provides an excellent barrier for heat flow, a benefit that will be particularly valued on winter nights in Bathurst when it plummets well below zero. Studies from the Australian Building Codes Board suggest thermal curtains can improve heat loss through windows by as much as 40%, reducing your heating bill accordingly.

Sheer curtains are a useful alternative but are used for a different purpose – to soften and spread bright sunlight without blocking the light and open feeling or the view outside. They are often used for living and dining rooms.

Drawbacks of Curtains:

Curtains demand a higher level of care than most blinds and shutters. Fabric panels can gather dust, pet hair, and cooking odours, and the majority of curtains need washing or dry cleaning periodically. They also require a considerable amount of clearance horizontally from the window edges when open, something that might pose an issue for smaller rooms or on windows positioned between two pieces of furniture.

When purchasing curtains from the upper end of the market and opting for quality fabric, an automated track mechanism – an option that is more than an investment as it significantly contributes to the aesthetic – comes to mind.

Best Rooms for Curtains:

• Bedrooms (blackout lining recommended for shift workers and light sleepers)
• Living and formal dining rooms
• For rooms requiring warmth and style

Curtains are generally considered the most thermally efficient form of window furnishing and create a warm and sophisticated living environment. Luxaflex custom-made curtains are tailor-made, utilise UV-resistant fabrics, and were developed specifically for Australian conditions.

What Are Plantation Shutters?

A plantation shutter is a louvred panel that can be mounted on hinges inside or outside a window frame. Plantation shutters are one of the most structurally compatible and long-lasting window covering options and continue to be one of the most popular for any type of home, whether it be a Federation residence in Bathurst or a contemporary home in Orange and Mudgee.

We offer all types of premium plantation shutters to suit your needs, including PVC (polysatin) plantation shutters for different applications, budgets, and personal preferences.

Benefits of Plantation Shutters:

Perhaps the best argument in favour of plantation shutters is their longevity. A well-made set of indoor shutters should last you, provided they are installed and well cared for, 20-25 years. That’s often longer than any other soft furnishing in your house! When divided over that period, indoor shutters provide a greater value for dollar on an annual basis than anything else.

Privacy is superb. The ability to angle louvres independently from open or closed status means total street-level privacy whilst still receiving a flow of air and diffuse light – a hard feat to achieve with either curtains or most blinds.

Light control is equally sophisticated. Light can be directed upwards to bounce off the ceiling for ambient light and downstairs for reading or tasks without compromising privacy.

Value and appeal: Real estate agents report unanimously that buyers appreciate the style of plantation shutters. Unlike curtains, soft furnishings and fabric blinds, the shutter is integrated as a part of the house itself, not part of the contents.

Drawbacks of Plantation Shutters:

There is a greater upfront expense with these shutters. They’re certainly a considerable investment when you consider both the size and type of material of the window you need covering. This style will also not suit the soft, flowing fabric-draped feel if that’s what you are after, as the lines of a shutter are architectural and clean.

Best Rooms for Shutters:

• Living and entry spaces (architectural statement)
• Bathrooms (PVC and polysatin options have superior moisture resistance)
• Bedrooms (superior light control and privacy)
• Any space in the home where durability and low maintenance are the primary concern

Plantation shutters are by far the most robust treatment you will ever install for your windows; they will give you twenty-plus years and are easy to maintain.

Which Option Provides the Best Privacy?

Plantation shutters perform the best if privacy is your primary consideration. The shutter is designed to shut out view entirely without completely cutting off airflow, and the frame-within-frame structure fits tightly with no gaps at the edges. These features are ideally suited for street-facing homes in areas of busy traffic such as in Bathurst and Orange, or ground-floor windows situated street-level.

Good alternatives for bedrooms are blockout roller blinds and blockout curtains; both can be completely opaque with appropriate fabric choice. Sheer curtains and opaque roller blinds will provide privacy in daytime (they obscure fine details from outside, because daylight at night time is greater than interior light) and reversed when light at inside is on.

Which Option Lasts the Longest?

Durability and lifespan are clearly plantation shutters in this comparison. Good quality interior shutters, in a suitable material such as PVC, polysatin or wood, can generally be warranted for 10 years but will very often outlast these warrants, typically 20-25 years in practice. There are relatively few moving parts in a hinged panel and this seems a very resilient mechanism.

High-end Luxaflex roller blinds may generally be expected to last between 7 and 12 years, depending on the type of fabric and exposure to sunlight. Mechanisms are generally replaceable and repairable. Roman blinds might be expected to last in a similar timeframe.

A curtain’s lifespan is likely more variable. Good quality fabric with correct lining properly maintained and not in direct sunlight will likely last 8-12 years, whereas inferior curtains or those in an environment with very high UV levels can begin to fade and decay within 3-5 years.

Can You Combine Blinds and Curtains?

No problems – and often for rooms this is one of the best treatments around. By adding a block out roller blind with curtains, you have the fine light control of the roller blind, coupled with the soft, cosy warmth, and insulating capabilities of curtains. In fact, we get a number of customers in Bathurst using a sheer/blockout combination on double tracks to moderate the bright morning and afternoon sun that can strike rooms in different parts of the year.

We use the high-quality roller blind and pair it with floor-length curtains of a neutral fabric for an interior such as a bedroom for maximum light exclusion, giving a more completed, sophisticated feel than either the curtain or blind alone.

You will also get more longevity out of this solution – the curtains can be replaced with a different fabric, and the rest of the window treatment will still look new!

Key Takeaway

There is no such thing as ‘the best’ window covering, as it depends on the room, style of your home, budget and specific requirements for the area in which you live in Central West NSW. Plantation shutters are very hard-wearing and give you the best long-term value. Curtains give you warmth and softness and insulation qualities beyond most others. Blinds are easy to clean and operate and very affordable.

For many homes in Bathurst the answer is a combination of products: a good-quality blind for daytime privacy and light control accompanied by curtains in the areas that need warmth and style. It is how you make these decisions with knowledge of where each product performs best and where it doesn’t that is important.

For specialist advice for a property like yours in Central West NSW, come and see us. Book a free in-home consultation with Blinds by Design and one of our design consultants will come out to you with a measuring tape in hand and discuss which product would be most suitable for your particular circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are shutters better than curtains in Australia?

Plantation shutters prove a better long-term value for most Australian homeowners compared to curtains. Plantation shutters have a lifespan considerably longer than curtains (20+ years compared to most curtains, which have a lifespan of 5-8 years), are much easier to clean and are a better way of adding value to the home’s resale value. Curtains do offer greater insulation, and for cold rooms this may be a more important factor. Curtains are also much more versatile for decorative purposes.

What is the downside of plantation shutters?

The major disadvantage of plantation shutters is their cost up-front – plantation shutters are more costly than the two other major types of window treatment. They have a unique architectural feel that does not compliment every décor, and they do not have the warm feel that fabrics are known for. If you are a renter or are planning on moving in the next several years, this investment may not be worthwhile.

Are Luxaflex curtains worth the cost?

Generally yes, for the majority of homeowners. The Luxaflex blinds are made-to-measure to your window dimensions from UV resistant, quality fabrics and come with a manufacturer’s warranty. These features give a significantly better fitting and better-performing curtain, and one which is considerably longer-lasting, than a made-to-measure blind. This is well worth the premium in rooms that you wish to present and last with a quality appearance for many years (say, 8-12+ years).

Which window covering is easiest to clean?

Of the blinds and shades discussed, roller blinds are the most simple to clean and most surfaces can be cleaned by simply wiping them down with a damp cloth and a bit of mild detergent. Plantation shutters are almost as easy to clean and only require dusting with an occasional wipe-down. Curtains are the most difficult and usually need professional dry cleaning or washing in a washing machine. They are also more likely to gather dust, pet hair and cooking odours.

Do shutters increase home value?

Generally yes. Plantation shutters are seen by buyers as part of the house’s architecture, not a soft furnishing, enhancing the perceived quality and presentation of the property. Particularly in areas such as Bathurst/Orange, the low-maintenance nature of shutters makes them very attractive to buyers seeking convenience, and they will effectively boost the property’s presentation but not give you back a dollar-for-dollar return.