Should You Use Curtains with Plantation Shutters? A Decor Guide

When it comes to window treatments, homeowners have an array of options to choose from. Two popular choices are curtains and plantation shutters. But should you use both curtains and plantation shutters together? There are pros and cons to this pairing that deserve careful consideration.

Plantation shutters provide a clean, elegant look and allow adjustable light control. Curtains offer billowy fullness, soft textures, and unlimited design possibilities. However, the bold lines of shutters and draped folds of curtains represent two distinct styles. Finding harmony between these disparate window treatments takes skill and finesse.

Key Benefits of Adding Curtains to Plantation Shutters

While plantation shutters have their advantages, there are many benefits to layering curtains:

• Extra insulation - Curtains add an extra barrier against cold drafts in winter.
• Light control - Curtains provide additional darkening capabilities for bedrooms.
• Visual interest - Vibrant curtains complement shutters with color, patterns and textures.
• Softness - Fabrics like cotton, polyester blends, or velvet infuse coziness.
• Privacy - Curtains offer coverage when shutters are open.
• Energy efficiency - Curtains conserve heat in colder climates.

Thick curtains lined with blackout material can make rooms pitch black - an unattainable feat with shutters alone. In especially cold regions, insulation is exponentially improved by adding substantial curtain panels over shutters.

For many homeowners, the downsides of standalone plantation shutters make adding curtains highly advantageous.

Potential Drawbacks of Combining Curtains and Shutters

However, using curtains with plantation shutters also has some compromises to weigh:

• Visible clutter - Layering window treatments adds visual busyness.
• Cleaning challenges - Fabric curtains require more maintenance.
• Operational issues - Curtains can obstruct opening and closing shutters.
• Costly investment - Buying both treatments is more expensive.
• Smaller feel - Too many treatments make spaces feel cramped.
• Style clash - Contrasting looks can compete instead of blend.

With their slats and louvers, shutters already contain a lot of lines and textures. Curtains only pile on more visual weight. The delicate balance between modern minimalism and old-world classic can be thrown off by dual treatments.

Finding the right balance is key to maximizing the benefits while minimizing drawbacks.

Designer Tips for Styling Curtains with Plantation Shutters

Seek Harmony Not Conflict

The first step is choosing compatible styles. For a cohesive look, match casual with casual, traditional with traditional. A tense style mismatch will only accentuate flaws. Designers recommend selecting curtains and shutters from the same manufacturer. This increases the likelihood the two will integrate seamlessly.

Prioritize Airiness and Light

To keep spaces feeling open, opt for breezy, lightweight curtains. Long flowing sheers, cafe panels, or solar shades allow light through while still providing privacy. Mount rods extra high and wide to draw the eye up. Height gives the illusion of taller ceilings, while width lends spaciousness.

Focus on Strategic Layering

Layer curtain panels behind shutters to avoid any operation interference. This creates a layered look without function overlap. Alternatively, mount curtains above the shutters. This adds softness while still allowing shutters to operate freely. Only layering one curtain panel maintains simplicity.

If room dimensions allow, extend curtain rods well past the window frame so drapes cover wall space. This makes windows appear inset into the curtains rather than confined behind them. Widened curtain coverage expands the feel of a room.

Mind the Fabrics

Light, textured fabrics like linen, cotton, and voile work best with shutters. Avoid heavy fabrics like velvet, brocade, or luxe satin that will overpower the shutters. Sheers, layered over blackout panels provide the right balance of airy and functional.

Creative Alternatives to Curtains with Plantation Shutters

For those opposed to combining curtains and shutters, design experts recommend these attractive alternatives:

• Solar window films - Provide privacy without affecting shutting.
• Decorative cafe curtains - Add playful accent touches.
• Unique window blinds - Roller or roman shades offer light filtering.
• Artwork or mirrors - Draw the eye while adding color.
• Nothing at all - Allow shutters to shine in their simplicity.

Roller shades mounted behind plantation shutter slats provide light-filtering ability without interfering with louver adjustments. For bathrooms seeking obscurity, consider frosted window film over shutters rather than shower curtains.

Rooms Where Curtain and Shutter Layering Works Best

When weighing whether to add curtains to your shutters, also consider the room. Here are spaces where layering these two window treatments makes perfect sense:

Bedrooms

The versatility of curtains is ideal for the bedroom, where priorities like darkness for sleeping and insulation against cold will likely prevail over a minimalist aesthetic. Curtains in bedrooms provide flexibility. Sheers allow morning light in but blackouts block it out come bedtime.

In children's rooms, whimsical curtain patterns and colors inject visual interest difficult to achieve with shutters alone. Light-blocking abilities create optimal napping environments.

Living Spaces

Layering curtains and shutters in living areas like family rooms strikes an inviting balance between sleek modern lines and soft elegance. Sheers filter daylight while opaque panels prevent fading on furniture and art.

Billowing curtain panels also help absorb sound reverberations common in cavernous great rooms and open floor plans.

Bathrooms

In bathrooms, privacy is paramount but moisture makes shutters high-maintenance. Curtains answer the call, providing coverage while holding up better to humidity than shutters.

Steam from hot showers also makes hardwood shutters prone to warping. Shower curtains contain splashes while still allowing adjustable daylight from shutters.

Home Offices

Window glare is the nemesis of home offices. Curtains layered with shutters can adapt to filter in natural light while eliminating eye-straining reflections.

Blackout lined curtains also help reduce distractions by darkening home office windows to mute outside views.

At the end of the day, whether to add curtains to your plantation shutters comes down to personal priorities. If your main goals are aesthetics and simplicity, shutters alone may suffice. But if function ranks first - like darkening, insulation, and versatility - the benefits of curtains likely outweigh style reservations.

Ultimately, a thoughtful approach to layering will enable these disparate treatments to work together in harmony. The design decision depends on your space, climate, style sensibilities, and functional needs. With strategic styling, personalized placement, and proper pairing, plantation shutters and curtains can complement rather than compete - unlocking the perks while minimizing the pitfalls.

In the battle between shutters vs. curtains, there is no definitive winner. The most attractive outcome lies in a synergistic pairing where shutters and curtains enhance each other's strengths. With careful selection and placement, these classic window treatments strike the perfect balance between form and function.