There are so many options when it comes to windows that it can be hard to narrow it down. As always, it pays to consider the practical points before deciding on the aesthetics.
What does your room look out onto and how much privacy do you need, both during the day and in the evening? How much light would you like to let in or block out?
Apart from their obvious good looks, this is one of the reasons that plantation shutters have become such a ubiquitous choice in modern homes. The different varieties ensure there's a style to suit most requirements, from cafe style (which cover the lower half of the window), tier on tier (which allow you to have either the top or lower tiers open or closed) and full height. Not to mention the many colours and colour combos now available
There are solid shutters too, once standard fair in Georgian and Victorian homes, providing security when the owners went off to their country piles for 'the season'. For this reason, many who live in period properties, choose to refurbish existing shutters or to replace these beautiful architectural features.
See the month's most instagrammable interiors.
If shutters are beyond your budget or you prefer a softer solution, take a look at the curtains and blinds ahead.
From floaty white linen fabrics to blousy floral drapes that match or contrast with the walls, there are curtains that will create a cosy cocoon or blend subtly into the background.
A simple roller or roman blind in a cotton fabric is a quick fix that can be rolled down halfway during the day to beautifully diffuse strong sunlight or provide privacy at night.
Of course, curtains and blinds can be teamed with shutters too, as the examples ahead stylishly demonstrate.
See how interior designer, Lucy Barlow of Barlow & Barlow does pattern and print.
Designed by interior decorator, Sera Hersham-Loftus, this beautiful home is hard to categorise. Sophisticated bohemian comes close, but in truth it’s a lot more decadent, sexy and exotic than that. To keep the look creative rather than confused, Sera artfully employs colour, with a dark ceiling to ground the space. Sera has fitted blackout blinds to the window, as the apartment gets so bright. They have scalloped edges like in a Paris café. Get the look Green sofa, Tulip and Bustier lamps, Sera of London Privee. Large planter, bought in Sicily.
Cafe style shutters have been painted the same colour as the window frame and paired with a pale blind for privacy without total light blackout during the day. Get the look Try California Shutters for a similar style.
Simple white roller blinds beautifully filter direct sunlight. Get the look The walls are painted in French Grey Mid emulsion by Little Greene. The grey sofa is from Sofas & Stuff. The yellow love seat is by Soda. This is the Savine rug by Designers Guild. The upcycled pallet trolley coffee table is by Ines Cole for Liberty. Find simple white blinds at Blinds2go.
Black painted window frames and black blinds add to the decadent vibe in this room. Get the look Loaf has a good selection of dark fabrics for made to measure roman blinds.
Long, white linen drapes on a thin black pole offer a simple and stylish solution. Get the look Find white linen fabric at Designers Guild.
A strict all-white decorating palette is punctuated by artwork and the colourful shades of the owner’s extensive Stilnovo lighting collection. Thin white plantation shutters offer minimal distraction. Get the look The large painting by the front door, entitled OWOWOW, is by Stefanie Heinze – see more of her work at Saatchi Gallery. Pamono is a good source of vintage Stilnovo lighting. Try Holloways for thin louvre shutters.
There's an unexpected dynamic between the loft-like frame and a softer, decorative side here. Get the look The curtains and Saraille wallpapers are from Designers Guild. The sofa is from loaf.com. The flooring is Dinesen. The pink aluminium and LED light is by Alexander Owen Architecture. The vintage chair is recovered in faux suede.
Here tier on tier shutters allow for flexibility when blocking out light or prying eyes. Get the look Walls painted in Hardwick White Estate Emulsion, Farrow & Ball. Rustica carpet in Marble, Crucial Trading. Cushions Tori Murphy. Shutterly Fabulous do similar shutters.
Floral motifs fill every space and cover every surface, from wallpaper to sofas, embroidered cushions to paintings in this Florist's home. She discovered Ellie Cashman’s Dark Floral hand-printed wallpaper and fabrics on Instagram, and loves the way it feels like being surrounded by an old Dutch oil painting. Get the look Find Ellie Cashman’s Dark Floral wallpaper, velvet and linen at elliecashmandesign.com.
The impossibly tall windows are swathed in a Pierre Frey tropical fabric that could be straight out of a Slim Aarons print. Interior designer, Rebekah Caudwell loves how the blues and greens sing against the sunshine yellow. It’s like a blast of Palm Springs, in WC1. The red cabinet acts as another décor wake-up call. Rebekah fell for its dynamic shade when she was visiting Los Angeles, so had the vintage piece shipped over. Get the look The Lampert sofas and X-benches are by Jonathan Adler. The artwork is by Yves Krief – find his work at byart.co.uk. The red cabinet is from Miami-based Sabina Danenberg Atelier. For similar modern lacquered furniture, try Julian Chichester. The side tables are by Nicola Falcone. This is the Sellarsbrook Yellow rug by Suzanne Sharp for The Rug Company. The curtains are made in Pierre Frey’s Mauritius linen.
With masses of natural light and generous seating, this is a family room that’s designed to be used and enjoyed every day. Solid shutters would have been part of the house's original features. Get the look The sofas and ottoman are Flexform. The Galliano wall lights are by Delightfull. The fireplace is from Renaissance.
