Discover The Differences Between Blinds and Shutters

Classic Blinds & Shutters • October 24, 2025

If you've been thinking about investing in new window treatments for your Georgia home, window blinds and shutters are excellent options to enhance your windows with style and function.

Hunter Douglas blinds and shutters near Alpharetta, Georgia (GA)

Knowing the differences between each of these types of window coverings can help you decide which is right for you. Today, our Classic Blinds and Shutters team has carefully compiled a list of differences to help you make your final choice.

Blinds or Plantation Shutters: Cost, Value, and Which is Right for You?

Blinds and shutters each have their own benefits and features that help you choose which will work the best for you:

  • Materials: Both shutters and blinds are made from durable materials like wood, composite, metal, and vinyl materials. When you invest in custom blinds and shutters, quality will be higher than big box store alternatives.
  • Cost: Cost is heavily dependent on the style and material you choose. Shutters are considered a semi-permeant window covering and add value to your home compared to blinds, which are generally more cost effective. Wood blinds and shutters are a more premium option than those made with composite or hybrid materials. Vinyl is a more cost-effective option.
  • Installation: Shutters are typically installed directly into the window frame or via a track for folding or bypass shutters. Blinds can be mounted either inside or outside of the window frame for a custom look and fit.
  • Operation: Blinds and shades are both cordless window treatment options with many different customizable control solutions. Shutters can be adjusted by tilting the louvers or with an easy-to-use tilt bar. Blinds have convenient button-press or push-up/pull-down system and work by tilting the slats to the desired preference with a wand or cord. You can also opt to add automation for advanced privacy and light management.
  • Aesthetic: Shutters offer a rich, permanent architectural appeal and work well with both modern traditional decor. Metal blinds provide a sleek, modern aesthetic, making them an excellent choice for contemporary homes. Wood blinds are timeless and work anywhere—especially traditional spaces.

Classic Blinds & Shutters is proud to carry a complete line of Hunter Douglas blinds and shutters. Our custom blinds and shutters are of the highest quality and will complement any interior design motif.

We carry vertical and horizontal blinds in fabric, aluminum metal, vinyl, and wood. We offer shutters in wood, composite, and vinyl.

Add Power to Your Blinds and Shutters

Adding automation to your blinds and shutters offers a host of benefits.

  • Convenience is the top perk of home automation. Hunter Douglas PowerView® Automation lets you control your privacy and light with a remote, app, voice, or smart home system.
  • Security is another benefit. When you are away from your home, you can program your window treatments to open and close at certain times of the day so your home appears lived in.
  • Safety is always a priority for any homeowner. Automation does away with danger cords that are unsafe for homes with small children, pets, and vulnerable adults.

Visit Us for Blinds and Shutters Near Alpharetta, Georgia

Classic Blinds & Shutters Design Center is a certified Hunter Douglas Gallery offering a complete line of luxurious window treatments. Our team of design experts knows our products and services inside and out and is eager to help you decide if blinds or shutters are right for you.

When you are ready to learn more, please visit our state-of-the-art showroom or request a consultation to explore your options.

We are honored to serve the greater Alpharetta, Georgia, areas, including Milton, John's Creek, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Marietta, Downtown Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Suwanee, and Big Canoe, Georgia.

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Best Alternatives to Vertical Blinds

By Classic Blinds & Shutters • September 23, 2025
Sliding glass doors make an excellent transition from the inside of your home to an outdoor living space. Vertical blinds are the standard choice for covering sliding glass and patio doors, but if they aren’t your thing, we think you’ll enjoy these alternatives to vertical blinds. 
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Are Painted Shutters or Stained Wood Shutters Right for Your Home?

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Whether you live in a coastal cottage, a Southern Victorian, or a modern Georgian home, wooden window shutters can add distinction, charm, and elegance to any window setting. These beautiful window treatments come in a wide array of styles, colors, and designs, but one of the biggest choices that can make a huge difference in the look and performance of these shutters is whether or not they are stained or painted. Both options work, but each comes with its own unique set of visuals and benefits. 
Bay window with built-in shelves displaying blue and white vases. The window has shutters and overlooks a green landscape.

What Is a Plantation Shutter?

By Classic Blinds & Shutters • September 23, 2025
No window treatment is more reminiscent of the American South than interior plantation shutters. Plantation shutters are a classic window treatment that will add instant sophistication and charm to your overall home’s design. Their durable construction and versatility makes them a great fit for a variety of uses. 
White wooden blinds with beige fabric tape and pull cords.

Try These Solutions for Porch Enclosures

By Classic Blinds & Shutters • September 23, 2025
Enclosed porches, patios, or sunrooms are perfect places to enjoy the gorgeous Georgia sun. These flexible spaces allow homeowners to enjoy the best of both worlds while remaining out of the heat and humidity. If you’re looking for a quiet, shaded spot to sit back and enjoy the view, you can add light control, charm, and comfort to your porch or patio with new window treatments from Hunter Douglas. 
Three white roller shades covering windows; two patterned armchairs face a small table.

Protect Your Home from Excessive Sun with Screen Shades

By Classic Blinds & Shutters • September 23, 2025
No matter what time of year it is, as a proud homeowner in the Alpharetta area, you want to ensure your belongings stay protected from the sun. While bright light enhances your home with its glow, the sun’s harsh UV rays can damage your floors, furnishings, and art. It can also produce annoying glares that make it challenging to complete computer work or view a movie on your TV screens. No matter what time of year it is, as a proud homeowner in the Alpharetta area, you want to ensure your belongings stay protected from the sun. While bright light enhances your home with its glow, the sun’s harsh UV rays can damage your floors, furnishings, and art. It can also produce annoying glares that make it challenging to complete computer work or view a movie on your TV screens. 
Two wicker chairs facing each other in front of a window with white shutters, beneath a wood beam.

Window Treatment Ideas for Your Sliding Doors

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Now that the beautiful Georgia spring is here and summer is on its way, your sliding doors are primed to take center stage as your home's central portal to the great outdoors. Since your patio doors can be such a busy exit and entrance, their window treatments can often take a lot of the wear and tear during this busy. That's when we can step in to assist with durable and stylish window treatments. Our team of design experts at Classic Blinds & Shutters Design Center is delighted to discuss some sliding door blind ideas from Hunter Douglas for a pop of summer aesthetic, including plantation shutters for a long-standing classic look that will turn your sliding doors into an architectural feature.
A modern living room with large panel blinds, a sofa, coffee table, and floor lamp.

Modernize Your Home Hunter Douglas Motorized Shades

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Some interior design trends stand the test of time, while others come and go throughout the years. Modern motorized window treatments from Hunter Douglas are one lasting choice that offers both style and the latest in technological advancements. These modern shade, blinds, and shutters are an aesthetic upgrade for any Georgia home regardless of its interior design while at the same time featuring classic styles any homeowner will love.