Wooden Shutters vs Vinyl Shutters

Inspiration

BY Lisa Cooper

Published: 27 March 2013 Updated: 12 September 2024

Inspiration
Tags: Shutters

Shutters

Shutters are an excellent window furnishing for all sorts of different reasons, but with different options available, which is best – wooden shutters or vinyl shutters? Read on to find out more.

Is wood or vinyl best?

As with many things, when it comes down to it, there’s no definitive answer to which window shutters are best; but only which is best for you, or best for the room and setting you’re considering using them in. The wood versus vinyl question is no different. It’s all a matter of perspective and balance.
Let’s take a look at the fundamentals of both and explore the pros and cons.

Living room with olive green walls, beige sofa and two large windows dressed in white shutters, louvres open.

Main differences

WOOD VINYL

• Natural material • Man-made material
• Choice of colours • Limited colours
• Expensive • Cheaper
• Not waterproof • Waterproof
• All styles • Most styles
• Heavy • Light
• Careful maintenance • Easy to clean
• +6 weeks wait • 5 weeks wait

TS 2021 BURLEY TRACKED SHUTTER VINTAGE RYE KITCHEN PORTRAIT

TS SHUTTERS WATERBURY VINYL PLANTATION SHAPED CLOSED BATHROOM COTTON

Pros and cons

Let’s take a deeper look at the considerations that may help you make up your mind.

Which is more durable?

Wood is highly durable with proper care but can be susceptible to warping, cracking, and fading over time, especially in high-moisture areas and direct sunlight.
Vinyl is the complete opposite, as it's extremely durable, resistant to moisture, warping, cracking, and fading, making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.

Mauve coloured solid tracked shutters fitted to a tall rectangular window in a bedroom decorative in repeating geometric designs

What about cost?

Generally, wood is more expensive due to the cost of natural materials, plus any paint, stain or finish that's needed.
Vinyl tends to be more affordable, offering a cost-effective alternative that still provides a stylish look.

White bathroom with one walled tiled in olive green with window either side of corner dressed in white shutters, partially open above a bath.

Ease of use

This may seem an unusual consideration, as shutters aren't complicated to operate by any means. But it's worth considering the actual size and weight of the shutter. Wood will be heavier, so for larger windows or at windows where you know you're going to want to fold the shutters fully back against the wall you need to bear it in mind. Likewise tracked shutters for doors, if you're frequently entering and exiting and sliding the shutters back then wooden ones will be heavier to handle than vinyl.

Gable end living/diner, stone fireplace to left, sofa beside, dark brown shutters, louvres open on gable end.

Which is best for customisation?

Wood is a clear winner on the customisation front as there's a myriad of choice in stains, paints, and finishes to match any interior design.
Due to manufacturing methods, vinyl has far fewer customisation options, our vinyl shutters are available in three versatile shades of white.

Moodboard in green, teal and blue tones with paint samples, fabric samples and shutter samples in cream.

The differing therrmal properties

The jury’s still out on this. There are so many different styles of shutters available in both wood and a variety of man-made materials including vinyl, plastic, PVC and ABS that it’s difficult to compare performance. The style of shutters makes the most difference; solid shutters will be more effective at retaining heat compared to café style shutters, as they cover the entirety of the window. Ultimately any type of precision-fitted shutter that covers the entire window will provide better heat retention than any other type of window dressing*, so it’s a win-win whether you choose wood or vinyl.

White room with wooden chair, wooden piano stool in front of a bay window dressed with white solid shutters, closed.

Environmental impact

Wood can be an environmentally friendly option if it's sourced from sustainable forests and treated with eco-friendly finishes, such as our Coppice Collection of natural oils and waxes.
Vinyl shutters are man-made in Polyresin so they have a larger environmental footprint in terms of production and disposal, but this can be countered with their longevity of use. Don’t forget to consider air miles when it comes to production and shipping too.

Neutral bedroom with wooden bed with white bedding and beige accessories two floor to ceiling windows dressed in mid-colour wood shutters, louvres open with light rays filling room.

What about maintenance?

Wood is more high maintenance when it comes to cleaning shutters as you need to dust carefully, ensure it doesn't get wet and can only take careful spot cleaning with a barely damp cloth to avoid damaging the wood or finish.
Vinyl is the ultimate in low-maintenance, It can be dusted in the same way as wood, but being waterproof it's far easier to keep clean, just requiring a wipe with a damp cloth to remove any marks and you can also wipe it dry with a cloth too, should you feel the need to.

White shutters with louvres being wiped with an orange cloth.

A balanced result

As you can see, there are pros and cons to both wooden and vinyl shutters and really it comes down to your individual needs or style. If the setting will be wet or humid then vinyl shutters are a more practical option, whereas a living room won’t require the same level of durability, and stained or painted wood shutters can be made to match your colour scheme.

*https://historicengland.org.uk/research/results/reports/7273/
ResearchintotheThermalPerformanceofTraditionalWindows_
Timbersashwindows