The kitchen is a functional, highly busy space in your home. While this is a functional space, it is crucial to maintain aesthetics and privacy in the area. Deciding the best window treatment in the kitchen is more challenging, too, because of the practical considerations. The area experiences high heat and humidity, and there is a lot of moisture in the space due to the cooking and prep activity. For this reason, you need high-quality kitchen plantation shutters as they can withstand the unique conditions of this space.
Plantation Shutters vs. Drapes for the Kitchen
Curtains and drapes are the traditional choice in homes for window coverings. However, choosing drapes for the kitchen presents many challenges.
First, drapes are a fire hazard. Drapes are made from flammable materials that can pose a fire risk when working with open flames or other heat sources.
Another challenge with using drapes in the kitchen is the risk that these materials will absorb grease and odour. When odour and grease are absorbed, frequent cleaning is required, or you must change your drapes often. In addition, the kitchen produces a lot of moisture and exposing your drapes to this environment can promote mould and mildew growth.
Maintaining kitchen drapery can be labour-intensive and costly since you need to buy more drapes to replace the existing ones.
In addition, most kitchens are small. Adding drapes can further restrict your kitchen space. It can make the kitchen feel more cramped, so they are not a practical choice.
Consider these factors before you install drapes in the kitchen windows and switch to plantation shutters instead.
7 Reasons to Install Kitchen Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutter installation in the kitchen offers many practical benefits. Let’s discuss those benefits in detail.
1. They Won’t Absorb Smell
Unlike the fabric materials of drapes, plantation shutters in the kitchen won’t absorb the smell. While your family might enjoy smelling the aroma of your cooked food to whet their appetite, it isn’t good news for your window coverings, especially if you use curtains in the kitchen.
Plantation shutters overcome this problem as the material will not absorb smells like curtains do. It helps maintain a pleasant ambience in the kitchen without any lingering odour.
2. Moisture Resistance
The cooking process creates a lot of moisture due to the condensation processes and the amount of liquids in use. Therefore, you need a kitchen window treatment that can withstand moisture and excess humidity. It is especially true when your windows are located directly above the sink. It is easy for water to splash onto the curtains and cause them to become moist.
Switch from fabric window treatments to plantation shutters as they resist moisture. Meanwhile, choose durable materials for your plantation shutters so they won’t warp or shrink when exposed to excess heat and moisture. You can easily wipe the plantation shutter slats to keep them clean and dry.
3. Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning plantation shutters is easy because you only need soap solution and cloth to remove any food residues from cooking. Cleaning spills and splashes can be done in minutes and you won’t need to replace kitchen plantation shutters as often as you would with curtains and drapes. They are not cumbersome to clean either, especially if your plantation shutters have wide slats.
4. Promote Proper Ventilation
Keeping your kitchen properly ventilated is crucial in keeping it clean and moisture-free. It also helps to eliminate any odour from lingering in your kitchen.
The adjustable louvres in kitchen plantation shutters promote efficient light and airflow. Maintaining proper ventilation combats moisture retention and mildew growth. Therefore, you can easily tilt or open the slats wide to allow air and light into the kitchen space.
On the other hand, drapery in kitchen windows can make it look damp, dark, and dingy.
5. Enhanced Safety
Kitchen windows can be a potential security risk in your home. You can close your plantation shutters to prevent windows from opening and still have enough air and light. It offers complete peace of mind, ensuring you don’t forget to close a window.
6. Increase Aesthetic Appeal
Just because the kitchen is a functional space does not mean you don’t have to consider its aesthetic value. Plantation shutters are popular in Australia and worldwide because of their stylish design that easily incorporates into any existing home décor.
If you want to spruce up the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen, this window treatment can be an effective way of doing so. You can find plantation shutters in various materials, colours, and finishes. It is easier to pick a design that complements the interior design of your kitchen and elevates its aesthetic value. You won’t have to compromise safety and functionality to achieve enhancement in design.
7. Enhance the Value of Your Kitchen
Adding plantation shutters in the kitchen can help boost the value of your kitchen. A beautifully designed and custom-fitted window treatment makes the space more practical and functional. And as any kitchen enhancement can boost the market value of your home, it is a worthwhile investment that will add more appeal.
Best Kitchen Plantation Shutters Materials
Which plantation shutter material is best for the kitchen? Each material has different properties that fit various rooms and usage.
While wood is a popular material for plantation shutters, it isn’t ideal for the kitchen because it can be damaged over time when exposed to excess moisture and humidity. Instead, choose faux wooden materials because they offer the same look as wood but are more resistant to moisture and humidity.
PVC plantation shutters are also an excellent choice in the kitchen due to their moisture resistance, which works best for humid environments. Vinyl shutters would be an excellent choice for kitchen use as they are durable and lightweight. They are easy to clean and maintain and do not warp easily.
Consider these factors when choosing the best kitchen plantation shutter materials that can withstand the high humidity and moisture environment.
