The most-fitted shutter style we make
Full Height Shutters in Kent
Full height plantation shutters cover the whole window in a single louvre run, top to bottom. They’re the most-fitted style we make in Kent for a clear reason: they suit nearly every kind of room and nearly every kind of window. Living rooms, bedrooms, bay windows, kitchen-diners, hallways, period sash openings – full height works in all of them. We hand-fit them across Kent with the manufacturer’s product warranty as standard.
Book a home visit
Full Height Shutters
Full Height Shutters Across Kent
Full height shutters are the most popular style we fit across Kent, and it is easy to see why. A single panel of louvred shutters runs from the very top of the window frame to the bottom, giving you complete control over light and privacy at any time of day. They look smart in any room, they are easy to clean, and they last for years without fading or warping.
At The VIP Shutter Co, every full height shutter is made to measure for your exact window. Barry and the team visit your home, take the measurements, and come back to fit everything cleanly and neatly. You do not need to worry about a thing.
To split or not to split
Decision One: The Mid-Rail
A mid-rail is a horizontal stiffening bar across the panel, set somewhere between sill and head. It does two jobs. First, it adds rigidity to a tall louvre run – panels above about 1.6 metres benefit from one structurally. Second, it lets you tilt the louvres above and below the mid-rail independently of each other, which is genuinely useful for fine-tuning daylight (open the upper louvres for light, close the lower for privacy).
On windows shorter than around 1.4 metres, we usually skip the mid-rail entirely. The cleanest possible look comes from one continuous louvre run with no horizontal break. On windows over 1.6 metres, the mid-rail is structural rather than optional – skipping it on tall panels causes the louvres to bow over time.
The mid-rail’s height matters. Default is around two-thirds up the panel, but we’ll often shift it to align with a sash meeting rail (on Victorian/Edwardian sash windows) or with a frame member in an adjacent window. The result reads as part of the architecture rather than added on.
How many panels to span the window
Decision Two: The Panel Count
On windows under about 700mm wide, a single panel hinged on one side covers the opening cleanly. Above 700mm we split into two panels meeting in the middle. Above 1.4 metres we sometimes go to three or four panels depending on the window’s proportions and how often you want to fully open the shutter.
More panels means more frame work and more hinges – so the cost goes up – but it also gives you more open positions and easier daily operation. Two-panel installs are the most common across our work in Kent. Single-panel installs suit narrow windows in period properties.
Bay windows always have multiple panels because the bay itself dictates the panel count. We typically use one panel per bay section, with mitred frames at the angles.
Colour, sheen, hardware
Decision Three: The Finish That Changes How The Shutter Reads
Full height shutters work across a wide colour range. Painted whites and off-whites maximise daylight in north-facing rooms; heritage colours (muted greens, slate greys, deep whites) suit Victorian and Edwardian properties; stained timber finishes (oak, walnut, cherry) suit modern interiors with timber flooring.
Sheen is the under-discussed variable. Matt finishes hide imperfection and read calmer in rooms with strong daylight. Eggshell and satin finishes read crisper but show every fingerprint. Hand-rubbed finishes (more labour, higher cost) give a flat antiqued surface that suits period properties particularly well.
Hinge choice changes the look more than people expect. White-painted steel hinges are the default and almost invisible. Brass hinges read traditional. Black ironmongery suits modern interiors. Bring a paint or hardware reference to the survey and we can colour-match across the range.
How It Works
3 Steps to Your New Full Height Shutter
Getting new shutters fitted is straightforward when you work with a team that handles everything from start to finish.
Book a Free Home Visit
We come to you at a time that suits you. Barry will measure your windows, show you samples, and talk you through your options. There is no pressure and no commission-driven sales pitch.
Choose Your Style
Pick your louvre size, material, finish, and colour from our full range of samples. We will help you find the right option for each room.
Precision Fit
We make your shutters to your exact measurements and come back to fit them cleanly and carefully. Most installations are done in a single visit with no mess left behind.
why choose us
Why Choose The VIP Shutter Co
Choosing a made to measure window treatment is a long term investment, and the company you trust to deliver it matters just as much as the product itself. Here is why Kent homeowners, from period townhouses in Rochester to coastal properties in Folkestone, continue to choose The VIP Shutter Co year after year.
Carpenter Led Installation
Our founder, Barry, is a qualified carpenter with more than 25 years on the tools. Every shutter is scribed, shimmed, and finished to a cabinetmaker’s standard, which is an attention to detail that mass market shutter companies rarely match.
20+ years of experience
We have fitted shutters in every style of Kent home, from Medway terraces to Tunbridge Wells Victorians. We know what works and we will tell you if something does not.
Demonstrable Energy Efficiency
Independent testing has shown that a well fitted plantation shutter can cut heat loss through a window by up to 52 per cent. For a family with large bay windows or a period home with single glazing, the savings on heating bills can be considerable year on year.
Genuinely Local, Not a National Franchise
We are a small family team in Rochester who have measured, fitted, and serviced thousands of windows across Kent. We understand period sashes in Faversham, conservation area rules in Tunbridge Wells, and the particular demands of coastal properties from Whitstable to Folkestone.
FULL HEIGHT SHUTTERS
Which Rooms Work Best with Full Height Shutters?
Bedrooms — full height shutters are brilliant in bedrooms. Tilt the louvres for total darkness at night and full daylight in the morning. Our bedroom shutters page has more details.
Living rooms — they frame the window neatly and let you control light without having to get up and adjust curtains. They work in both modern and period-style rooms.
Bay windows — full height shutters are one of the best solutions for bay windows. Each panel is made to fit the exact angle of your bay. See our bay window shutters page for examples.
Hallways — a clean, smart look for front-door side windows and fanlights where you want privacy but still want to let light through.
Studies and home offices — reduce glare on your screen without closing off the room completely.
If your window is in a bathroom or kitchen, we usually suggest our waterproof ABS option or a café style shutter that covers just the lower half. Take a look at our bathroom shutters page for more.
OUR PRODUCTS
Our Complete Window Covering Offering
If you are searching for the finest kent shutters, The VIP Shutter Co offers a complete range of made to measure plantation shutters that combine architectural elegance with proven, measurable performance. Independent testing has shown that a well fitted shutter can reduce heat loss through a window by up to 52 per cent, which is why so many homeowners now regard them as an energy efficient upgrade as well as a design choice.
Every shutter is cut to your precise sizes and finished to the colour, stain, or bespoke RAL shade of your choosing. We offer six classic styles, each available in sustainably sourced hardwood, engineered MDF, and waterproof ABS, with louvre sizes of 47 mm, 63 mm, 76 mm, and 89 mm, and either central or discreet hidden tilt.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Full height shutters cover the entire window from top to bottom, giving you complete control over light and privacy across the whole opening. Café style shutters cover only the lower half of the window, letting daylight in from above while keeping privacy at street level. If you are not sure which one suits your room, we will help you decide during the free home visit.
We offer four louvre sizes: 47 mm, 63 mm, 76 mm, and 89 mm. Smaller louvres suit narrower windows and traditional-style homes. Larger louvres let in more light when open and look more modern. We bring samples to your home so you can see exactly how each size looks before you decide.
We offer hardwood, engineered MDF, and waterproof ABS. Hardwood is the natural wood option, MDF is the most versatile for painted finishes, and ABS is the best choice for wet rooms like bathrooms and kitchens. All three are available in a wide range of colours and finishes.
Most full height shutter installations take between two and four hours per window, depending on the size and number of panels. We work cleanly and tidily, and we clear up fully before we leave. The whole process from first visit to fitting day is usually four to six weeks.
Yes. We make each panel to fit the exact angle of your bay. See our bay window shutters page for examples of how they look. Bay window installations are one of our most popular requests across Kent.
Yes. Independent testing shows that a well-fitted plantation shutter can reduce heat loss through a window by up to 52 per cent. This makes them a smart energy-saving upgrade as well as a stylish one.
Yes, if you choose the waterproof ABS material. This will not warp, crack, or discolour in a damp or steamy room. Our bathroom shutters page has more details on the best options for wet rooms.
A quick wipe with a damp cloth is enough for everyday dust. For a deeper clean, use a mild soapy cloth and dry the louvres afterwards. There are no cords, tracks, or fabric to deal with, which makes shutters one of the easiest window coverings to look after.
We do not give prices without measuring first, because every window is a different size and every job is priced accordingly. The home visit is completely free and there is no obligation to buy. Book yours here or call us on 01634 943153.
The VIP Shutter Co
