What's the best type of shutter for a kitchen window above the sink?

For a window directly above a sink we almost always recommend our PVC Vienna range, which is fully waterproof and won't warp or stain when splashed. Café-style shutters (covering only the lower half) work well over sinks where you want privacy at counter level but light from above.

Can I have shutters fitted around a kitchen tap or sink?

Yes. Every shutter is bespoke, and we routinely design around taps, mixer taps, sinks, splashbacks and wall units. At your free measure our designer will plan a configuration that works neatly around the obstacle while still letting you open and close the shutter and access the window.

Are kitchen shutters heat-resistant near a hob?

Our Vienna PVC composite is heat-resistant to typical kitchen temperatures and won't warp from radiator or sunlight heat. We do not, however, recommend fitting any shutter directly above a hob — that's a fire-safety guideline, not a shutter limitation.

Bespoke plantation shutters in a customer's kitchen above the sink

Kitchen Shutters

Kitchens are arguably the room where plantation shutters genuinely outperform every other window covering. Fabric blinds and curtains absorb cooking smells, grease and steam over time — and they hate being directly above a sink. Bespoke kitchen shutters wipe clean in seconds, never absorb odours, and are designed around the awkward features that make kitchen windows so difficult to dress: sinks, mixer taps, splashbacks and wall units.

Wipe-Clean & Hygienic

Kitchen shutters are designed for food-preparation environments. Splashes, grease residue and the inevitable film of cooking deposits wipe straight off with a warm damp cloth — no need to take anything down, wash it or hang it up to dry. There are no fabrics to harbour bacteria, no cords to grow grimy, and no curtain hems trailing near the floor. Our PVC Vienna range is the obvious choice for any window directly above a sink or work surface.

No 'Kitchen Smells'

Unlike fabric blinds (and especially fabric curtains), shutters do not absorb cooking smells. Onion, garlic, fish, frying oil, curry — none of it ends up trapped in your window covering. This is a particular benefit in open-plan kitchen-diners and modern kitchen-living spaces, where smells in the curtains can spread quickly through the rest of the room.

Built Around Taps, Sinks & Units

Getting standard window coverings to fit in kitchens is notoriously frustrating — there is always a sink, a mixer tap, a splashback or a wall unit in the way. Because our kitchen shutters are completely bespoke, we design them around your specific kitchen layout. Common bespoke kitchen configurations include:

Café-style shutters above a sink (lower half only) so the louvres clear the tap and splashback
Mid-rail full-height shutters that can be opened to reach the window for cleaning
Tier-on-tier shutters where the bottom can stay closed for privacy from the garden while the top half opens for ventilation
Tracked or split-panel shutters for very wide kitchen windows or kitchen patio doors

Light Control for Cooking & Entertaining

Kitchens need bright task lighting for cooking — but you also want softer, more atmospheric light for evenings and entertaining. Adjustable louvres let you flip between the two in seconds. Tilt them fully open in the morning to flood the kitchen with daylight; angle them down in the evening to soften glare from south-facing kitchens; or close them completely for total privacy after dark.

Best Range for Kitchens

For most kitchen windows we recommend our PVC Vienna range because of its waterproof, heat-resistant properties. For kitchen-diners or larger open-plan spaces where the windows are well away from the sink, our real-wood Worcester or Ashwood ranges are also good options and give a slightly warmer, traditional finish.

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Our experts will take the time to measure up, show you samples and discuss all of the options; as well as leaving you with a free, no-obligation quote.

Frequently Asked: Kitchen Shutters

Are shutters a good idea in a kitchen?

Yes — kitchens are one of the rooms where shutters genuinely outperform every other window covering. They wipe clean, don't absorb cooking smells, and are built around awkward features like taps, sinks and wall units.

What's best for a kitchen window above the sink?

For a window directly above a sink we almost always recommend our PVC Vienna range, which is fully waterproof. Café-style shutters work well over sinks where you want privacy at counter level but light from above.

Will kitchen shutters absorb cooking smells?

No. Unlike fabric coverings, shutters are solid PVC composite or sealed wood and do not absorb odours. Any cooking film wipes straight off with a damp cloth.

Can shutters be fitted around a kitchen tap or sink?

Yes — every shutter is bespoke and routinely designed around taps, sinks, splashbacks and wall units. At your free measure our designer plans the configuration so you can still open the shutter and access the window.

Our Installations of Kitchen Shutters

At Shutters of Elegance, we've completed lots of Kitchen installations.
Here are a small selection of some of our photos and customer photos showing the results, and we think they look fantastic!

A kitchen with a sink and a window with shutters.

A kitchen with white shutters and a sink.

A man cleaning a window in a kitchen with shutters.

A sink with a black faucet and a black sink in a kitchen.

A kitchen with a window that has shutters on it.

A kitchen with green cabinets and a sink.

A kitchen with green cabinets and shutters.

A window with white shutters in a kitchen.

White shutters in a kitchen with green walls.

A kitchen with green cabinets and white shutters.

A kitchen with green cabinets and a window with shutters.

A kitchen with green cabinets and a window.

A kitchen with wooden shutters and a sink.

A kitchen with white cabinets and white shutters.

White shutters in a kitchen with a marble floor.

White shutters in a kitchen with marble counter tops.

A kitchen with a glass door and shutters.

White shutters on a window in a kitchen.

A kitchen with a washing machine and window blinds.

A window in a kitchen with white shutters.

A kitchen with wooden shutters in the window.

A kitchen with wooden shutters and a clock.

A kitchen with wooden shutters and a window.

White shutters in a kitchen with a sliding door.

White shutters on a window in a bathroom.

White shutters in a room with a sliding door.

A kitchen with white cabinets and a sink.

A kitchen with white shutters and a heart shaped window.

A kitchen with white shutters and pink chairs.

A kitchen with white shutters and a washing machine.

A kitchen with a washing machine and window shutters.

A kitchen with full-height wooden shutters and a sink.

A kitchen with arched window shutters and a sink.

A stained glass window in a kitchen with a sink.

A bathroom with wooden shutters and a sink.

A kitchen with white shutters on the window.

A kitchen with an open window and a sink.

A kitchen with grey cabinets and white counter tops.

To see even more examples of our Shutter Installations, head over to our Inspiration page to experiment with different styles, ranges and configurations!

Be Inspired