Sorry for letting this thread drop, we had to make a bit of an emergency trip out of state. I don't want any of you who responded to think that I just didn't read through your responses. :) I'm not sure why the lined bamboo shades would be so heavy (I've not felt them myself, but the rep said they'd be "ugodly heavy." We have babmoo shades outside and they're surprisingly light. Maybe a different quality of materials is used? I'm really not sure. The existing panels & sheers, once we have a privacy treatment, would stay open - pushed to either side (not swagged). The panels & sheers are on a double rod and I like to have the sheers just barely poking out from behind. No idea why, it's just a look I really like. I'm not deeply in love with either, but it took me a LONG time to find panels in that color that were long enough so I'm not in a hurry to get rid of them. I don't have a great pic showing the windows/current treatments, and never did get one taken before we had to take off. Here are some that I've taken to show other things, in which you can see partially what I have: These are the actual windows: You can see part of the panels/sheers here. The sheers can go if need be. There's just something I like about them paired. This is a very rare picture of them closed. We normally leave them pulled open. The panels aren't quite that dark, nor shiny, in person (and we now have a different rug in there).

I am usually in the kitchen, bath or laundry forums and landed here today on a search, so hello. Like nini804, I live in the south where plantation shutters can sell a house. They do indeed cut heating costs if you leave them shut, and AC costs it you shut or at least tilt them against the sun. I also have cellular shades in some of the guest rooms, roman shades in my son's room, and blinds in my family room and office. Plus four cats! Cleaning cell shades was never a problem -- roll them with a lint roller, same for lamp shades -- but cords for both blinds and shades need to be secured if you have a mischievous cat. Kittens have strangled on them. I think of all the options you have presented, wood blinds let in the most light and give quick, easy flexibility for adjustment. Easily cleaned with a swiffer extender. They almost disappear when pulled up. The frames around shutters cut out a lot of light, and they look less good on small windows. You particularly do not want to "split" a plantation shutter on a small window. I think cellular shades give a soft, pretty look and come in more colors, but are best in bedrooms. However, you used to be able to get them with a sun reflective coating for hot areas, though they did give a shimmery look to your windows when viewed from the outside. Not sure if those are still on the market. You can also, I believe, put Pellas on a timer that will automatically raise and lower them at different times of the day, depending on how you preset it. Where we live, in a moderately upscale neighborhood in the south, it is considered good form to have matching window treatments on each on each side of your house. For example, most people here have plantation shutters on all their front windows, up and down. But they might have blinds or cellular shades on the back. My real estate agent says consistency gives a house curb appeal. But we have a mix on the front because that works best for our rooms, especially where the cats hang (dining room bay window) where shutters would restrict their view too much. All said, though, unless the window is a small one, plantation shutters are my favorite option. Hope my pros and cons can help you choose.

Shutters do not seal out the drafts as well as roman shades do, esp with insulated fabric. So the question really is one of where you live. Do you have to shut out more heat from the sun when it's hot? Or do you need to insulate more when it's cold. I'm in the NE and cold is definitely the bigger issue for us. Another consideration is the view. Even when open, the frames around the shutters block a lot of the light and view vs. the romans that will essentially clear the entire window. Also romans offer an opportunity to add color, pattern, texture, softness and noise deadening to a room vs. shutters which are traditionally just white wood. Roman-type shades come in a variety of styles so there are a lot more to choose from: flat roman, relaxed roman, cloud, balloon, pleated, tulip, hobbled, austrian, banded, shaped bottom, etc. Shutters do provide better light control for how much sunshine comes into a room and night time privacy while allowing outdoor air to circulate in the room. They are a better solution if you like to leave your windows open but need privacy. I was in a B&B once that had shutters over the sliders to the outside which was all nice except that some were loose and the only way I could get them to stay open to the light was to jam a book in between the slats. I also detest cleaning slats. To me it's right up there with tom sawyer's picket fence painting. So while my preference for many reasons would be romans, YMMV.

My romans never looked wrinkled. They have a blackout liner that gives them some heft, so maybe that is the difference. However, they allow a lot of light to come in at the sides since they do not sit flush with the window frame. I have roller shades under them, but they are not light blocking since they make the room too dark during the day. I have privacy issues and can't just open everything. I curse my neighbors who refuse to turn off their flood light at night!