There's a Lowes nearby, so that will be convenient. My windows are single and double crank outs so not that wide. I'll check it out. Do you recall what time of year they run the discounts? Sometimes places run specials right after Labor Day because that's usually a dead time for people to shop.

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.

If you need to be able to cover and uncover the upper level windows during the day, you may need a motorized shade option, or a long pole to keep handy to reach up and open/close plantations shutters. Here are several images of plantation shutters on two story windows. Also a 2014 Topix discussion of plantations shutters on 2 story windows - HERE.