The windows in a bathroom aren’t an area that gets a lot of attention. Everyone focuses on the cabinets, the tile, the tub…pretty much anywhere but the windows.

But, let’s be honest, the windows are pretty important for a bathroom considering how exposed you are while in the bathroom.

More than anything else in bathrooms I see those cheap plastic blinds covering the windows and those blinds don’t do any favors for the lighting in your bathroom or for your wallet when it comes to keeping the heat out or in (and temperature control is pretty important in a bathroom).

I also see people who try to cover up those cheap plastic window treatments with curtains or valences, but for a bathroom that really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Think about how much spraying (hairspray, cologne, etc.) goes on in your bathroom and how much moisture is in the air… now think about all of that getting stuck in fabric, breeding smells and mold. Fabric window treatments really are not the way to go with a bathroom.

But there are other alternatives that I think will let you keep privacy in the bathroom, add to your design aesthetics, and will be easy to keep clean: plantation shutters and in-window blinds.

In-window blinds are the blinds that are actually in-between the glass panes of your window. They’re super easy to keep clean, since the blinds don’t get dusty or damaged at all, but they don’t add a whole lot to the design aesthetic of your bathroom. They look pretty much like those regular plastic blinds and block just about as much light, which can make getting good lighting in your bathroom a bit tricky.

But plantation shutters have everything you could want.

They used to be found pretty much only in Southern homes, but they’ve expanded and can now be found in almost any kind of home anywhere in the country.

And that’s happening for good reason. Plantation Shutters are long-lasting and can really transform the look of a room (if you have a lot of windows) or blend in if the windows aren’t the main focus. They’re also good for the environment since they can be made of recycled materials and help keep cold air out and hot air in with the added insulation they provide.

But when it comes to just bathrooms they’re a good bet for a number of reasons. Firstly, Polywood Plantation Shutters, which you can see pictures of on this shutter company site, are resistant to mold due to the strong recycled materials they’re made from. Secondly, they’re also as much as 70% more efficient in insulation than solid wooden shutters and 1,600% more efficient than aluminum blinds, meaning they can help lower your energy costs. No one likes to step out of the shower into a cold bathroom and most of that cold air is coming in from the windows. And lastly, they can block out more light than traditional blinds since they’re made from a heavier material, meaning you have much more control over the lighting in your bathroom.

So when you’re looking at renovating your bathroom, don’t forget about the windows!