Can You Get Shutters for Shaped and Arched Windows?

Finding shutters for unusually shaped windows

If you’ve got an arched, circular or otherwise unusually shaped window, you may have assumed shutters simply weren’t an option. The good news is that shaped shutters exist precisely for this reason, and with the right approach, almost any window shape can be covered beautifully, without hiding the very feature that makes the window special in the first place. Here’s what’s actually possible, and how the process works.

Why shaped windows are tricky to dress

Curtains and standard blinds are designed with straight lines in mind. On an arched or circular window, this usually means you end up covering only the rectangular portion beneath the curve, leaving the shaped section exposed or permanently uncovered. For a window that’s often a genuine architectural feature, that’s a real shame, since it’s usually the very thing that gives the room its character. It’s exactly the gap shaped shutters are designed to fill.

What shapes we can cover

Arched, triangular, oval and circular windows can all be fitted with bespoke shaped shutters, handcrafted to the exact template of your window rather than adapted from a standard rectangular design. Each set is made individually, so the fit follows the true contour of the opening, whether that’s a gentle arch above a door, a full circular window in a stairwell or gable end, or an angled skylight in a loft conversion. No two shaped windows are ever quite identical, which is exactly why our made-to-measure approach matters so much here.

How shaped shutters are made

Our process starts with a precise template taken directly from your window, capturing the exact curve or angle involved. This template forms the basis for the shutter frame itself, which is then built to match that shape exactly, rather than forcing a straight edged panel into a curved opening and leaving gaps around the edges. It’s a more involved process than a standard rectangular shutter, but it’s what gives shaped shutters their genuinely tailored, seamless finish, and it’s why this kind of work is best left to a team with genuine experience in it.

Choosing the right material

Material choice matters more with shaped shutters than with standard rectangular ones, since the curve or angle itself needs to hold its shape reliably over time. Our Bermuda range, made from waterproof ABS, works well for many shaped applications and comes in a wide range of colours, making it a practical choice for bathrooms or kitchens with an arched window. For the most intricate curves and larger openings, our hardwood ranges, including Paulownia, are often the stronger choice, offering both the strength and the finish that a genuinely custom shape calls for.

Practical benefits beyond the look

Shaped shutters aren’t just about aesthetics. They give you the same light control and privacy across the entire window, including the curved or angled section, that you’d expect from a straightforward rectangular window. This is something curtains and standard blinds simply can’t offer, since they were never designed to follow anything other than a straight line, which often leaves the top of an arched window permanently bare or awkwardly covered with an ill fitting extra piece of fabric. Our windows and shutters FAQs cover some of these practical benefits in more depth.

Getting an accurate fit

Because every shaped shutter is bespoke, getting an accurate template is essential from the very first visit. Our free home consultation includes proper measuring of your window, along with samples so you can see and feel the materials before committing to anything. Our shutters are manufactured at an ISO accredited factory in China, and we’re upfront about that, because the quality control behind each set matters far more than where it’s made.

Shaped windows and Oxford’s architecture

Arched windows and fanlights are a genuine hallmark of Georgian and Victorian architecture, common across many of Oxford’s period properties. These features were often designed as deliberate focal points, and shutters that follow their true shape help preserve that character rather than covering it up with a straight edged compromise that fights against the window’s original design. You can read more about the history behind these window styles in this guide to Georgian windows.

Getting started with The Oxford Shutter Company

If you’ve got a shaped or arched window you’d like covered properly, our team, including Rupert, Debbie and Luke in the office and Nigel on fitting, would love to help. Every shaped shutter we install comes with the same 5-year warranty as our standard ranges, and the same attention to detail our family run business has built its reputation on over more than 20 years in the industry.

If you’d like to talk through what’s possible for your window, get in touch to arrange a free home consultation.