Shutters are more architectural in look and design.  They do not have any strings, and the louver blades cannot be pulled up to the top. Instead, the louvers rotate open and closed, and the panels swing open on hinges much like a door.  The louver blades are typically wider than those of a standard blind and provide a better view.  Shutters can also last a lifetime and typically cost more than Blinds. But because of this, they add more value to your home.

Blinds, on the other hand, have strings that are used to rotate the blades and pull them up to the top of the window.  The louver blades are smaller, typically around 2 inches, and the architecture of a blind is simpler than that of a shutter.  Blinds, by their nature, will not last as long as shutters.