THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE

One of the easiest ways to use traditional shutters in decoration is when giving your house a more “traditional” style of exterior makeover. Shutters are perhaps most commonly used with traditional New England style homes or Plantation style homes, so keep in mind the general decorating styles of those regions and eras. Try to look for exterior decorations that have an antique, rather than merely vintage, sort of feel. This is the perfect time to break out restored rocking chairs, wrought iron decorations, or various curios that are suitable for the outdoors.

As far as the shutters are concerned, look for traditional colors to go with the style. Whites and woods are quite common, and should be able to be seen easily from outside the home. As these shutters will not have to stand up to the wear and tear of the outdoor counterparts, feel free to choose a construction that values appearance over durability.

ADD A SPLASH OF COLOR

As any viewer of any home décor show can attest, traditional shutters have become quite popular as a means to add color to a room. The only problem with this is that the shutters themselves tend to come in a relatively small variety of shades, and a bit of painting is necessary before they may be used for this purpose. As with the more traditional uses, try to be aware that these shutters should be visible from outside. Fortunately, one can easily paint one side of the shutter a pleasing shade for the outdoors while leaving the reverse as a powerful color piece for indoor viewing. Try to find a good color balance for the room so that the shutters work with the space as a whole.

There are many ideas for using traditional shutters, certainly more than have been listed. However, using these handy devices to provide the home with a traditional flair or with a more modern burst of color can be a great design technique for those that do not generally feel comfortable with design work. Shutters are great for more than simply blocking out the weather and the light and any good designer should be aware that many household objects have a much greater value than their mundane utility.

Plantation shutters have been a regular fixture in home design magazines in recent years. This type of shutter is marked by the thickness of the shutter itself and its wide slats, or louvers. Due to their wide louvers, which may be up to 5 1/2 inches long, these shutters allow a great deal of light to flood into a room when they are opened. Not only that, but they will do little to restrict one’s view outside. Though they may be used in a room of any size, they are most often found in large or great rooms. Their oversized form makes them the perfect complement to rooms with a lot of square footage.

For those who would prefer something a bit smaller, traditional shutters are still a popular choice in both contemporary and classically styled homes. These shutters are smaller, thinner and lighter, and, as their name implies, look much like the shutters that have been used for years in farmhouses. With thinner louvers, they will provide the occupants of your home with more privacy, even when they are opened. Though the view out of the shutter window will be obscured, they will still allow plenty of light to enter the room.

Both of these styles may be purchased in colors that will match most decorative schemes. Though some of the most popular styles are sold in a variety of wood grain finishes, one may also find shutters that are painted in any number of primary colors. By installing brightly or lightly colored shutters in a room, you can create the illusion of more space and better light penetration.

For homeowners who are looking for an alternative to their tired window treatments, decorative shutters can be an attractive and low maintenance addition to their homes. With a few styles and colors to choose from, one can generally find a set of shutters that will match their existing décor.

Most exterior shutters made of wood are going to be functional shutters, which is to say that they are able to swing open and closed to cover the window as needed – great for some added protection for your windows when a storm is coming through. There are some exterior wood shutters made only for decoration, but these are more rare.

Photo by pyth0ns

You can also buy wooden shutters for indoor use. These are mainly going to be decorative, but many indoor shutters come with working louvers, which allow them to regulate the amount of air and sunlight passing through them. You can use this feature to help darken a bedroom or ventilate a living room. Interior shutters are not made for any sort of window protection, because let’s face it, if you often have high winds and flying debris on the inside of your home, then I don’t think that shutters are your biggest problem.

Photo by shutterconcepts

An important aspect of buying wooden shutters is choosing the type of wood that they will be made from. I usually recommend talking to a professional about this to make sure you make a wise choice and get solid, durable shutters. Two types of wood to avoid are teak and Spanish cedar. These two woods are especially susceptible to damage from moisture and mildew so you don’t want your shutters made out of them. They are not as popular of a building material as they once were, but you may still run into them as you are doing your research.

The main drawback to wooden shutters is the amount of maintenance you’ll have to do to keep them looking good. First off, you should always purchase finished shutters – or at least do the finishing yourself – and never put up unfinished shutters on your home. Without the protection of the finish or paint, the wood simply isn’t going to last very long. Once your shutters are finished and installed, you’re going to have to inspect them once or twice a year to check for damage. In addition to this, you’ll have to repaint them every so often to keep the paint from cracking or peeling.

The first shutters that were ever put on houses were functional ones. They were installed in such a way that they could close to block wind, rain, flying debris or sunlight from coming through the window, or open to allow sunlight or a cool breeze to pass through. They had (and still have today) slats called louvers that allow air to pass through while keeping sunlight out, making them great for cooling an upstairs room during the summer.

Most functional exterior shutters these days are made of wood, although it’s possible to find some other materials such as various plastics. Wooden shutters are generally very durable and are also heavier and weightier than plastic and vinyl shutters, which makes them better able to stand up to strong winds and possible debris hitting them.

Photo by madalyn_k

The main issue people have with using wood for their exterior shutters is that it generally needs a bit more maintenance than vinyl or plastic do. Wood has to be stained or painted and the finish you choose has to be inspected once or twice a year to make sure that it’s not cracked or peeling. If it is, you get to repaint it. While you’re inspecting your shutters, you’ll also want to check for insect damage – those termites do love a tasty treat – or any sort of rot or mildew. Those last two things shouldn’t be a problem if the wood has been finished properly, but it doesn’t hurt to check for it anyway.

Installing functional shutters on your home’s exterior isn’t too different than decorative shutters, but there are a few additions to the process. The bracket that the shutter will swivel on goes on to the window or siding first and it has to be put in well since it will be holding the shutter up. Putting these shutters up isn’t really big deal for most people but if you have any doubt in your handyman skills it never hurts to call in a professional to do it for you.

Photo by nate’sgirl

I generally choose to go with just decorative exterior shutters, instead of functional ones. I don’t live somewhere that has a lot of bad weather, so there’s not a whole lot of need for functional shutters, and decorative shutters are generally less expensive.

Decorative shutters can be found in several materials: vinyl, plastic and wood, with vinyl and plastic (or a plastic composite) being the most popular choices. Vinyl and plastic are popular because they are quite durable, fairly inexpensive and they don’t require a lot of maintenance. In addition, vinyl and plastic shutters don’t need to be painted, as the material itself is manufactured as a certain color. This means no checking for cracked or peeling paint, and no laborious repainting job every year.

Vinyl and plastic exterior shutters can be purchased from a number of retailers across the nation. Obviously the big names, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, will carry a large selection of them and you can most likely find several local suppliers that can help you choose some great shutters for your home. I prefer dealing with the local guys myself – the service is almost always better and I have fewer issues getting problems fixed – but go with whoever you like in your area.

Prices will most likely vary by the particular job and amount of competition in your area, but vinyl and plastic shutters can generally be found for around $20 to $50 per pair.

Wooden exterior shutters are another option that you have when you’re looking for shutters. Wood is more commonly used for functional shutters, but you can find it for decorative shutters as well. Pretty much the only reason to choose wood over vinyl or plastic is because you just like the look of wood better. Wood has to be stained or painted and requires a bit more maintenance than the other two materials, but – and I agree here – a lot of people just like the way it looks. Wooden exterior shutters are generally going to run you $75 to $100 per pair.