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.

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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.

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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.