When I first moved into my neighborhood a few years ago, I was fascinated by a charming one-story house with interesting windows framed by brick-red wood panels. As I walked down the street, I was so excited to see more houses with the same panels – but in different colors, sizes, and shapes. After all of my years of city life and high-rise apartments, this was my introduction to window shutters – those attractive exterior features that stop passersby in their tracks to take a second look at a particular home.
Stop and take a look at this delightful white Colonial with its landscaped front yard and window shutters. The dark shade of the shutters is a perfect complement to the white walls of the home and the dark shingles on the roof (Plan #196-1023).
Shutters are believed to have originated in the 15th Century in Ancient Greece, when rocks were placed in the gaps of the window spaces to provide light and regulate the Mediterranean heat. It’s speculated that the first shutters were constructed with fixed louvers made out of marble – and then replaced by wood. Throughout the years, more materials were used – including engineered wood, laminate, vinyl, and powder-coated aluminum. You might be thinking,”Do I need shutters?” and if so, “What would make the best shutters for my home?”
Take a look at your house and, especially, the windows. Are they too plain and unadorned? Are you ready for a makeover to focus on the home’s architectural style and create an eye-catching and fascinating exterior façade using home shutters?
Dramatic lighting at night accentuates the effect of the shutters on these windows on a 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath Country style home, making them stand out against the mostly white palette of the house and complementing the dark roof (Plan #117-1128).
Before you jump into the project, here are some aspects to consider.
1. The all-important budget - As in any project – whether it’s “do-it-yourself” or with the help of a contractor – be sure that your budget can support it from start to finish. Expect to spend between $300-$935, depending on the number of windows, size, shape, and materials you choose. According to Home Advisor, homeowners can spend as low as $150 to a high of $1500 to install exterior window shutters.
2. Decide what type of shutter is best suited to your home’s style. And depending on the region and its climate, homeowners can choose from a variety of residential shutters – in all kinds of styles and combinations – to adorn their windows.
Black panel shutters – set against a brick façade – provide an attractive contrast to highlight windows of this 4-bedroom, 3.5 bath Traditional style center-hall Colonial home (Plan #168-1138).
Today, louver window shutters are used for both the interior and exterior of homes. The overlapping horizontal slats on the same frame – sometimes used in combination with paneled shutters – create a detailed design that adds to the overall look of the home. Working louver shutters (not just decorative) can open and close or remain at a fixed angle.
Functional and working louver shutters – of the traditional variety – give this home protection from the elements as well as a colorful decorative trim (Photo by mirna rivalta on Unsplash).
Arched windows with brick detailing on the top are framed by classic but charming wooden board-and-batten shutters. See on a detail of the garage, the shutters complete the delightful look of this 3-bedroom, 2-bath European home done in the Fresh Country style (Plan #193-1066).
Yellow Bermuda or Bahama shutters frame the windows of this tropical home and allow breezes in when open (Photo by Devon Owens on Unsplash).
Louvered plantation shutters control the sunlight at this window seat. The wide slats allow (or keep out) abundant light and breezes into the home. For privacy, the slats are closed at night (Photo: Tim Bakke).
3. What material fits your budget? From cost-effective vinyl to the more expensive cedar and other kinds of wood, there are different choices to refresh your home’s exterior and add to its value, character, and unique qualities.
4. Make sure that the shutters fit your windows – Each shutter should match the length of the window (excluding trim) and be approximately one-half of the window's width (again excluding trim). Also think about spaces between windows when measuring for shutter widths.
These louvered shutters are a perfect fit for the casement windows – matching the height of the window and the window’s width (Photo by Miti on Unsplash).
5. Choose shutters that match your home’s architectural style – Remember that you are creating an exterior façade that aims to fascinate and captivate the imagination. So, be sure your shutters match your home’s style and geographic region; and fit your windows’ shape and size.
Board-and-batten shutters that match the siding and columns are an interesting element of this 2-story, 4-bedroom Craftsman style home (Plan #153-1781).
With its warm pastel shades highlighted by the earth tones of the porch furniture and the board and batten window shutters, this 2-story, 3-bedroom Cottage style home with Bungalow influences presents a delightful and welcoming picture (Plan #142-1096).
This classic Colonial design of this 6-bedroom, 6-bath, 2-half-bath luxury home includes shutters on the lower and second-floor levels (Plan #120-2531).
This 3-bedroom, 3-bath Colonial style home with its matching columns is a lovely sight with the landscaped yard and the raised panel window shutters (Plan #109-1184).
Louvered shutters that allow breezes from the ocean to filter into the house work well in Mediterranean/Spanish style homes (Plan #175-1042).
Much like the Cape Cod style, you can outfit a Ranch home with practically all the window shutter styles. Panel shutters give the home an elegant feel while louvers bring a country ambiance to the home.
Board-and-batten shutters that match the shape of the windows highlight the architectural elements of this stunning 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath Ranch style home (Plan #106-1274).
Prior to curtains, blinds, and glass windows, shutters were the best means of security against potential intruders as well as protection from severe weather, hurricanes, heavy snow, and tornadoes. Without shutters, wind, rain, and the sometimes-blinding light of the sun could easily penetrate the windows and affect the home’s interior.
In the in the late-eighteenth and early-to-mid-ninteenth centuries window glass came into prominence in America and changed the way shutters were used. No longer needed for everyday proection of the house from the elements, shutters now shielded the fragile and expensive glass. And as window quality improved, protection from the sun, wind, and rain became less important (except in extreme circumstances) – so shutters became mostly decorative touches.
President Thomas Jefferson’s stately Monticello’s West Front – with its green wooden louver window shutters, circa 1772 , and other exterior features (Source: National Archives).
But while shutters have evolved into charming interior and exterior décor accents, their practical uses still remain.
1. Light Control – It may be the 21st century, but we still need to regulate the amount of light that filters into the home. By adjusting the louvers on interior or exterior shutters, you can keep rooms as dark as you want them – especially on mornings when you need extra sleep. Or keep them as bright as possible to enjoy the sun’s warmth.
2. Ventilation – In the same manner, shutters can be adjusted to let air inside the home when you open the windows.
3. Protection from Noise and the Weather – Shutters are a big help in reducing external noise – either from the neighbors or traffic on a busy street. In addition, they also protect the home from severe weather conditions like heavy snow, high wind, and even hurricanes. Solid-panel or board-and-batten shutters are the best type for these conditions, though louver shutters can help, too..
4. Security and Privacy – If your home directly faces the street or the next-door neighbor, shutters ensure privacy and security from prying eyes.
5. Durability and Longevity – Unlike blinds and curtains, shutters are built to last and never go out of style. They don’t fade or stain and are easy to clean.
6. Curb Appeal – Finally, there’s the aesthetics factor. Not only are shutters attractive, they add character and dimension to a home’s exterior façade. With a variety of designs and colors available to the homeowner, there’s no limit to what you can do to add style and personality to your architectural gem.
With a little innovation and creativity, you can brighten up your home with intriguing and unique decorative window shutters. Don’t be surprised if they become hot conversational topics within your circle of friends!
Footnote: The top photograph in lead image of this article is of a charming 3,166-square-foot Victorian style home with Craftsman touches. The 2-story home includes 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths For more details, click here (House Plan #198-1021)
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