To make your windows appear larger, match the shutter color to the trim. The shutter color does not have to match the other elements of your home, i.e. front door or trim. Choose an exterior shutter color that complements your home. Look at your home base, trim, and accent colors to help you narrow down your choice.
If your home's siding will also be the main color, rather than brick, choose an additional complementary color for the trim. Your shutter colors should match the accent color you use for doors or decorative trim. Avoid shutter colors that clash with the other colors on your home.
Think of your blue siding as the sky and choose your shutter colors accordingly. For example, stormy gray and cloudy white are common shutter colors people often pair with blue houses. If you have light blue siding, you can go bold with sunny yellow shutters to liven up your exterior.
Dark green shutters look excellent on brick, yellow, neutrals from white to brown to tan to gray, and complement stone and stucco beautifully. Lighter sage green has also been popular in more recent years, especially on earth-tone homes and natural materials such as tan stone and stucco.
Your front door does not have to match your trim or shutter color. You can pick a separate color for each or the same for all, should you choose.
Should they match the front door? Should they match the trim? Your shutters should coordinate well with these other items, but they absolutely don't have to be the same colors as each other. One option is to use the same color, but a lighter or darker shade of the paint, adding variety without the risk of clashing.
Can you spray paint vinyl shutters? Yes! In fact, Krylon and Rustoleum both make paints and primers that bond well to vinyl and other plastics. Just be careful not to spray too thickly.
Yes, you can repaint plastic or vinyl shutters. If they are new, check with the manufacturer to see if they need any special cleaning and follow their painting instructions. If the shutters have been around a while, you'll need to clean them before painting.
Shutters should be sized to cover the window if closed and convey the believable appearance of actually being usable even if theyare non-operable. Also, the shutters should mirror image the window. Rails should line up with the lock rail, transom, muntin or other architectural elements of the window.
Today, shutters are used extensively all over the world, for functional and aesthetic purposes. Do all houses need shutters? Absolutely not, and many, many houses would look much better without shutters, rather than with “today's” shutters.
Most of the time customers are looking for a seamless look, where the window casing ends blends into the shutters begin. However, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to matching the two. There is nothing wrong with having shutters on a coloured trim, especially if you want to create contrast in a room.
For the most authentic look, we recommend measuring only the window opening not including any frame or trim around it. Typically, the width of your shutters should be half of your total window width. However, vinyl shutters are available in a handful of sizes.
Likewise, if your siding is dark, light-colored shutters in the same color scheme will provide contrast. If you prefer a complementary look, consider shutters that are a few shades lighter or darker within the same basic hue of your siding.
The color of your shutters should not be the same color of the house, the trim or the roof, if your roof is visible.
Plantation shutters are made in several common colors, but you can have your custom made shutters painted any color if the need arises.
Louvered shutters are perhaps the most traditional shutter type, so they especially look great on historic homes.
Basswood is now the most popular wood for shutters, outpacing pine and poplar. These can be painted and stained, and are light, flexible material that makes them good for a variety of designs. However, they're not moisture resistant and they cost more than synthetic shutters.
Soft Gloss paints are characteristic of exterior coatings offering protection against UV rays. These paints are typically used for exterior doors, trim and shutters. Semi-gloss paints have a higher shine level than flat, eggshell and satin paints.
Some may need to be primed, while others may require a specific kind of paint. Most plastic shutters will call for a good quality, 100% acrylic paint. Be cautious when going darker with the color of your plastic shutters. Darker colors absorb more light, causing the plastic to warp and ripple.
100% acrylic paint works best with vinyl siding, as it's lightweight and tightly clings to the vinyl. Paint that is too think will eventually flake off. Two coats, best applied as a spray, will do the trick. Keep in mind that darker colors will absorb the heat from the sun and bubble over time.
There are a variety of vinyl restoration products available on the market, but the best I've found is 303 Aerospace Protectant. Just spray it on, wipe with a soft cloth, and your shutters will look (almost) as good as new.
If paint is peeling or bubbling, sanding and repainting may be all that's needed. However, if there is extensive damage that makes them weak or flimsy, they should be replaced.