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.
Do all houses need shutters? Absolutely not, and many, many houses would look much better without shutters, rather than with “today's” shutters. What do we mean by that? For starters, many shutters today serve no purpose, other than to add an accent color, and to fill in space around windows.
Now it's easier than ever for homeowners to achieve the design of their dreams with the “Virtual Remodeler,” a visualization tool that showcases how the home exterior will look with Vantage Shutters. To use the tool, upload a photo of an existing home or select a similar house from the on line gallery.
There are many shutter colors to choose from, but the most popular is a stately black. Because they fit with any home exterior, black shutters are universally appealing. White is another popular exterior shutter color.
By far, exterior black shutters are the most popular. It is striking against a variety of outdoor home materials – wood shingles, siding, brick, stone – and provides a great contrast that works in almost any color combination.
Don't install functional louvered exterior shutters upside down. Do install exterior shutters with the louvers, or slats, aligned correctly. Movable exterior shutters in a closed position over the window opening will direct rain water away from the home.
Curtains with shutters work best when the curtain pole is raised higher than your window frame and when they fall floor length. Don't be afraid of pairing shutters with curtains. While it might seem like an unusual style choice, with a little consideration it can be a fabulous and elegant feature of any room.
Shutters should be sized and shaped to cover the window opening completely when they're closed. Properly sized shutters fold tightly between the exterior window casings, leaving a narrow gap at the perimeter.
Technically only single windows should have shutters. When you consider the function of the shutter you can see why this would look odd on double even triple windows. Shutters were designed with a useful purpose. Over time they have become decorative.
You Don't Have to Put Shutters on Every Window
In addition to making your residence look better, they might even improve your resale value and make it more appealing to future buyers. You don't necessarily need to put shutters on all the windows in your house.
As a rule of thumb, each shutter will be half the width of your window. Once you have verified the width, measure the height of the window. Note: It is always a good idea to measure twice for accuracy. If the dimensions do not match, use the smaller of the two values.
Plantation shutters add value to your house in several ways. Potential buyers will appreciate that shutters are energy efficient and can lower utility costs, making your house appear more appealing than homes without shutters. Buyers save money on energy bills throughout the year, making your property more desirable.
A lot of people put exterior shutters on their windows to dress up their houses. They want to add curb appeal, especially if they are trying to sell their homes.
When home owners look to decorate their rooms they often want to make the rooms look as spacious and big as possible. Shutters do in fact help towards this and can help you to achieve a more spacious looking living area.
It is safe to say that plantation shutters will not go out of fashion anytime soon! They have been around for centuries, and their design and style evolution mean that they are an adaptable and timeless addition to whatever style of home you have.
Your home's shutters should coordinate with your front door. While it's a “safe” approach to match your shutter color with your front door, you can also simply go one shade lighter or one shade darker (without the risk of clashing!) to add some uniqueness and style to your home's appearance.
Whilst shutters provide a brilliant level of darkness to a room, slight tolerance gaps are required for the smooth function of the shutters which can cause slight amounts of light bleed.
Note that in many cases, the windows are wider than the shutters, and it would be impossible to install conventional swinging shutters to cover that window. Shutters are merely a decorative feature used to make the windows look bigger.
While people tend to choose flat colors for siding, gloss or semi-gloss paints are often chosen for trim and shutters. This is because glossy paint will bring out the details, which you would want to avoid on the walls to minimize nicks and scratches – but could be great to emphasize your shutters.
'Contrary to the belief that they're old-fashioned and bulky, shutters have evolved. Today, they're available in a variety of materials and designs to complement any contemporary interior, and their practicality is unquestionable. They can enhance your home's aesthetic appeal and even contribute to energy efficiency.
Black or dark colors, like cobalt, can really make the shutters pop and dress up your home's exterior. Light-colored shutters that are only a few shades darker than the rest of your home create a seamless, classic look for a more traditional home.
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.