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.
Shutters should be the same size as the window opening. Whether one or in a pair, when held up to the window they should fit as if they were going to be closed. Most of the time I see shutters that are incorrect in length and/or width.
Recommended Shutter Width For Windows
The height of window shutters you should order is generally the actual height of the opening not counting the sill should you have one; however, many customers prefer to have the panels a little taller than the actual opening height.
In most cases, the height of decorative shutter that is most appropriate is from the top to the bottom of the window trim. If there is a sill at the bottom of the window and you are installing vinyl shutters, it is important to leave a gap of at least 1/4 inch to allow the vinyl material to expand and contract.
White shutters, if matched to your window trim, can make a smaller house appear larger. Black shutters can especially pop on larger homes. Think of other dark colors, too.
Window Treatment Styles And Designs That Are Out in 2021
Speaking of shutters, gray and gray-tone wood grain is rising in popularity for shutters, with all-white and dark wood shutter stains declining in popularity.
Measuring for shutters tips:
Always take two measurements. As each window is not created equal, the measurements you take at the top of the window will vary slightly from the one taken along the bottom. Measure the opening along the top of the window, then measure along the bottom.
With exterior shutters, you can improve your home's value and a lot more. This window treatment technique protects your house, boosts energy efficiency, and improves curb appeal. Shutters also enhance privacy and help transform the exterior décor.
The Raised Panel version of the standard size shutters are available with a center mullion in 12" and 14.75" wide versions and 31" to 80" high with heights available every few inches. There is also Williamsburg Standard shutter in the 67" height that has a offset center mullion that is called "Cottage Style".
Measure for the shutter height at the left side, middle, and right side of the window opening from the top of the window to the bottom excluding any window sill. If the heights vary at each of these points, use the smallest of the three measurements. This measurement will be the height of the shutter you need to order.
Shutter Width
When choosing the width of your exterior shutters, you should take into consideration the width of the window and the distance the windows are spaced apart. It is generally best to find a single width that works for all of your windows.
Cedar is the most commonly used wood as a material for creating exterior shutter. Not only shutters, but cedar wood is also actually used for many exterior applications. The chief reason for using cedar is that it's dimensionally stable. This means it's resistant to warping and twisting.
They are distracting, heavy and not symmetrical or balanced. And the one window is too wide for shutters. A good rule of thumb if you are considering adding (or trying to decide whether to keep) shutters: if your windows are wider than they are tall, they won't look good with shutters.
When looking at the trend chart, it appears “plantation shutters” as a search term online is trending slightly downward, but that was a few years ago after reaching it's most popular era. It's flat-lined for now which means while it's not trending upward, it's sufficiently popular so as to not be “out of style”.
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.
When measuring for shutter height, you can add an extra inch or two to make the shutters taller than your windows. This can give added style and enhance the look of your shutters. That said, this is a personal preference and you may prefer to have your shutters be the same height as your windows.
Plantation shutters with 2.5” louvers are popular in historic homes because of their traditional look. They are also often chosen out of necessity. Windows frames with less depth require 2.5” louvers so that the louvers have enough clearance to open and close without hitting the windowpane.
Choose shutters that have the same size and shape as the window. Frame rounded windows with arched shutters and highlight rectangular or square windows with straight-lined shutters. If shutters have dividing rails, line them up with the sashes of the window.
Black Shutters Make Windows Pop
Mixing black shutters with classic beige shades are all the trend for 2020. These sliding shutters give this lounge a warm, sophisticated feel.