What are Plantation Shutters?

Plantation shutters are an elegant window covering made of two or more framed panels of fixed louvers. The louvers within the frame are moved by a rod that is attached on the outside of the louvers. When homeowners want to open or close the louvers, they move the rod up or down. With plantation shutters, homeowners can choose how much light they want to let in and in what direction by angling the louvers. If homeowners want to enjoy the full view of their window, they can pull back the panel of louvers, exposing the entire window.

What are the Advantages of Plantation Shutters?

Many homeowners choose plantation shutters for a variety of reasons. One main reason is that they like how the shutters give their home a refined appearance. Another benefit is the ability to control the lighting of a room. Homeowners can adjust the louvers to allow as much or as little light as they prefer. Unlike blinds or curtains, shutters do not have gaps for light to enter when shut and they also help to block external noise. In addition, homeowners choose shutters because they require minimal maintenance with a simple dusting.

What are the Disadvantages of Plantation Shutters?

Shutters can sometimes be initially more costly than other window treatments. However, they are worth the long term investment because they are more durable, lasting longer than blinds or curtains. Plantation Shutters also add to the resale value of a home and can be custom built to fit unusually shaped windows and arches usually at little additional cost.

What Styles Do Plantation Shutters Come In?

The style of the plantation shutters is affected by the following factors: louver width, size of the shutter, and color. A homeowner looking for a classic look should consider shutters with narrow-width louvers while homeowners who want a more modern look should choose shutters with wider louvers. Other than louver width, the color of the shutters is also important. Shutters now come in a variety of colors including white, black, grey, grey green, beige, oak, or cherry. The more popular colors tend to be white and oak because homeowners can easily coordinate the design and color scheme of their rooms around these colors.

Lastly, the size of the shutter can influence the appearance of the shutter. Most homeowners choose panels that completely fill the window space. Other homeowners choose to have shutters that only go up half the height of the window. These shorter shutters are often seen on smaller windows or kitchen windows. They make the windows look like that of a European café. With all these options, homeowners can shape the look of their shutters however they wish.