Decorating With Plantation Shutters

Window treatments not only provide a room with privacy and a variety of lighting options; they also enhance a room’s appearance and create a look and style that provides ambience and comfort. Plantation shutters are a window treatment option many people choose for an elegant Southern look or a casual, country look.

Plantation shutters are interior shutters designed to look similar to those used on plantations years ago. In the warmer climates of the South where plantations were most commonly found, shutters were used to block the light and provide privacy while still allowing the air to flow through an open window to keep the room cool.

Plantation Shutters

Originally made out of wood, you can now find plantation shutters made from plastic, medium density fiberboard, and wood. A combination of materials is often used to help prevent warping and create a heat and sun resistant product that will maintain its appearance for a long period of time. Plastic shutters tend to warp in the heat of the sun and do not provide the warm feel that a natural wood product can provide.

Plantation shutters are designed with wood framed panels and louvers. Many have a vertical rod that is used to move the louvers on the shutters.  The shutters themselves fold back to completely uncover the window if desired.

Wood plantation shutters can be purchased in various wood stain colors or painted in a color to suit your decor. To purchase custom fit shutters, measure your windows carefully or hire a professional who can both measure and install the shutters for you. It is important to have an accurate fit. You will find shutters in most home improvement stores, online and anywhere where quality shades and mini blinds are sold.

Caring for plantation shutters is as simple as dusting the louvers with a louver dust brush or damp cloth. They can be refinished or repainted as needed but generally require little maintenance.

Plantation shutters look particularly good in older homes or for home interiors with a southern style of decor. They are used in dens, living rooms, kitchens and even bathrooms. Choose from full coverage or half window coverage for a more casual, café look. If you want to allow more light into the room but maintain privacy, half shutters work well. This is a popular choice for bathrooms.

Sometimes people add drapes or window treatments to their windows in addition to shutters, but they are most often used alone. They create their own unique look and adding another layer often just makes the room look cluttered and overdone. This is mostly a matter of taste.

Quality plantation shutters can be expensive but they can last a lifetime. They are therefore usually left with the house when the house is sold and may even raise the value of your home. The long life of these quality made shutters more than makes up for the initial cost.