Find Your Perfect Shutters

Information current as of:

There are an amazing variety of shutters to choose from at the stores. Some homes just can't handle shutters around the windows, but others almost demand it in order to complete the look of the house. Which shutter styles and colors you choose will greatly affect the overall curb appeal of your home. Some people might say there are too many choices, but America is all about choice, right?

What are the most common shutter types?

We have found plantation shutters and wooden shutters are the most popular types of window shutters. You can put shutters inside or outside the home, although most are placed outside.

They were originally used with a true protective function in mind, instead of the largely decorative purposes they serve today. Old time shutters actually closed over the windows to protect them during storms and high winds. While there are still those kinds today, particularly hurricane shutters, most of them are permanently fixed to the exterior walls framing the windows in order to provide the appear of functioning shutters when in fact they are only for aesthetic purposes.

This site answers the following questions:

What are Plantation shutters?

So what are plantation shutters? They are indoor shutters, usually wooden, with a push rod in the middle that allows you to push the blinds up or down depending on your needs and the direction of sunlight. We had a sunroom in the house I grew up in that had plantation shutters all around. Although back then I had no idea that's what they were officially named. (read more on our plantation page)

Where are the best places to buy window shutters in general? Are there any good online stores? 

Removable storm shutters are the easiest to use, but most people just end up putting plywood over their windows and hoping for the best. Many people get removable plywood shutters, others will get clear hurricane shutters which do the same thing, they're just see through. They do cost more than regular plywood. (Who am I kidding? Even regular plywood is expensive, some people are still making credit card payments on their supplies they got for the big hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast). (read more on our storm shutter page)