A Homeowner’s Guide to Interior Window Shutters – Part 1: Different Types of Interior Window Shutters
Interior window shutters come in a range of options, probably more than you realize. To help you zero in on the best choice for your home, it’s important to get to know the options available to you.
According to Panel Style
- Louvered – Features a series of overlapping slats on the same frame. Typically, louvers are sized between 1.25 and 4.5 inches, but custom options are available as well.
- Shaker – Similar in appearance to cabinet faces but with a flat body, the shaker shutters’ rectangular shape is created with recessed indentations.
According to Number of Panels
Most interior window shutters only have a single panel and do not fold like folding closet doors. Accordion shutters are great for wider windows, offering the necessary coverage because of their longer reach. Bi-fold shutters have one set of hinges on one side while tri-fold shutters have two sets of hinges.
According to Window Coverage
Interior window shutters can also differ depending on how much of a window they cover.
- Café Style – Covers only the bottom half of a window with a traditional plantation setup
- Full Height – Covers the full height of a window
- Tier-on-Tier – Offers the option of covering different parts of a window at different times, like leaving the top half open while keeping the bottom half shut.
According to Material
Like a lot of other home components, interior window shutters can be made from different materials, each offering their own set of advantages. Popular options include:
- Wood – The traditional choice, wood shutters offer unmatched beauty, thanks to the natural charm of wood. Made by experts, they will not peel, fade or warp, lasting for years. Should the need arise, they can also be refinished.
- Metal – Aside from being generally durable, metal shutters also take in paint well, making it easy to change shutter colors when you desire.
- Poly – Heavily reinforced, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shutters are tough and can handle ultraviolet (UV) rays well, making them great for homes in sunny areas.
There isn’t one best interior window shutter type because the right one for you will depend on your needs and preferences. Overwhelmed by all the options available to you? Don’t be! Window shutter experts in your area are there to provide you with assistance and recommendations.
What do you get out of installing interior window shutters? We’ll discuss the benefits of doing so in Part 2 of this blog series. Stay tuned!