Interior window shutters, also known as plantation shutters or louvered shutters, simply look great in just about any room setting. They compliment a wide variety of room and home decors. If you are considering window treatment options for your home you owe it to yourself to take a long look at plantation shutters. The following, which are in no particular order, are a list of top reasons you should consider interior window shutters for your home.
First, they look good from the inside and outside of your home. I am a runner and am always running up and down the streets in my neighborhood. One of the things I notice about homes is the types of window treatments they use. Plantation shutters, in my opinion, are one of the most attractive types of window blinds. They increase a home’s curb appeal, which takes me to my second point.
Interior shutters can increase your home’s value. So, not only are they beautiful, plantation shutters can add to the appreciation of your home. In my opinion this helps to significantly offset the higher initial cost of plantation shutters – pay a little more now and get a lot back if you ever sell your home or tap into the equity.
They are durable – almost a lifetime purchase. A high quality set of blinds, in any of the available materials: wood, wood composite or vinyl, are built to last. Wood plantation shutters are built like a nice piece of furniture and with a little care should last a lifetime. The vinyl and wood composite shutters are even more durable and will resist fading, warping, cracking and UV rays, perfect for hot and humid rooms or areas.
They are energy efficient. Surprise, I bet you didn’t know that. When fully closed interior shutters add a surprising amount of insulation to your window. Though, not quite as much as cellular shades, they are still one of the better choices when considering window treatments and their effect on your home’s insulation. This is due to the fact that shutters are quite substantial, unlike many other types of window blinds and shades.
They are highly unlikely to go out of style. Plantation shutters have been around a long time. They are one of the classic window treatments and have stood the test of time, public opinion and changing fashion trends. So, you can rest assured that they won’t be like those polyester pants you bought in the late 70s which are now so silly looking that you wouldn’t admit to wearing them.
They are an easy way to add a high-level of sophistication and style to your home. So, if you are not the budding interior decorator, plantation shutters are a rock solid choice for most homes. They can literally transform a room from so-so to beautiful. They also compliment most furniture and wall colors.
Interior shutters are easy to operate and highly versatile in terms of opacity or opaqueness. Open them up wide for maximum light or shut them completely for significant privacy and room darkening. The louvers can be opened or closed easily with the divider rail or you can swing the shutters wide open if you so desire.
Most people want wooden shutters because they look great on or in a house. The best kind of wood for interior wooden shutters is basswood. There are many reasons why basswood is the most popular and here are just a few:
1) Basswood is strong but it is also light
2) Basswood has a grain that is uniform allowing a beautiful stain finish
3) It is easy to glue and to finish
4) Basswood trees are growing faster than they are being harvested
5) Basswood does not warp
Item #5 is probably the most important reason why basswood is the overwhelming choice for wooden shutters. Basswood does not warp and that makes this kind of shutter great for being next to windows where they will be exposed to sun, cooler temperatures, and some moisture. Wooden shutters can be a problem if a wood is used that does not weather the conditions properly.
Basswood is easy to work with because it glues well and can be made into the texture you desire by sanding and staining. It also dries rapidly without any distortion. These are all very important to have in a high quality wooden shutter. Basswood it seems is just the most versatile type of wood for the purpose of making shutters.
Wooden shutters are more expensive than some other materials such as plastic or vinyl. Plastic shutters can be made to look just like wood, however, and no one will ever know that they are not wood. This is the best route if you are looking for cheap wooden shutters. Because warping is such a problem, many people also choose plastic disguised as wood to be used for their shutters.
If you are going to install them yourself and not get custom ones, you must find some ready made cheap shutters that are already the correct dimensions. You may have to get some help from your neighbor or someone on the block who is a handyman to help you install them but once they are in, you will have some nice looking wood shutters that look much better than cheap blinds.
Basswood is also often used for such things as furniture, wood handles, millwork, musical instruments, and of course interior wood shutters. It is a wood that is useful to make many different things and if you are contemplating getting wooden shutters, basswood should be at the top of your list of woods to consider.