Every home needs that one perfect personal touch to help it stand out from others on the block. Shutters are an excellent way to get a cosy, homey look without making a major investment. Although traditionally used for storm protection, shutters are now available in both functional and ornamental designs.
If your focus is purely aesthetic, make sure your shutters can be clearly seen from the street. Shutters are ideal for adding visual impact to smaller windows, as well as providing a splash of colour. Contrast with the colour of your exterior walls or go a shade or two darker than your base colour. Dark shutters add a great deal of visual interest to white or light-coloured homes, while louvered shutters in bright hues offer a bold touch of tropical flavour.
Louvered shutters look great, but have a more practical purpose as well. Louvered designs are popular in warmer climates for regulating temperatures in the home. They create privacy and prevent sunlight from flooding the room on hot days while allowing air into your home. Louvered shutters are also available with glass panels for a unique look and an extra dose of filtered sunlight.
Panelled shutters are a traditional option in terms of function and looks. In the past, they were used in volatile climates to protect the home from fierce winds when bolted down. While they could certainly still function as weather barriers, panelled designs offer a distinctive, stately look for your home’s exterior. Consider an arched version to complement Italianate window shapes beautifully.
No matter what style you choose, a number of elements let you individualise your home’s exterior. If you’re unable to find shutters in your choice of colours, paint wooden or metal shutters for a bespoke touch. Decorative hinges and hardware let you further customise the look of your windows, while shutters with cut-outs in interesting shapes add personality, charm and a bit of the unexpected.
While colour and details are great ways to add curb appeal, unpainted wood is ideal for providing a rustic feel. Even brand-new shutters add instant character when their natural colours are allowed to shine through. If you decide you need a splash of colour in the future, paint offers an easy fix.
The many styles and varieties of shutters make them an ideal way to give your home a simple, inexpensive makeover. Available in numerous materials, you’re sure to find a perfect fit regardless of your budget. Shutters are an excellent way to increase both your home’s monetary and aesthetic value, and you can even hang and repair them yourself.
Unlike many home improvements, shutters offer functionality and beauty at an affordable price. They’re easy to alter and customise, and can be removed quickly if you later decide on a different style. Shutters instantly transform the look of your home in a way that’s both fresh and timeless.