When you think of updating your blinds, windows, or curtains might be the first thing that come to thoughts, but shutters are an elegant method of transforming any room into a cozy and inviting retreat. Solid or stained shutters, open or fully closed, shutters with hinges are a great addition to any interior decor. All year long, indoor window shutters are energy efficient. The louver structure is able to trap air and protect against the cold and heat, no matter the season is spring or winter.
In addition to helping reduce the cost of energy, affordable shutters for windows can increase the value of your home and provide incredible curb appeal. They will leave an impression on potential buyers due to their ability to differentiate the subtleties of contemporary and traditional styles, or coastal and colonial style.
The secret lies in your personal mix of the colors, tilt rod position and the number of panels and frame design.
Are you interested in discovering the secrets? Here’s everything you need to be aware of to choose the best shutters that are custom-designed for your living space.
First, a brief history
First window shutters were invented from Ancient Greece. They were first designed in marble, shutters that were static helped protect your home from the brisk and often stormy Mediterranean climate.
When shutters for windows spread across the continent in the Middle Ages, changes were made to their designs. The transition from marble to wood made it possible for the builders to create louvers that could be closed and opened which allowed more control over lighting, ventilation, and privacy while keeping out rain.
In the 18th- and 19th century in the American South, the name “shutter” was the first time officially invented and louvered shutters accentuated the elegance and grandeur of Southern mansions.
How to Choose The Best Window Shutters
Nowadays, shutters can be fitted in homes of different shapes and sizes on windows and doors, large or small. They are available in an array of shades, natural wood stains and materials, as well as hinges and frames. Here are some tips to help you select the best shutters to fit your house.
Things to Consider When Choosing Color
When choosing a color for your paint or stain, think about the exterior of your house as well as your interior design. It is important to choose a color that is compatible with the aesthetics and colors for your outside.
Selecting the Right Panel Configuration
Shutters look the best when they are aligned with the design of your windows. This means that the vertical components of shutters are aligned with the horizontal frame that your windows have. Single-panel shutters are the most sought-after, since they let in more light and enhance the views outside. Certain windows may prefer the traditional bi-fold style. To get the most lighting, try to avoid obstructions by using the largest possible size of the panel.
Hidden Tilt Bar Vs. Visible Tilt Bar
A clear center tilt rod is the most classic style used on traditional shutters made of plantation, and is ideal for accentuating Colonial or cottage-style homes. Hidden tilt rods add an updated look to rooms and offers the greatest amount of light and visibility for shutters that have several panels.
Frames are the final touch
Visual transitions between the wall and shutter is a crucial aspect that should not be ignored. No matter how thin or thick and contrasting in color, or matching, shutter molding can be dressed up to match the opening. Select from T-frames, L-shaped casing frames, many more.
What shutter materials are available?
Wood Shutters
There’s something so warm and inviting that real shutters made of wood add to an space. They’re lighter that faux wooden, poly, or hybrid shutters. However, wood may warp in humid areas, whereas faux wood is more durable in humid environments.
Faux Wood Shutters
Made from polyresin, and offering the appearance of traditional wood faux wood shutters appear exactly like real wood and provide moisture resistance even in humid environments, such as bathrooms. The faux wood shutters are resistant to scratches and are extremely durable.
Poly Shutters
With the same durability and feel of genuine wood shutters Our poly shutters are constructed using recycled, non-toxic, and flame-retardant materials. With a clean, patent-pending finish These shutters are simple to clean and maintain. No painting, no repairing, no replacing necessary.
Hybrid Shutters
Hybrid shutters blend the timeless beauty of wooden frames with the strength of polymer panels. They result in a custom window treatment that does more than simply look beautiful. The panels are able to insulate windows and doors up to 65 percent better than shutters made of all wood to keep energy costs lower and make spaces more comfortable. The glass-like, laser-baked finish of the panels protects against harmful UV radiation. There is no cracking, yellowing, chipping, splitting or warping.
Made-to-Measure Shutters
Whatever material and design elements you pick You can be sure that the best choice is our simple-to-install, custom-made window shutters that are designed to fit the unique dimensions of your windows.
How to Measure for Inside Window Shutters That You Can Mount:
The first step is to ensure that your window is large enough to allow shutters to be hung on the side of your frame. Then, determine the depth of the glass to the outside edge of the window casing. If the window’s casing’s depth is less than 2 3/4 inches, you’ll have to select the outside mounting option.
Then, measure the width from left to right from three points three places: the top, middle and the bottom. Then, take a measurement of the height from the top left, middle and bottom right down until the sill of your window.
How to Measure the Outside Mount Window Shutters:
Repeat the steps for taking measurements of the inside of the window mount measurement.
For standard L-frame shutters increase the measurement by 4 inches, and increase 2 inches to the height in the event that you have a window sill. You can add 4 inches if don’t have an existing sill.
For shutters with designer frames Add 5 inches to the width measurement. Add 2 1/2 inches of height in the case of windows with a sill. You can add 5 inches the height if you don’t have an existing sill.
How to hang Interior Shutters
The light streaming through windows could cause a lot of distraction. And then there are the neighbors who are more likely to have longer evening hours to gaze at your brightly lit living room. Shades can be installed to block out the eyes of your neighbors however swinging shutters made of wood are definitely more appealing.
Interior shutters were the first “window treatments,” typically found for Southern and urban homes, and are still an excellent option to provide architectural and historical details. They also protect you from the cold winter winds and summer’s scorching heat. They’re also easy to put on any window since they are attached to a thin frame that is either positioned within the opening of the window or on the outside part of the capping. If the frame is placed correctly and the shutters are properly positioned, they will move open and shut out all distractions of the day by the click of a button.
Take a measurement of the window opening
Take a horizontal measurement in between window jambs at three locations three places: top, middle and the bottom. Three places are vertically measured too.
Choose the smallest of both sets of measurements , and then send these to the shutter company to request customized shutters.
Tips: Use an extension rule that folds using a sliding extension instead of a tape measure for the most precise inside measurements.
Prepare the shutters
Set each shutter at the edge of the room with hinge mortises facing upwards and the louver-control bar pointing towards each other. (This ensures that all of the bars face the room when the shutter is hanging and permits one shutter in each opened right, while the other one opens left.)
Place a hinge into the mortise. Attach your driver or drill with the Vix bit. Place the bit into a screw hole for the hinge. Inject a pilot hole into the shutter, repeating this procedure for each hinge hole.
It is important to note that shutter hinges are designed to open towards the left which means you’ll need to take pins out of half before reinstalling them upside-down, to ensure that every right-side hinge has an opposite left-side hinge.
By using a Phillips-head screw in the driver/drill, screw all hinges onto the shutters.
Hang the hangers
Help a person hold the shutter that is open against the wall, with its hinges turned outwards so that they are within the jamb. Adjust the entire unit to ensure that its hinges are protruding from the jamb that the shutter can be free of the casing once it is in a straight line with the wall. Draw a line on the jamb in front of each hinge.
The hanging strip should be held against the lines. With a 1/8-inch drill bit, inserted into the drill/driver, make the pilot hole (one each at the top and the bottom) into the strips, and then into the jamb.
With a square-head bit using your drill or driver, screw the hanging strip onto the jamb. Repeat on the opposite side.
Tips Use the screws to drive them through the hangers at an angle so as to prevent them from loosening as time passes.
Place the shutters in the opening
With the help of a friend, put both shutters into the window’s opening, then slip the shims into the both the top and bottom to secure them. Adjust the shutters so that they have an uniform spacing between the window jamb as well as between the shutters.
The casing is marked at the highest point of every hinge’s knuckle. Set shutters aside.
Mark Hinge Positions on Casing
Utilizing a combination square, apply the mark of the casing to create a mark on the jamb, and then hang the strip. This will indicate how to align the window’s hinges.
Tips: When marking the hinges, you should make use of the top of the knuckle and not the pin to serve as a reference. This is the same as what is on the plate that forms the bottom of the hinge.
Place the shutters on the Strips
Prior to hanging shutters, attach magnetic catch plates to their bottom (or the top) in the corners.
Shut a shutter and place it in a way that the hinges in the shape of an L comfortably in the corner formed by the window and hanging strip jamb. Make sure that the upper edge of every hinge plate to the line of each.
Mark the screw holes , and put the shutter aside. Make use of a drill bit 1/8 inch to drill pilot holes around the points.
Screw the hinges loosely onto the hanging strip using a Phillips-head screwdriver. Close the shutter, and ensure it’s level all around. Make adjustments as needed and then tighten the screws.
Tips: Use a hand screwdriver instead of a drill or driver in difficult places. This gives you greater control, and damage is less likely to happen.
Set up the catch magnet
Attach a catch magnet to the metal plate that is on the shutter. Close the shutter and make sure that it is flush with the outside of the windows.
The magnetized catch is placed on the window sill, mark the screw holes.
Take the catch out of the shutter and place it on top of the marks in the sill. Attach the catch to the sill using a Phillips-head screwdriver. Repeat the process for the second catch.
Tips: A shutter (or door) is properly aligned by having the two halves of the hinges are completely and squarely against one and the other when closed.