If you’re looking to elevate your home’s décor while also optimizing temperature, privacy, and light control, plantation shutters are the perfect solution for you. Loved for their functionality and timelessly chic aesthetic, plantation shutters are the go-to window covering for homeowners and interior designers the world over. However, the wide range of shutter styles and materials can be daunting for those who are planning to install shutters for the first time. In this article, we’ve put together an overview of the most popular styles, colors, and materials so that you can navigate the endless possibilities that plantation shutters present with confidence.
What Makes Plantation Shutters So Popular?
A sleek yet highly functional design concept is at the heart of plantation shutters’ popularity. The shutters comprise deep louvers (or slats) which are fixed, with consistent spacing, in a frame fitted to the inside of a window or door frame. The louvers are fixed at an adjustable angle to be tilted up or down to let in more or less light and ventilation. For this reason, plantation shutters are an excellent option if you want to ensure better temperature control over your home: tilting the slats to an almost-vertical position in the South Floridia summer will allow you to insulate your home from the scorching heat while also boosting the retention of cool air generated by your AC-unit, and tilting the slats to a horizontal position in cooler months will let in maximum natural light. The adjustable slat functionality also means you will be able to precisely control your home’s privacy. The angled louvers will allow you to let in some natural light and fresh air while still creating a secluded living space.
However, utility is not the only reason plantation shutters are so sought after. With their sleek and minimalist design, these shutters instantly add an air of sophistication and elegance to any home. They are more visually appealing than traditional blinds and can be purchased in a variety of styles and shades to suit the color palette of your home. What’s more, they will elevate your home’s aesthetic both inside and out, as they will also be visible from your home’s exterior.
Plantation Shutter Styles
Before taking a deep dive into materials and hues, it’s important to understand the different plantation shutter styles available. If minimalism is key for your home’s aesthetic, you will probably prefer ‘invisible tilt’ shutters: the tilt rod is hidden within the shutter itself, and the louver angles can be changed simply by touching one single louver to your preferred angle. Alternatively, you can purchase traditional shutters, which are designed with the tilt rod running through the center of the shutter. This rod is then maneuvered to open and close the louvers. If your home includes specialty window frames (e.g. alcove or arched), don’t despair – you can customize your shutters to match the unique requirements of your home.
An increasingly popular style is the bi-fold shutter. These are positioned over large windows or doors, and each shutter panel is hung on a rail and fixed with a hinge so that the individual shutter panels can be folded against each other and stacked to one side. This unique folding mechanism allows you to create a seamless indoor-outdoor feel in your living space while also retaining all the usual benefits of plantation shutters.
Plantation Shutter Materials
One of the great advantages of plantation shutters is that you are not limited to a single material type: you can opt for the material that best suits your budget and your home’s existing décor. Hardwood, composite, and vinyl are the three most common shutter materials.
Hardwood shutters
Hardwood shutters – typically made out of cedar, mahogany, or basswood – add a natural, luxurious feel to any space. Hardwood shutters come in a variety of wood grains. A tighter grain will be more durable and lead to less warping over time, but will be more expensive. The benefit of hardwood shutters is that they can be precisely tailored to your home’s color palette through wood staining. While hardwood tends to be the most expensive shutter material, it is guaranteed to create a warm, soft atmosphere and give your home a timeless, traditional beauty.
Composite shutters
Composite shutters are made out of wood and synthetic materials specifically combined with plantation shutter functionality in mind. Composite plantation shutters are not only more eco-friendly and more affordable than traditional hardwood shutters, but they also tend to be more durable and less likely to warp than wood shutters. For those who are seeking shutters with a sleek finish and modern feel, composite is the way to go. Given their synthetic finish, composite shutters are also available in a wider range of colors than hardwood shutters and can be more easily customized to your home’s visual themes. Lastly, they are also easier to clean and maintain than wood, because of their synthetic, non-porous finish – they can be easily dusted or wiped down when necessary.
Vinyl shutters
Vinyl or PVC shutters are the cheapest and lightest shutter material. Vinyl shutters have similar advantages to composite shutters – they are easy to clean and provide a more modern aesthetic – but they tend to be less durable and are more likely to warp and distort over time, and particularly when exposed to harsh sunlight for prolonged periods. Unfortunately, vinyl shutters are only available in white, so this means that they cannot be customized to match your home’s existing color themes.
Shutter Hues
This is where you get to tap into your inner interior designer: choosing the perfect color for your shutters! The most common composite shutter hues are whites (from ivory to pearl to creamy white), grays (from sea mist gray to taupe to charcoal), beiges, and browns. Hardwood shutters are also available in a variety of stains – whether you’re going for a deep mahogany, golden or toffee brown oak, cool and calm driftwood gray, or timeless teak, there will be something for you. And if you have something particularly unique in mind, you can even customize your shutter color or stain to create your dream aesthetic.
Your One-Stop-Shop For Plantation Shutters in South Florida
At Prestige Blinds, our wide range of high-quality plantation shutters is sourced from Norman®, a leading supplier of luxurious hardwood and composite plantation shutters. Our team will help you to navigate the wide range of materials and styles available so that you can choose the perfect shutters for your home. We also offer professional installation services, giving you peace of mind that your dream shutters will be precisely and properly installed by skilled technicians.
Give us a call at 954-790-8436 for a free in-person quote!
