You might have heard of plantation shutters before, or even seen them up close, but there is a lot more to them than just a name. If you are considering making DIY plantation shutters or getting pre-made plantation shutters online, it helps to understand exactly what they are for and how they are supposed to be used, especially if you are prepared to make a purchase straight away.
Image by Barry D
What are they?
Plantation shutters are a specific subset of window shutters that use small louvers – individual strips of material, like blinds – in a solid frame. These louvers can usually be adjusted to rotate open and closed in the same way that regular window blinds can, letting in more light and making it easier to see through them from both sides. Individual designs can change depending on the specific make and the time that they were created, but most wood or PVC plantation shutters follow this same basic idea.
Not all plantation blinds are designed for the same kind of window, either. Many modern ones are capable of covering the backs of sliding glass doors and can be folded out of the way to let people walkthrough. Others might open like a cupboard, with one handle on each side and a latch that can keep it locked. Regardless of their type, these shutter blinds generally have solid frames and are mounted over the window frames as a semi-permanent fixture.
What are they for?
Shutter blinds like this are great for privacy purposes, but they also offer a good level of light control in the same way that regular window blinds do. However, unlike normal blinds, they are both stronger and much better at keeping noise and heat regulated depending on the situation, essentially giving you some of the benefits from both blinds and curtains without as many downsides.
This doesn’t even mention their visual appeal, which can be one of the biggest draws for people to buy them – not only are they stylish, but they can easily lead to unique-looking windows that still managed to stay functional. For example, some people might prefer to use real-looking wood to give their home a more rustic feel, while others might want a more modern look. There are plenty of plantation shutters online that can fit into either category, as well as hundreds of other niche options.
Are they worth using?
If you have a home that is already using blinds and curtains that you aren’t fond of, they can make great replacements. While the price might be slightly higher overall, the benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks, and it is hard to point out any serious flaws with using plantation shutters like this. If you don’t like a particular style, there are plenty of alternatives out there that you might prefer, so it just takes some time to track them down.
In modern homes, you might think that they would be quite outdated, but they can actually be an excellent choice for all kinds of designs. Sleek and single-color shutters are very common, and they can come in a range of different styles that use custom tilt-changing systems. Even if you have windows with an unconventional size or shape, it isn’t usually difficult to get shutters that fit them, and you can have them custom-made if you are really that desperate to find some.
Should I get plantation shutters?
If your home already needs more window treatments or coverings, take some time to think about shutters. They can cost a little bit more, and they aren’t as easy to replace later on, but the extra durability means that replacing them might never even be necessary. Given that they come in so many different types and can fit almost any window, there is guaranteed to be one out there that can work with your home.
For people who really couldn’t care about style, they are also functionally useful, offering improved control over how light flows into your room and blocking out more sound than you might expect. Whatever room you install them in, they can be an excellent choice for both workspaces and homes, providing a good range of useful features but still saying out of the way when you are not directly adjusting them or folding them away.
