A guide to plantation shutter types, including popular designs, materials, cost, maintenance, and how to measure windows for new plantation shutters. Plantation shutters have shutters that can be tilted up and down like shutters. However, these shutters are designed to fit in the window frame and can be opened like a door. Unlike the slats on shutters that open with ropes, plantation shutters are opened and closed manually.
What are plantation shutters?
Wood, faux wood and interior blinds are the names of plantation blinds, a type of curtain that provides a traditional and impressive element to many interior design applications.
- These shutters are divided into left and right sections, with a frame that fits the size of the window and rows of slats, also called slats, that can be opened and closed.
- Plantation shutters look just as beautiful on the outside as they do on the inside. Whether closed or open, these curtains offer more than just their grand appearance.
- They have many benefits that can help homeowners choose these durable curtains for their windows.
- Plantation shutters are an iconic representation of the American Southern period before the Civil War began.
The architecture of the pre-civil war period, before the Civil War, included houses with these types of shutters made from a wooden frame and shutters. Southern homeowners used this type of interior shutter on large windows to provide a monarchical design for large plantations in the South.
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Plantation shutters have remained popular since the days of Southern culture and have made their way into the window designs of homes around the world.
Types of Plantation Shutters
There are three main types of plantation shutters, including horizontal shutters, café-style shutters, and full-height shutters.
Horizontal Shutters: These Plantation shutters near me consist of two sets of left and right shutters. They are hung in two rows so that the upper shutters can be opened and the lower shutters closed. This provides light into the room while allowing privacy. Cafe-Style Blinds: Like cascading blinds, these plantation-style blinds let in light, but aren’t like two sets of blinds. These shutters are installed at the bottom of mid-height windows. They originated in quaint cafes, allowing customers privacy but letting light through the tops of the windows. Full-height shutters: These plantation shutters are the most common and include the full-height sides of the window. Various types of plantation shutters allow homeowners to choose options that suit their view of interior windows, adding a classy ambience to their home.
Plantation Shutter Materials
Plantation shutter materials include pros and cons, variations, color options, durability, and varying prices. These modern options are a far cry from the original southern wooden shutters.
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- Plantation Wood Shutters
Wood provides its own beauty by allowing the natural pattern and texture of wood to create beautiful shutters. Different types of wood offer many color variations and stains, especially translucent stains, which offer more color options while letting the wood grain show through. Some homeowners paint their wood shutters to match the interior and color scheme, but the paint hides the organic wood.
Plantation wood shutters are durable and better suited for larger shutters with wide slats .
Other materials warp and sag under weight. Another advantage of wood shutters is that wood can be shaped into custom shapes such as vaults and half circles. These types of shutters are usually made from basswood, which has the best strength-to-weight ratio.
Composite planting shutters
Composite materials are also known as engineered wood, fake wood, or synthetic wood. The material is made of sawdust glued together and covered with a vinyl or PVC coating. Composite plantation shutters are strong and cost less than solid wood, but they cannot withstand the wear and tear that solid wood can.
Plantation Vinyl Blinds
The cheapest material for plantation shutters is vinyl, which is available in a variety of colors, depending on the manufacturer. These vinyl shutters usually come with PVC or aluminum brackets to prevent warping or sagging and are suitable for areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Pros of plantation shutters
Adds value to the home Plantation shutters are timeless Durable and will last for decades Easy to clean Wide range of options to choose from Easy to operate Child resistant
Plantation blinds cost more than traditional curtains. Plantation blinds cannot be rolled up like sunshades or tied behind like curtains, so they are always in full view. Sloping casement windows will work with these shutters, but they need to be installed on the outside of the window frame, which can seem awkward. Furniture placed in front of windows with plantation shutters needs to be below the sill or away from the window in order for the shutters to open.
Plantation shutters are installed inside or outside the window frame. Internal brackets allow hanging curtains or other layered panels. External brackets extend beyond the window frame and slightly away from the wall.
Each manufacturer or showroom has its own form to fill out when ordering plantation shutters. Always talk to your sales associate for the measurements and information you need.
The first step in measuring a plantation shutter window is to make sure the window is square:
- Check if window is square by matching width and height in three places
- Measure the width of the glass from the interior jambs at three locations
- Measure glass height from interior jambs at three locations
- Mount Plantation Interior Shutters
- For internally installed plantation shutters, use the narrowest of the three numbers for the width and the shortest of the three measurements for the height.
Outer Hills Plantation Shutters
Use the method above to make sure the window is straight. Then measure the width from the right outside edge of the window frame, and the planting shutters will fit in the same space on the left.