Shutters were once a way to keep out weather and intruders without having to pay for expensive glass. Now, they’re thoughtfully considered architectural features. In this guide, we explore materials and styles of traditional shutters, plus creative ways to incorporate them into modern homes.
Shutter Materials
The shutter material you choose impacts durability, maintenance, and appearance. Here’s a comparison of wood, vinyl, and composite shutters.
Wood Shutters
Wood shutters are valued for their classic, timeless beauty. They can be custom-crafted to fit any window size and shape, and they can also be painted or stained in any color to match your home’s decor. Wood is durable but requires regular maintenance to prevent damage from moisture, pests, and the elements. Over time, wood shutters may warp or crack if not properly cared for, making them less suitable for humid or wet climates.
The appeal of original wood shutters is undeniable—but so is their vulnerability. As TOH Magazine recounted, district court judge Victoria L. Roemer was drawn to her 73-year-old Georgian-style house in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sensing that its facade looked “oddly unfinished.” Shortly after moving in, a friend discovered the answer under a rear deck: the home’s original wood shutters, stored there for years, had rotted from exposure to the damp conditions. It’s a cautionary tale about what happens when wood shutters aren’t properly maintained or stored.
Vinyl Shutters
Vinyl shutters are popular because they’re affordable and low maintenance. Unlike wood, vinyl doesn’t require painting or staining and is moisture-resistant, making it ideal for humid environments. These shutters are available in a range of colors and styles, though they may not have the same authentic look and feel as wood. They’re lightweight and easy to install, but they can be less durable than wood or composite, potentially becoming brittle and cracking over time, especially in extreme temperatures.
Composite Shutters
Composite shutters are often made from engineered wood or a blend of wood and synthetic materials. They’re designed to mimic the appearance of wood but are more resistant to moisture, warping, and pests. Composite shutters require less maintenance than wood and can be more durable in harsh weather conditions. They can be painted or stained, allowing for customization, but may be more expensive than vinyl shutters.
Shutter Types
Shutters come in several styles, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits.
Solid Panel Shutters
Solid panel shutters are common on the ground floor of homes. They offer security, insulation, and sun protection. These shutters typically feature raised panels, adding depth and visual interest to their design. For a classic look, you can build your own board and batten shutters.
Louvered Shutters
Louvered shutters are popular for upper-story windows. Available in both fixed and adjustable versions, these shutters provide excellent ventilation, light control, and privacy. Their distinctive, angled slats allow air to flow in and out while blocking direct sunlight and prying eyes.
Combination Shutters
Some shutters combine solid panels and louvers, offering the best of both worlds. These versatile shutters provide complete privacy when needed while still allowing for airflow and light control.
Shutter Colors
While certain colors have been associated with specific architectural styles, modern homeowners have more flexibility in their color choices.
Traditional Color Choices
Historically, shutter colors were chosen to complement the home’s architecture and often matched the window sash. Dark greens, blacks, and browns were common choices for many styles, while white became popular with the rise of Colonial Revival architecture.
Color choices also depended heavily on when a house was built. Susan Maycock, who works with the City of Cambridge on historic preservation, explained on a TOH project that “after the Civil War, the choice of colors broadens dramatically. You have deep, bold, kind of velvety colors that weren’t available before.” By contrast, early 19th-century homes relied on “natural pigment colors that were mixed on-site by the painter with white lead and linseed oil,” which limited the shutter palette considerably.
Modern Color Trends
Today, homeowners have a wider range of color options. Though traditional colors are still popular, some homeowners opt for bolder hues to make a statement or to coordinate with their home’s overall color scheme. The key is to choose a color that enhances your home’s architecture and reflects your personal style.
Designer’s Take: Portland, OR, designer Stephanie Dyer encourages homeowners to be adventurous: “Strong color, whether warm or cool, elicits a powerful emotional, elemental response. It makes a statement.” Dyer, who’s drawn to shades like saffron, burgundy, purple, and peacock blue, adds: “There’s a time and a place for restraint, but I’m fundamentally opposed to fear when it comes to using color.”
Finding Vintage Shutters
Architectural salvage yards can be treasure troves for those seeking authentic vintage shutters. These sources often have shutters from various periods, offering unique options for restoration projects or creative repurposing. When shopping for vintage shutters, it’s helpful to bring measurements and, if possible, a sample of the shutter you’re trying to match.
Pay attention to the quality of materials and craftsmanship when buying vintage shutters. Many old shutters were hand-carved from old-growth timber and may still have their original paint. Look for Roman numerals carved into the top or bottom of the frame, which were used to identify matching pairs. Prices for vintage shutters can range from $35–$200 per shutter, depending on age, condition, wood type, and size.
Restoring Vintage Shutters
Regular cleaning and prompt repairs help vintage shutters last longer. Gently clean wood shutters with a soft brush and mild soap solution, being careful not to saturate the wood. Address any loose joints or damaged louvers promptly to prevent further deterioration. Read our guide to learn about shutter repairs you can do yourself.
When repainting vintage shutters, remove old paint carefully. Sand the surface smooth, and apply a quality primer before painting. Choose a paint suitable for the shutter’s material and intended use (interior or exterior). For a more rustic look, consider stripping the shutters to reveal the natural wood grain and applying a clear protective finish.
Pro Tip: Painting contractor John Dee recommends using a 1½- to 2-inch-wide brush with straight-cut, nylon-polyester filaments for painting louvered shutters. Sand with 120-grit paper, prime all exposed wood with an oil-based primer, and keep paint only on the tip of your brush as you cover the interior edges—if any paint gets on the louvers or other faces of the shutter frame, wipe it off immediately with a rag.
Shutter Hardware
Shutter hardware like hinges, latches, and holdbacks are functional, and an important part of hanging your shutters, but you can also use them to add a decorative touch.
- Hinges: Forged from durable materials such as stainless steel, brass, and iron, shutter hinges support the weight of the shutters and allow them to swing open and closed.
- Latches: Latches keep shutters securely closed, preventing them from flapping in wind. They also provide an additional layer of security. Common types of latches include cabin hooks, slide bolts, and ring pulls.
- Holdbacks: Also known as shutter dogs, holdbacks keep shutters in an open position. These decorative elements come in various designs, from simple hooks to intricate scroll shapes, adding a touch of personality to a home’s exterior.
When selecting shutter hardware, consider the shutter style, shutter material, and architecture of your home. Opt for hardware that complements the overall design and provides the necessary functionality. The hardware should be made from weather-resistant materials so it will hold up over time when exposed to the elements.
Repurposing Old Shutters
Vintage shutters can find new life beyond their original purpose. Creative repurposing can turn them into unique decor pieces for indoor and outdoor spaces.
Old shutters can be transformed into stylish home accessories. Consider using them as cabinet doors for a bathroom vanity or as sides for a custom bookcase. Louvered shutters can even double as magazine racks when hung horizontally.
In outdoor spaces, vintage shutters can serve both decorative and functional purposes. Tall shutters hinged together can create a folding screen to block wind around an outdoor dining area. They can also add privacy to a porch or patio, bringing a touch of architectural interest to your outdoor living space.
From the TOH Archives: Mike Whiteside of Black Dog Salvage in Roanoke, Virginia, built a combination curio cabinet and bookcase using a pair of raised-panel shutters rescued from a demolished turn-of-the-century house. By cutting holes in the top of each shutter and insetting antique iron scrollwork, Whiteside added visual interest to the piece. The filigreed openings also allow natural light to pass through and illuminate what’s inside the cabinet. For its top, he used the stiles and rails of a badly damaged 1850s shutter, and for the door, a narrow 18-light window that gives the piece the look of an old English telephone booth.
TOH Project: This Old House multimedia editor Alex Bandon and writer Amy R. Hughes bought two mahogany shutters at a salvage yard and hinged them together as a bifold door to conceal a media cabinet — hiding wires, a DVD player, and audio equipment behind a vintage-look panel. The project took just three hours plus dry time, proving that even a simple shutter repurposing project can solve a real storage problem with architectural style.
