Shutters are the original window treatment. People have been using them for thousands of years because of their sturdy design and easy operation. Shutters provide light control and privacy, and they offer some protection from heat and cold. On top of that, they look good in nearly any room.
Today, homeowners can choose from a huge variety of shutters. In this article, we’ll go through the many options, including real wood shutters and composite shutters, and talk about functionality as well as aesthetics. We’ll discuss the advantages of shutters, as well as the disadvantages. Finally, we’ll talk about how you can go about selecting the right shutters for your home.
Why You Should Consider Shutters for Your Home
Bali sells blinds, shades, shutters, and drapery. Within those categories, you will find horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, sliding panels, sheer shades, Roman shades, layered shades, roller shades, solar shades, natural shades, custom drapery, and more. With all those options, why would you choose shutters?
The answer is simple: shutters do all the basic jobs of a window treatment very well. Those jobs include providing light control, privacy, and insulation against heat and cold. And their easy-to-adjust louvers makes shutters one of the simplest of all window treatments to use. Most importantly, shutters are built to last. Shutters are more like architectural features than simple window treatments. They are also arguably the sturdiest of all window treatments, lasting for decades. Maintenance is simple—just regular cleaning with a feather duster or the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner.
But shutters have some disadvantages. They do not provide as much view to the outdoors as shades, which can be lifted, and blinds, which have thin slats. They don’t provide as much insulation against heat and cold as cellular shades or drapery. And shutters are more expensive than most other window treatments. However, no other window treatment offers as much sturdiness and reliability as a shutter.
Introduction to the Different Types of Shutters
Bali offers two basic types of shutters: real wood and composite shutters.
Bali Wood Shutters are made with sustainably harvested basswood, a North American hardwood that is perfectly suited to the construction of shutter slats or louvers. The time-tested design Bali uses to construct these shutters results in a window treatment that is more like a work of art than a simple window covering. Wood shutters are available in three louver sizes—2½", 3½", and 4½".
Bali Composite Shutters share many of the same traits as Bali Wood Shutters—classic good looks, ultra-sturdy design, and easy functionality. The difference is the base material. Composite shutters are made with a material that resists moisture. This moisture resistance is the reason why composite shutters exist—they’re the perfect window treatment for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and anywhere the climate has high humidity and large swings in temperature. Composite shutters are available in 2½" and 3½" louver sizes.
One of the great things about shutters is their availability in a number of configurations. Standard shutters run the entire length of the window, covering it from top to bottom. Café shutters cover the lower part of the window—a casual look that many designers prize for kitchens, living rooms, and studies. Double-hung shutters cover the entire window, but the top and bottom halves operate independently for a wider range of light control than a standard shutter. And both wood and composite shutters come in a wide variety of colors and finishes, allowing you to select the ideal shutter for your home.
DIY Composite Shutters
No window treatment is as versatile as a composite shutter. Because of their resistance to moisture and temperature changes, there are no rooms in the house where a composite shutter can’t be installed. The primary function of composite shutters in the world of window treatments is to provide an option for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Composite shutters really shine in bathrooms. Not only do they withstand the high humidity, but composite shutters are easy to clean and incredibly durable.
Adjusting the louvers of a composite shutter is as simple as grabbing a louver in your hand and lifting it up or down—it’s that simple. And their sturdiness adds a sense of solidity to your entire home. Many people view these shutters as part of the home—and that creates the perception of increased value in your home. Composite shutters are also slightly less expensive than wood shutters. Add to that easy installation. Bali’s DIY Composite Shutters are a DIYers dream.
Premium Wood Shutters
Bali Wood Shutters are the ultimate window treatment. The look of real wood and the classic shutter design combine to make the perfect window covering for living rooms, dining rooms, and home libraries or studies. A wood shutter elevates any room.
There are some clear advantages to buying real wood shutters. The first is aesthetic—the look of real wood is a powerful design element. And real wood can be finished to accentuate the natural grain. It can also be painted in nearly any color. And, like composite shutters, it is incredibly sturdy. Well cared for, a set of shutters can last decades.
The only downside of wood shutters is that they do not handle moisture very well. Repeated exposure to moisture and temperature changes can lead to warping and cracking. That said, millions of homeowners enjoy real wood shutters in their homes, including homes with shutters that have been hanging for more than a century. There really isn’t a window treatment quite like a wood shutter.
Colors and Finishes
There are differences between wood and composite shutters when it comes to color. Bali Wood Shutters offer the widest range of colors. Choose a paint finish or a natural finish that enhances the natural grain’s appearance. Composite shutters offer many color and finish options, many of which cross over with the wood shutter collection. This cross over allows you to coordinate all the shutters in your home using wood shutters for most of the house and installing composite shutters in bathrooms and other high moisture areas.
Choosing the Right Shutters for Your Home
So, which shutter is right for you? Ideally, a homeowner would choose wood shutters for most of the house, selecting composite shutters for bathrooms and high humidity areas of the home. Bali’s combined wood and composite product offering is designed for this arrangement.
But for DIYers on a tight budget, the slightly less expensive composite shutters can be used in place of wood. Most people who come to your home won’t be able to tell composite shutters from wood shutters—at least at a distance. So, budget might be one of the reasons why you’d choose composite shutters over wood.
Another reason might be ease of cleaning. Composite shutters can be cleaned with soap and water—wood shutters cannot. So, if your shutters will be in areas of the home where they will be splashed, splattered, or covered in grime, composite shutters are a great option.
One of the best features of Bali’s shutters is that you have options for color coordinating with Bali Wood Blinds. This provides a whole-home design solution that can really set your home apart. Match the colors and finishes of your shutters to achieve this impressive effect in your home.
FAQs: Other Things to Know About Shutters
Are shutters easy to install?
Yes. If you carefully measure your windows, the measurements you give Bali will allow them to build shutters that perfectly fit your windows. Installing these custom-crafted shutters is quite straightforward.
Learn about measuring for shutters
Learn about installing shutters
How do shutters compare to blinds or shades?
Shutters are like blinds in that they have louvers (slats) that can be tilted to adjust for light and privacy. Shutters offer less view to the outdoors than blinds, but they’re sturdier than blinds. Shades offer a wider variety of light control and privacy options as well as colors and patterns. The look of a shade is quite different than a shutter, so choosing between a shutter or a shade is really a matter of preference.
Are shutters suitable for all climates?
Shutters are incredibly versatile. Wood shutters are installed in homes and businesses all around the globe. Composite shutters, with their moisture resistance, will stand up to any climate you throw at them.
How to Get Custom Bali Shutters
Now that you’re armed with all the information you need to understand wood and composite shutters, it’s time to select shutters for your own home. To learn more about shutters, click Shop In Store & Online to choose your favorite retailer.
