The Complete Guide to Living Room Plantation Shutters
Looking to make a stylish upgrade to your living room windows? Plantation shutters present an appealing, versatile option to transform any living space. With their horizontal louvers and custom-fit designs, plantation shutters not only enhance aesthetics but offer adjustable light control, added privacy, and energy efficiency benefits.
Whether you have bay windows, large expanses of glass, or unique architectural details, plantation shutters can provide the perfect window treatment solution.
Materials for Living Room Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters come in a variety of materials to suit your living room's style, durability needs, and budget.
Wood Shutters
Wood is a traditional and attractive choice appreciated for its rich, natural beauty. Basswood and poplar shutters provide durability at an affordable price point. Premium woods like red oak offer unmatched strength and timeless elegance.
The major downside is that solid wood can warp or crack over time. However, modern construction techniques minimize these issues. Refinishing and restaining can also refresh the look of wood shutters as needed.
Composite Wood Shutters
For the authentic look of wood with added stability, composite wood shutters feature top layers of wood veneers adhered to engineered wood cores. The composite core lends enhanced resistance to warping while retaining the charm and finish options of real wood.
Composite wood shutters tend to cost more than vinyl but less than solid wood. They provide an impressive balance of aesthetics, durability, and affordability.
Vinyl Shutters
On the lower end of the cost spectrum, vinyl plantation shutters offer an inexpensive way to capture the elegant plantation shutter look. While vinyl lacks the richness of wood, advances in vinyl formulations and processing allow remarkably realistic woodgrain patterns.
Vinyl shutters won't rot, crack, or warp, making them quite low maintenance. They're also lightweight and easy to operate. However, vinyl is prone to sun damage and lacks color customization unless painted.
Specialty Materials
Looking for something different? Some unique plantation shutter options include bamboo, faux wood composites, and fiberglass. These specialty materials mix durability, easy care, and customizable finishes while departing from traditional looks.
Styles of Plantation Shutters for Living Rooms
With an array of designs to match any decor, plantation shutters offer living room style versatility. Consider these popular options:
Full Height Shutters
Spanning from floor to ceiling for complete window coverage, full height shutters can be divided into sections for easy operation. They allow total light control and privacy.
Tiered Shutters
Tiered shutters feature an upper and lower sash, keeping the bottom portion of windows uncovered. The open space beneath is ideal for a desk, couch, or other furniture placement without obstructing views outdoors.
Cafe-Style Shutters
Cafe-style plantation shutters only cover the lower portion of a window, about one-third of the total area. They deliver privacy while allowing light into the room's upper regions.
Specialty Shapes
Arched windows, angles, curves, and other unique architectural elements are no match for plantation shutters. Crafting shutters to match specialty window shapes prevents light leakage and complements your living room's character.
Customization Options
One of the greatest advantages of plantation shutters is the ability to customize them to your living room. From size to louver design, numerous options allow you to tailor your shutters.
Sizing
Plantation shutters are built to order based on precise window measurements. Achieving an exact fit prevents light seepage and provides a clean, cohesive look.
Louvers
Louvers, or the horizontal slats, can be adjusted to control sunlight penetration and airflow. Wider louvers offer fewer view obstructions while narrow louvers filter sunlight better. The tilt adjustment ranges from fully open to closed.
Colors and Finishes
Match your shutters to your living room's color scheme through custom staining or painting. Add a pop of color or choose neutrals complementing your cabinets and furnishings. Distressed, sun-bleached, and other unique finishes are also possible.
Features
Enhance shutter functionality with added features like divider rails, specialty-shaped louvers, built-in curtain rods, or decorative hardware. Integrating plantation shutters with side curtains or other window treatments is another option.
Styling Tips for Living Rooms
To make the most of your living room's plantation shutters, keep these design tips in mind:
Shutters for Bay Windows
Bay windows with angles and curves can be elegantly outfitted with plantation shutters. Having a shutter section custom-built for each facet of a bay window produces seamless continuity.
Large Window Coverings
For expansive living room windows, incorporate divider rails so shutters can be opened in sections. This avoids overwhelming large spaces with a single massive shutter panel.
Enhance Beamed Ceilings
Complement beamed or coffered ceilings by installing shutters with louvers running perpendicular to ceiling beams. Visually extending lines upward enhances the architectural details.
Complement Interior Style
Consider your living room's interior design style for shutter suggestions. Bold-colored shutters pop against modern grey walls, while whitewashed shutters suit coastal, farmhouse, or cottage styles. Cafe-style shutters maintain views in industrial and contemporary spaces.
Living Room Furniture Placement
Arrange living room furniture with adequate clearance for shutters to fully open and tilt without obstruction. Allow at least three inches between shutters and furnishings for easy operation.
Energy Efficiency with Shutters
As an added insulating layer over windows, shutters help minimize heat and cold transfer. This equates to energy bill savings, as your heating and cooling system doesn't have to work as hard.
In summer, shutters can reduce reliance on air conditioning. Closing them keeps out intense sunlight and heat. In winter, closed shutters provide an extra barrier against drafts and retain indoor warmth.
Light Control and Privacy
One of the most appealing perks of plantation shutters is adjustable light control. Open louvers allow diffused daylight into a room. Light admitted can be varied by altering louver angles. Fully closed louvers enable room darkening.
The louvers also provide daytime privacy while permitting light flow. By controlling visibility both inside and out, shutters deliver discretion over living room views. This is especially beneficial for living rooms with large street-facing windows.
Durability of Plantation Shutters
Investing in plantation shutters brings long-lasting benefits. Quality materials like wood, composite, and aluminum ensure shutters remain structurally intact for years rather than warping or cracking over time.
Shutters also tolerate everyday wear and tear through their resilient finishes. For living spaces prone to spills or stains, select low-maintenance vinyl or composite shutters featuring durable polymer coatings.
Easy Maintenance
Keeping your living room's plantation shutters looking their best doesn't require much effort. An occasional wiping down with a damp cloth removes surface dust. Vacuuming louvers helps grab deeper debris and allergens.
Minimal periodic upkeep helps preserve the shutters' functionality and appearance. Avoiding frequent removal for laundering or power washing also reduces handling that could loosen mounting hardware over time.
Plantation shutters present a versatile window treatment option combining aesthetics, functionality, and durability. With endless style possibilities, they allow you to put a customized signature on your living room's look. From light and privacy control to added insulation, shutters deliver day-to-day enhancements to your space.
Now that you know the ins and outs of materials, designs, customization, and styling, you can make informed plantation shutter choices for your living room. Bringing this elegant window solution into your home decor takes your living room from basic to beautiful.