DIY Plantation Shutters – Effective Window Treatment Ideas

Whether you’re renovating your home or starting completely from scratch, the type of shutters you choose will make a huge difference in the look and feel of your space. There are a ton of different window treatments you can choose for your home from blinds to shades to curtains to shutters – the options are truly endless. So, why choose DIY plantation shutters? Shutters in general have been a popular window treatment option for centuries because they look great and they’re very long lasting. Shutters can be placed on either the interior or exterior of the home and there are several different types. Read on to learn more about DIY shutters and why purchasing your plantation shutters online is a great option.

What are the different types of shutters?

Depending on your needs and how you want your home to look, there are several different types of shutters that you can choose from. Some are designed specifically for the outside of the home and some are installed inside.

• Shaker: If you’re looking for maximum insulation and light/noise blockage, shaker shutters are your best bet. They are solid wooden panels that feature a raised insert in the middle and beveled edges. Shakers shutters can be placed on both the exterior and interior of the home depending on your preferences. While the look of them is quite plain and simple, they’re incredibly functional and have a classic style.
• Cafe: Cafe shutters are interesting because they only cover the bottom half of the window. They feature overlapping wooden slats that can open up to let more light in. Cafe shutters are particularly popular for ground floor rooms or kitchens because they let a ton of light in but can be shut for privacy when you need it.
• Cut-out: If you’re looking to really spice things up, look no further than cut-out shutters. Cut-out shutters have the same basic style as shaker shutters, but they’re embossed with a cut-out shape of your choice. Think birds, anchors, horseshoes, geometric shapes, and more! This style of shutters is usually installed on the exterior of the windows to show off their creative flair or into shaped window openings like triangle and circular windows.

• Louvered: Louvered shutters are one of the most popular styles and are probably what you imagine when you think of shutters. They’re made with overlapping pieces of wood set in a wooden frame or made from other materials like PVC. They’re typically installed on the exterior of the home and do allow for some light to peek through. Many homeowners will opt to paint these shutters a bright color to pop against a neutral background of the house, but you’ll notice white is the most popular.
• Board and Batten: Board and batten shutters are made of vertical boards of wood that are held together by smaller horizontal slats. The top of them either have an arch or a square. These shutters almost look medieval in style but can be modernized based on the stain or paint color choice.

What are plantation shutters?

Despite the many different styles of shutters on the market, one particular type constantly emerges as the most popular – and that’s the plantation shutter. Plantation shutters got their name because they were particularly popular in the Southern U.S. where temperatures can reach extreme highs. Plantation shutters are a long-term window treatment that can help regulate temperature during hot and cold days, offer protection from bad weather, and create privacy in your home.

Plantation shutters are made with tilted wooden slats or PVC and can be open or shut like you would a door. The style of these shutters is super laid back and allow for light to pour into the room even when they are closed. One of the biggest benefits about plantation shutters is that they are made to fit your specific windows. This means that it is easy to buy plantation shutters online and then install them yourself. Or you can even DIY shutters yourself to fit all of your window treatment needs!

Everything you need to know about DIY plantation shutters online

If you’re debating on DIY plantation shutters, there are two options you can choose from. You can either customize them from an online manufacturer or make them yourself. If you’re nervous about the fit and style of your shutters, you may want to order plantation shutters online and install them yourself instead of risking it. Many manufacturers will make your shutters custom to fit your window while allowing you the freedom to choose the material and color.

If you think you’re down for the challenge, DIY plantation shutters are actually relatively simple to make using plywood. DIY shutters are much less expensive and can also be made custom to what you want in your home.

1. Start off by measuring your window frame. This will help you figure out sizing for the shutter frame which should measure .6 cm narrower than the window frame. From there, you’ll want to cut four plywood planks to the size of the shutter frame.
2. Using a heavy-duty glue, attach the two vertical slats to the horizontal slats to create the frame. Once the frame is glued together, you’ll be able to measure the size needed for the louvers (which are the wooden slats that are on the inside of the shutter.) The louvers should be a tiny bit smaller than the inside opening of the frame so they are able to fit snuggly. Next, you’ll need to cut the plywood louvers to size.
3. Make marks on the inside of the shutter frame to map out where each louver will sit. The louvers should overlap by about .6 cm. Next, drill holes in these markings and add wooden pins into your lovers. These wooden pins will allow for the lovers to sit nicely within the frame. Insert the louvers and you’re almost done!
4. If you want to tilt the shutters open and closed, you can add a tilt bar which is essentially a wooden dowel. Measure and cut the tilt bar to fit the length of the shutter frame. Drill the tilt bar into the frame and add shutter staples to each louver to make the tilt bar secure.
5. Mount the shutter onto the window frame and secure it with screws or another mounting option of your choice.

While it may take a few trips to your local home improvement store and sometime in the garage, you will be more than happy with the end result of DIY plantation shutters in your home! And the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel after building DIY shutters is like no other. If you’re not handy with woodworking, then you can certainly make the choice to buy your diy shutters online.