Window Shutters - An Overview

Window shutters are basically types of window coverings that serve many different purposes for your windows and home.  Although this type of window covering is most generally one solid piece, window shutters can consist of individual panels that are hinged together to make a single unit.  The following paragraphs will provide an overview of window shutters including different types of shutters, their purposes, and materials used to make different types of shutters.

Interior Shutters

Interior window shutters are placed on the inside of the window in order to block most of the sun light from entering a room.  This is their main purpose.  Interior shutters can successfully block almost all sunlight from entering a room when they are fully closed. Their parts most often consist of:

• stiles
• top and bottom rails
• louvers

Interior window shutters come in different types and styles to fit the individual needs of most everyone. Whether it is a traditional style you are looking for, or whether it is something more exotic you desire, they are available for purchase. The different styles of interior window shutters include but are not limited to:

• traditional styles
• colonial styles
• plantation styles

With the plantation styles of interior window shutters, the louvers are usually much wider than they are with any of the other styles.

Exterior Window Shutters

The original purposes of exterior window shutters was to control light, provide privacy, and to provide protection from weather and elements. There are many types of exterior window shutters including:

• function shutters
• multi-function shutters
• board and batten shutters
• storm shutters

In today's society, we still use these type of window coverings for the exact same reasons, only now there are so many types available, we can purchase them to match our homes, and provide decorative effects to our property. So while storm shutters can protect your windows from Mother Nature's wrath, they can also dress up the look of your home.

Materials

Window shutters are made from many different types of material, depending on the main purpose they are to serve. For example, while you may choose wooden shutters for the interior of your home, with the main purpose of privacy, as well as blocking sunlight. However, you would not want to select wooden shutters for the exterior of you home, if the intended purpose of the shutters was to protect your windows from storm damage. Window shutters are most commonly constructed with materials including:

• wood
• aluminum
• vinyl

In order to chose the best window shutters to suit you, it is important to determine what purposes you wish for them to serve.