Usually you will find that the more expensive shutters, such as those made from premium hardwood or Alderwood and those that are designer shutters are able to be custom made to size, whereas often the basswood shutters, or those made from vinyl come in stock sizes. There is a large difference in price, depending on both design and material that they are made from, with the stock vinyl plantation shutters being the cheapest you can find.

Also, the stock sized, cheaper shutters do not usually come with the offer of installation and they are, for the main part, made to be self-installed.  They are quite easy to install, and if you have someone around who is a bit of a handyman or who can at least drill a hole and wield a screwdriver, you should be fine.  Fortunately they are often sold with offers of free shipping, so you can definitely save when buying on line as you can find cheaper prices for the actual shutters and you will get free shipping.

One other interesting option for those of you who are able to do your own home improvements is the possibility of purchasing unfinished wood shutter panels.  These are great if you are hoping to save money and you do not mind investing a bit of time into finishing them yourself. You can order each panel by exact size, so they can be used for standard or custom windows. I saw some online recently that were made from Poplar hardwood that was unstained and unfinished. They are great for either staining or for painting over, depending on your preference. You do have to add a little more if you want a stain finish, around $12 per panel.

The stock sized wood shutters, usually made from Basswood, are the cheapest wood shutters you can buy. They still look great, it is just that they are made from less quality type of wood and you have to have standard sized windows to buy them. They do come in variable heights, up to 40″ though the louver size and slat size is usually set. If you are living in a location that is hot, and where there is bright sunlight during the summer months you may want to take a look instead at the faux wood shutters, or even the vinyl shutters as both of these stand up better in hot climates.

On the other end of the spectrum, designer plantation shutters are usually made from the best hardwood available. Western Red Alder is a popular choice of wood as the grain and the finish are fantastic. Usually you can custom make these to any desired width and height and you can also choose the stain that you want on the shutters. You can also custom design the shape of your window so that they can be used in any shape window, even those with an arch.  Naturally, you should expect to pay quite a bit more from these type of shutters.

When ordering online, especially if you are opting for the more expensive, custom designed shutters, you should be able to receive an actual sample of the wood that the shutters are made from so that you can check the quality and even decide on the stain and color of the wood used. You should also aim to have these installed by a craftsman who is very knowledgeable about what they are doing as you would not want to damage then during the installation.

There are many different options for ordering shutters online, and prices vary greatly from store to store. If you look around you should be able to easily compare prices and the quality and services offered and find one that is just right for you in terms of pricing as well as look.

Originally plantation shutters were made from locally available hardwood, and they were handmade, often by the plantation workers themselves. Today some of the better, more expensive and classy shutters are still made from premium hardwood, such as Cedar or Aldar wood.  Aldar wood is a favourite these days for designer shutters, as the wood texture and grain is beautifully even. Shutters are also made from a variety of other materials, such as plastic, vinyl, faux wood or fibreboard. Some people prefer these other materials such as vinyl or faux wood as they don’t warp easily, and in the case of vinyl or plastic they’re very easy to clean, and don’t fade or crack in the sun. They’re also quite a bit cheaper than the more expensive hardwood types.

While traditional wood shutters are very elegant and really do add to the rooms décor and warmth, by the same token they also are more difficult to care for.  You need to keep them polished to keep them looking nice. They are also affected quite a bit by the hot sun shining in on them, and the wood can sometimes either crack, warp or fade.

Sometimes you’ll find that online companies offering plantation shutters online also offer you free shipping, which is something worth considering.  If you are ordering blinds online, make sure you are prepared to put them up yourself, or that you know of someone who would be willing to help you to do so.  Remember to specify if they’re for inside our outside mounts–that does make a difference. If you’re ordering on line you should get them with pre-drilled frames, and make sure you confirm that they’re sending you all the pieces you need to get them up, including the correct screws, mounts and hinges.

There are many companies selling their plantation shutters online, and a quick search will usually bring up over thousands of retailers. You might want to make your search specific to your location, so that you can cut down on shipping costs (should you need to pay them) and so you can always pop into the shop if you end up having problems with the installation or anything else to do with the blinds. Just type in the name of your city after the blinds and it will bring up a list of retail outlets nearby your city.

You can also get a good idea of the type of blinds you are interested in, and what is available locally, by perusing various websites and checking out what they have available.

While it is definitely very possible to shop for plantation shutters online, if you have the time and are able to do so it may be worth your while to actually visit a shop that specializes in selling blinds and take a look at what they’re offering.  You’ll get the chance to talk to a salesperson face-to-face who may well be able to offer you some good advice on what would best suit your particular situation.