Plantation shutters have been a popular window blind for many years now, and it seems they are only increasing in popularity as time goes on.  Having said this, there are a lot of choices when it comes to deciding exactly what type of material you will have your shutters made from, and where you will buy them from.  Home Depot plantation shutters are fairly reasonable, as are shutters from many other locations online.

Originally shutters were made from wood panels and were hung on the outside of the window. They were used to keep out sun and dust, and also were very helpful in protecting houses from hurricane damage if they were in a hurricane area.  Mainly wealthy plantation owners were the only ones who could afford to have these made and hung on their windows, thus the name “plantation shutters.”

These days the shutters are not just for the wealthy! Thankfully they are made out of a variety of materials meaning that they are affordable no matter what your budget.

Some materials used for the shutters include:

• Hard wood such as Cedar or Aldar wood, or Poplar wood
• Softer woods, basswood
• Composite wood (faux wood)
• Vinyl

Naturally, the more expensive plantation shutters are made from the harder woods. These shutters also have the nicest finishing and look very good.  Blinds made from hard wood is usually  either left unfinished, or the wood is stained.

Not everyone is able to afford these though, so the other alternatives ranging from Basswood to vinyl can still look very good.  Basswood shutters can be left unfinished, or stained or sometimes they are painted.  Shutters made from composite wood are usually painted, but can also be finished with a wood look.  Vinyl blinds come in different colors also, but by far the most common for plantation shutters is the more authentic looking wood or brown colors.

Designer Plantation Shutters

If you really want the ultimate design in plantation blinds, there are also options available for having your shutters custom designed.  While you can choose the type of wood to have them made from, normally if you’re going to the expense of having designer shutters made you may as well have them made from the best and finest hardwoods available, such as the Western Red Alder.  Alder wood is a popular choice for designer plantation shutters because of its very even grain and texture.   You can also choose what, if any stain, to use, choosing the perfect match for your other furniture.

Whatever your choice, you can be sure that the addition of plantation shutters to your home will give it an elegant look.

Modern day shutters are made up of individual shutters set into panels.  Each individual shutter is somewhere between two to four inches wide. They sit inside panels ranging from one to one and a half feet in length. While they are probably very different from the colonial plantation shutters of years past, still they have a unique appeal even today.

During the colonial day, glass was not easily available. In fact, it was mainly used for stained glass windows in castles and churches.  Wooden shutters, however, provide protection from the rain and wind, yet give a view of the outside world. It was soon discovered that wooden shutters kept the home safe from extreme weather changes and gave privacy to the home owners. They were also made to be easy to open, thus helping to control the flow of light, air and sunlight through them.

Plantation shutters, as they’re called nowadays, were originally used by plantation owners to protect their homes from hurricanes. Whenever a hurricane was approaching the shutters were closed tight and fastened, offering extra protection to the rooms and homes of the people living in hurricane prone areas.

One downside to having them in those days was that they also indicated that the owner was quite wealthy–usually a rich landowner, the only type of person who could afford this type of window covering. It has been said that homes sporting wood shutters were often the target of thieves and robbers in olden days, as well as slaves who rebelled against their owners.

These days plantation shutters are a delightful addition to any home, and look particularly lovely when added to a decorative window, or one using decorative window film for example. Prices vary depending on the make and the type of material they are made from, meaning that anyone who is redoing their home, or building a new house, should be able to afford some kind.  More expensive, “made in the US” hardwood blinds can be very expensive, but there are shutters made out of softer wood, or even vinyl and faux-wood that are very nice and affordable. Home Depot plantation shutters are mainly only custom  made these days, but other shops may carry standard size blinds.