Plantation Shutters for a Child’s Room

Posted on

Deciding on a window treatment is one of many essential choices that parents face when putting together a nursery or children’s room. Like area rugs and, of course, the crib, window treatments serve a purpose for both the function and the design of the room. 

As a parent, you want a window covering that will keep out bright light during your child’s naps, but also let in ample sunlight during playtime. Most importantly, you want a window treatment that is safe for curious toddlers and young children. 

Plantation shutters provide all of these benefits and more. They are excellent window treatment choices for families. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of installing plantation shutters in your child’s room:

Plantation Shutters Are Safer Than Blinds or Curtains

With blinds, curtains, and other window treatments, safety can be a serious concern. Blinds with dangling cords can easily present a danger to a young child, while curtains can be pulled down. When using curtains in a child’s room, you have to very carefully install the hardware, so that the curtain rod doesn’t fall down onto a child if pulled. Particularly decorative curtains could pose a hazard as well, with a young baby able to reach for and eat beads or other decorations on the fabric. 

While you can buy cordless blinds or tie up the cord on other blinds, plantation shutters don’t come with these problems. They are simple, wooden pieces designed without cords or embellishments. If you’re partial to fabric materials, you can still use a valance along with your plantation shutters for added drama and style. Some people do  choose to install curtains with their plantation shutters for these decorative reasons. If you do, you should select a safe curtain design and be sure that your hardware is firmly installed to prevent the rod from collapsing. 

Plantation Shutters Are Easy to Clean and Maintain 

Soft window treatments, like curtains or drapes, experience a lot of wear and tear. This is especially true when children are in the home. Young kids might enjoy wrapping themselves in dangling curtains or wiping their hands on the material. If you have pets, too, then you might notice pet hair easily collecting on the fabric, as well. All of this results in added laundry time and expense. Blinds, meanwhile, are often bent out of place by children who are excited to look outside. 

Hardwood plantation shutters are built to last. These shutters are durable and easy to clean. You can polish your plantation shutters whenever needed using gentle, natural furniture polish and a microfiber cloth. If you’d like, you can use a vacuum attachment to remove dust. You can also access hard to reach places with just a toothbrush. 

At Shenandoah Shutters, we don’t even use a tension system for our plantation shutters for maximum convenience and continued louver tightness. 

Plantation Shutters Are Energy-Efficient

When you bring home a new baby, it’s important to keep the room cool and comfortable. Research has shown that infants sleep best in a room that isn’t too hot. Overheating is also a risk factor for the devastating sudden infant death syndrome. 

Plantation shutters, by their very design, keep rooms cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They are designed to be energy-efficient, helping to retain the desired temperature in the home. While all window treatments can help at least somewhat with temperature control, plantation shutters are so notoriously energy-efficient that they sometimes even reduce heating and air bills. This is one of many reasons why plantation shutters also add value to your home. 

Plantation Shutters Are Stylish Additions to Your Child’s Room

It’s much more convenient to install plantation shutters than to purchase roller shades or other treatments that need to be decorated in order to fit in with the decor of your nursery. You don’t have to sacrifice style for function with plantation shutters. 

Hardwood plantation shutters are naturally elegant window treatments that will elevate the look of your nursery. If you plan on living in your house for awhile, then you can rest assured that plantation shutters will look just as beautiful in your baby’s room now as they will when your baby grows to become a child and teenager. These are sophisticated treatments that grow with your child, always remaining timeless.

At Shenandoah Shutters, you can choose from a rich stain or beautiful cream color for your plantation shutters. If you’d prefer, you can even choose a custom color for the perfect nursery design fit. You can also select a custom wood, like mahogany, oak, or cherry, to pair your plantation shutters with your existing moulding or furniture pieces. 

Plantation Shutters Give You Unprecedented Light Control 

Plantation shutters give you unmatched variety. Using the tilt rod, you control the horizontal slats (known as louvers) to let in as much sunlight as you’d like. This lets you decide the ambiance of the room at any given time. 

From quiet, darkened nap times to bright, playful playtimes and everything in between, plantation shutters do it all. There’s nothing more magical than watching the falling snow or rain through the plantation shutters with your wide-eyed little one. 

Schedule Your Appointment for Plantation Shutters Today

Shenandoah Shutters will handcraft long-lasting, all wood plantation shutters for your child’s room. We’ve local to Richmond, and have been serving Virginia, Maryland, and D.C for decades. We offer traditional and contemporary design options for maximum flexibility in your plantation shutter choices. Check out our online photo gallery to see the various styles of plantation shutters that we offer, as well your options for valances and other childproof choices. 

At Shenandoah Shutters, we even offer a 100-year limited warranty on our shutters, as well as a 25-year warranty on the silken lacquer finish that is applied to each shutter. 

These are unique times. Currently, Shenandoah Shutters is still providing plantation shutter appointments and services. Call us today at 1-800-733-1549 to schedule your free consultation and to learn more about the changes that we’ve made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also contact us online.

10 Home Design Trends for Summer 2020

Posted on

Home improvement and redecorating have taken center stage for many of us since the coronavirus outbreak began. After all, spending so much time at home is a great opportunity to reinvent your living space. This is especially true if you plan on buying a new house this summer. These warmer months are the most popular times for home buying, and some design trends are already beginning to look a little different now than they did before the pandemic. 

Whether you’re settling into a new home this year, or you’re just looking for new design ideas during your time indoors, here’s a look at some of the biggest home trends this summer:

Carriage Style Garage Doors

If you’ve been house hunting, you’ve likely noticed the growing trend of carriage style garage doors. These garage doors often consist of black, decorative handles and hinges on white garage doors made to look like a carriage house. This look suits a variety of homes and garages. You can find kits to put together a carriage style garage door at your local hardware store or even online. 

Plenty of Greenery

Faux plants may be easier to maintain, but today’s home designers are finding that live greenery is worth the extra effort. Live, indoor plants are vibrant and capable of completely elevating the look and feel of a room. Outdoor gardens, too, offer an added  pop of color and have become more popular since the pandemic started. Many people have even started growing their own food since their time in quarantine. 

Patterned Wallpaper

They say that everything old becomes new again and that’s certainly true for wallpaper in 2020. Once a relic of the 70s and 80s, wallpaper is fashionable and stylish yet again. Of course, today’s styles are much more artistic, dramatic, and bold than the wallpaper of previous decades. What are the favorites of today’s homeowners? Geometric patterns, splashy tropical themes, animal prints, boho textures, and vintage florals.

Home Offices

Before the coronavirus outbreak, working from home was already growing in popularity. This made a home office or workspace a strong 2020 trend. Now, with so many people still working remotely, a home office has become essential for many homeowners. With the details of schooling in the fall still uncertain, having a quiet place for your child to study or potentially attend virtual classes is also a newly valuable addition to the home. 

Don’t have the space for a full home office? Simply setting up a corner with a desk, comfortable chair, and writing supplies can make a huge difference in your ability to concentrate during your workday. Don’t forget to set your workspace against a neutral backdrop to keep your Zoom calls looking professional. 

Classical Decor

This year, homeowners have been choosing decorations that bring to mind the architecture and style of ancient Greece and Rome. Art pieces, vases, and even busts with mythology connections can be spotted all across Instagram and in home decor stores. 

Nature-inspired pieces and natural materials, too, have gained in popularity. Think woven baskets and rattan mirrors alongside Greek geometric art prints. 

Earthy Color Tones

Tying into the trend of classic home decor, earthy tones have been a top color choice in 2020. In particular, homeowners have been enjoying rich, warm earth tones like cinnamon, sage, blue-gray, and even light, floral pinks. 

More Pantry Space

A desire for more pantry space has been one of the most obvious design trends to come out of the pandemic. Greater shelving opportunities, deeper pantry space, and even extra refrigeration options are certain trends this summer. 

Unique Lighting

Globe lights were popular last year, but they’ve remained a trend in 2020. In fact, you may have even spotted these hanging lights in some of the homes of celebrities and public figures who appeared on television during quarantine. This is another nod to the classic design trend that is popular this year. These are beautiful statement pieces for the kitchen, living room, and even your home office. 

Another trend that just doesn’t seem to end? String lights. You can hang a string of lights in your home or outside near your garden for a warm, comforting ambiance that has serious design staying power. 

Well-Kept Outdoor Spaces

When parks and other outdoor spaces were shut down, backyards became an immediate oasis for homeowners. This is especially true for families with kids. Already, inflatable swimming pools have sold out multiple times this summer. Since quarantine, a high-quality backyard space with plenty of activities for the kids stuck at home has become a definite must-have. 

Hardwood Plantation Shutters

Plantation shutters have always been a timeless trend, but this year’s focus on natural design and ambiance has made plantation shutters even more popular in 2020. High-quality, hardwood plantation shutters add character and sophistication to the home. These shutters allow you to control the sunlight that filters in and out of your house. Since you use a tilt rod to let in just the right amount of light, plantation shutters are an especially good choice for the home office trend. They are also a solid choice for bedrooms, without the worry of blackout curtains or other tools for maintaining proper sunlight. Best of all? Plantation shutters are one of the few upgrades a homeowner can make that actually increases the resale value of the home. 

Schedule an Appointment with Shenandoah Shutters

Shenandoah Shutters has been handcrafting entirely wooden plantation shutters for decades. We can help you elevate the look and feel of your home with our traditional and contemporary design choices. Choose from our stains and colors for an interior plantation shutter that is exquisite to see and touch. We handfinish each plantation shutter with a silken lacquer that will remind you more of your wooden furniture than a window treatment. 

If you’re in Maryland, Virginia, or D.C, contact Shenandoah Shutters about investing in plantation shutters today. We’re providing safe, careful installations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call us to learn more about our shutters. You can also explore our online photo gallery for a closer look at our work. 

Is An Area Rug Right For Your Home’s Interior Design?

Posted on

There are many reasons why homeowners choose to include an area rug in their home decor. Rugs create visual interest beyond solid flooring, adding designs and patterns that can really brighten up a space. They can also be especially helpful in homes where there is no carpeting. After all, stepping out of bed in the morning and onto a soft rug is preferable to a cold floor. For families with young children, area rugs can offer a comforting place for little ones to learn to crawl and walk. Plus, you can even use an area rug to help divide a room into sections. 

An area rug can provide the framework for your home’s design. Because area rugs are so decorative and varied, your rug can serve as a key element in your interior design scheme. After you select your area rug, you can then move on to choosing complementary paint colors, throw pillows, art pieces, and other decorations. 

Including Rugs in the Dining Room and Bathroom

While area rugs can completely transform a room, there is one glaring downside: spills and stains. If you often have guests in your home for dinner, or if you have small children, you might find yourself quickly growing frustrated with the need to constantly clean or touch-up the rug. In rooms with a high likelihood of mess, like the dining room, you could opt to skip the rug altogether in favor of decorative tile or interesting flooring. The downside is that you would miss out on the sense of comfort and warmth that an area rug below the dining room table provides. 

You might feel similarly about the bathroom. If you have non-carpeted flooring, then including a rug or mat in the space can offer warmth and luxury. Of course, you probably wouldn’t select a delicate area rug for the bathroom space. Instead, try out bath mats and rugs that are especially made for restrooms. Bamboo rugs, in particular, make great choices for bathrooms. They provide the same visual interest as other rugs while usually still being slip-resistant and less resistant to water damage. If you’re a renter who has carpet in your bathroom, you might also find that investing in a bamboo rug makes your bathroom feel more put-together and less vulnerable to water mishaps. 

Area Rugs for Living and Bedroom Spaces

When choosing rugs for your living room and bedrooms, you should first consider the size of your rooms and the size of your furniture. It’s always better to get a slightly larger rug than a too-small rug. You want the rug to fit comfortably underneath your furniture pieces, with the rug extending at least a little beyond the furniture. For hallway runners, make sure that the rug properly fits the walkway. 

If you’re layering a rug over carpet, consider your carpet type. Choose soft, luxurious rugs for carpeting with short, tight fibers (low-pile carpets) and flat, less fluffy rugs for plush carpets (high-pile carpets). 

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Area Rugs

Rugs are typically easier to clean and maintain than basic carpet, but they aren’t easier to clean than non-carpeted flooring. It’s important to keep in mind how you will clean and care for your rugs while making your selections. You’ll likely want to use nicer, more expensive rugs in areas of your home that see less spills, dirt, wear, and tear. 

Certain rug materials are easier to maintain than others. High-pile rugs are more easily dirty and worn than low-pile rugs. Both of these rug types have their pros and cons. Your choice will depend on your room and your maintenance goals. 

There are some rug materials that simply can’t be properly cleaned, and will have to be replaced once they become too damaged. Natural fiber rugs can be particularly difficult to maintain, but they are also extremely versatile and tend to be less expensive.

Are You Looking to Upgrade Your Home This Summer?

The summer season is the most popular time of year for buying and selling homes. If you’ve recently bought a home in the DMV area, include plantation shutters in your design plans. 

Plantation shutters, like area rugs, bring warmth to every room. These shutters are stylish and timeless, combining aesthetics with functionality. With plantation shutters, you use the tilt rod to move the louvers (horizontal slats) of the shutter to easily and efficiently control the sunlight that enters your home. Plantation shutters provide the perfect natural lighting for entertaining, relaxing, and night. You don’t have to worry about plantation shutters blocking too much light or not blocking enough light. These shutters truly give you the best of both worlds. 

Are you planning on selling your house, instead? Plantation shutters are one of the few window treatments that actually increase the resale value of your home. Since these shutters are a permanent fixture of the home, they immediately boost your home’s curb appeal and interest for potential buyers. 

Schedule an Appointment for Plantation Shutters with Shenandoah Shutters

Shenandoah Shutters is located in nearby Richmond, Virginia. We’ve been handcrafting authentic, hardwood plantation shutters since 1990. All of our shutters are made from fine American woods and manufactured right in Richmond. You can pair your plantation shutters with your design scheme by selecting from our cream colors, stains, and custom colors. You can also choose from contemporary and traditional options. However, unlike other window treatments, plantation shutters are versatile enough to fit in with future decorating changes. 

Since there are no cords or dangling materials, plantation shutters are safer than blinds for families with young children. They are also easy to clean. Simple tools like a duster, natural furniture polish, and vacuum attachment are all that you need to keep your plantation shutters looking as fresh as the day they were installed. 

Shenandoah Shutters is still open for business during the coronavirus pandemic. We are safely providing all of our usual services. Contact us today to learn more about our plantation shutters and to schedule your free consultation.

Bedroom Design: Where Should the Bed Go?

Posted on

The bed is usually the widest and longest piece of furniture in any bedroom. Since beds take up so much space and are such an essential part of the room’s design, it can be difficult to know exactly where to position your bed when designing your bedroom. There is also a great deal of philosophy surrounding the bed and its location within the room. 

So, where should the bed go? Here are some ideas for arranging your bedroom with harmony and aesthetics in mind:

Consider the Rules of Feng Shui

According to Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice of design, the bed should be placed along the main wall of the room. This should be the wall that is the farthest from the door without being right across from it. Why? Many cultures around the world, including China’s, associate feet facing the doorway with death. Probably not exactly the kind of association that you want in your bedroom. 

Of course, sometimes placing your bed with your feet facing the door simply can’t be avoided. In this case, you can place a bench, storage trunk, or another tall object at the foot of the bed to change the dynamic. Depending on the layout of your room, you could also place your bed diagonally in a corner. 

No matter what, being able to have a clear view of the bedroom door and a full view of the room from the bed is considered a key rule in feng shui. Try to avoid placing your bed against a wall with a bathroom on the other side of it. You should also be away from the window. If you have to place your bed on the same wall as the door, hang a mirror, so that you can still see the entrance to your room. Space on both sides of the bed is a positive, too, although young children will often need at least one side of their bed placed along a wall. 

Organization Can Make a Difference

If you’re having trouble finding space within your room for the bed, moving a dresser into the closet can free up more floor space. It’s also important to make sure that the furniture in your room is well-suited to the size of your room. Using furniture that is too large for your room can negatively affect the look of your room and take up valuable space. 

After you’ve set up your bed, resist the urge to use the bottom of it for large amounts of storage. Plenty of space below the bed adheres to feng shui, but it can also give the illusion of a much bigger room. This is true for all of your furniture. Choosing end tables and other pieces that are designed with a small amount of space below them will make your room feel spacious. 

Another feng shui necessity? A headboard. If you don’t have a headboard, you can DIY your own for a personal touch. 

Design Rules Are Made to Be Broken

Of course, feng shui is just one of many helpful guides for designing a bedroom. If your room is uniquely shaped or in an unexpected part of the house, you might find that breaking all of the traditional rules is actually the best design choice for you. For instance, most people instinctively don’t want the bed to be visible from outside of the bedroom door. If this is your preference, you might find that placing your bed against the wall or on the same wall as the door is necessary to keep the bed out of view. After all, comfort and security are key parts of feng shui design. 

Use the Rest of Your Bedroom Space Well

When it comes to bedroom design, it is said that simpler is better. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your room should be lacking in personality. You can maximize the potential of your bedroom by keeping the space free of clutter and well-organized. Include a luxurious bedding set and live plants in the room to really tie the look together. If you’re feeling bold, richly warm colors are growing in popularity for bedrooms, but neutrals are always a tried and true favorite. For smaller rooms, you can try choosing light colors for things like paint, curtains, and rugs to make the bedroom seem larger. Mirrors can give bedrooms a similar effect, as they help bounce light around the room. 

Light plays a powerful role in home design, truly setting the ambiance of each room. A bedroom is typically a versatile place that needs to be relaxing for sleep, but also vibrant for daytime hours spent in the room. Dressing your bedroom windows with sheer curtains is a beautiful choice for a warm, inviting natural light. You can pair drapes with plantation shutters to block out early morning light, or you can choose to forgo them altogether in favor of the light control that plantation shutters provide. 

Plantation Shutters in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C

Sophisticated and functional, plantation shutters are a stylish choice for any bedroom. Shenandoah Shutters has been crafting hardwood plantation shutters in Richmond, Virginia for over 30 years. Our authentically wooden shutters will help you turn your bedroom into a sanctuary for years to come. With plantation shutters, you can easily filter sunlight in or out of the room for the perfect mood lighting. Plantation shutters are easy to maintain. At Shenandoah Shutters, we don’t even use a tension system. Plantation shutters are safer for children than blinds, too, thanks to the lack of dangling  cords. 

When you order your plantation shutters, you’ll be able to choose between our milky whites, rich stains, or custom color options. You can also explore our traditional and contemporary plantation shutter design selections. We can fit shutters for any window, including tilt-ins, casements, and unusual shapes. 

Shenandoah Shutters is open and ready to safely serve you during the COVID-19 pandemic, with careful precautions being taken. Call us today to schedule a free consultation for your plantation shutters.

6 Tips for Designing a Nursery

Posted on

Welcoming home a baby is an exciting moment for every family. You want your nursery to be perfect, but where should you begin? Follow the tips and tricks below to build your dream nursery in no time:

Choose Your Nursery Theme

Selecting a theme is the first step in creating your nursery space. There are seemingly endless choices for themes, from children’s TV characters to woodland creatures, so definitely take your time deciding on the right theme for your baby’s room. Once you’ve decided on a theme, use your choice to decide what colors fit your theme. For instance, if your theme is an ocean room, you might want a blue color palette. If you don’t have a theme in mind, but know that you want certain colors, then you can also work your theme around those colors by selecting decorations and patterns that pair well. 

What are the most popular colors for nurseries? Blues, greens, pinks, purples, whites,  and grays. 

Work Your Furniture Pieces Around Your Theme

Your nursery’s key furniture pieces, like the crib or the glider, will look best when the color is matched with your theme or color scheme. The baby’s bedding, too, is another way to represent your theme. You can choose from a variety of sheet colors and designs to fit your style. 

When shopping for nursery pieces, it’s a good idea to keep the future in mind. While it might be difficult to imagine your soon-to-be newborn as a rambunctious toddler, the day will come when your little one climbs right out of the crib. A baby bed that converts into a toddler bed and even daybed is a helpful investment. The ability to transform is also a good quality for your changing table. Some parents choose to simply leave a changing pad on top of a dresser instead of buying a specific table that will only be used for a couple of years. If you do buy a changing table, look for ways to reuse it in your home later on. 

Match Your Decor with Your Theme

Decorations will really bring your nursery to life, and there are so many choices. You can select art pieces that go along with your theme, like framed book pages for a children’s book theme. If you’re focused more on color, then you can select art pieces that you enjoy for your child’s room or floating shelves with colorful knick knacks and framed photographs. Wooden letters over the crib that spell out your new baby’s name is an elegant touch. You might even paint a mural on the wall or add wall decals. 

Keep your baby entertained by decorating the ceiling, too. Add a safe mobile over the changing area or paper lanterns from the ceiling. An area rug, too, can tie the whole room together and provide a soft space for baby to land when the crawling and walking phases start. 

Go Ahead and Child Proof

I know it seems too early, but you’ll thank yourself later. Milestones quickly creep up on you and a safe nursery will give you peace of mind. Go ahead and get in the habit of storing lotions, ointments, medications, and other items where your child won’t be able to access them. Use a safe night light in the nursery and keep cords up and out of a baby’s reach. Outlet plugs, too, can help protect your future crawling baby. If you have heavy furniture in your nursery, anchor those pieces to the wall to prevent them from toppling over. 

Consider Your Storage Options

Babies come with so much, well, stuff that even the roomiest homes can suddenly feel a whole lot smaller. Keep your space intact with clear storage bins that let you see what’s inside. Buy shelves with cubby holes for fabric bins. Invest in a book rack and use wall shelves to maximize space. 

When organizing items for your baby, you can also make it easier on yourself by keeping everyday supplies like diapers, wipes, wash cloths, and extra crib sheets in a caddy or drawer near your changing table. 

Dress Your Windows

When your baby takes naps and sleeps at night, you’ll want the room dark and cozy, but during the day, sunshine can brighten up the room. While you can choose blinds or blackout curtains, plantation shutters are some of the safest options for dressing your nursery’s windows. Plantation shutters don’t have a potentially dangerous cord that you have to tie up and away from your baby’s reach. Instead, you control plantation shutters by using a tilt rod to adjust the wooden slats of your shutter. This way, you can filter sunlight in and out of your room to suit your baby’s mood. 

Plantation shutters are also stylish choices for your nursery. They are aesthetically pleasing and bound to match any theme. You can even pair them with curtains!

Plantation Shutters for Every Nursery

No matter your room design, your baby’s nursery will be their sanctuary for years to come. Setting up your baby’s first bedroom is an incredible time in your life. If you’re ready to upgrade your nursery’s window treatment, call Shenandoah Shutters today. We’ve been handcrafting completely wooden plantation shutters for more than 30 years. We’re located in Richmond, within a day’s drive of all of our service areas in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. 

At Shenandoah Shutters, we offer cream-colored and stained shutters, as well as custom colors that are perfect for your baby’s first space. We use American woods of the highest quality, including yellow poplar, basswood, and specialty woods, like mahogany or oak. Are you also wanting plantation shutters on a French door or arch? What about the rest of the house? At Shenandoah Shutters, we can outfit every window of your home with gorgeous, handmade plantation shutters at a competitive price. 

How Is COVID-19 Affecting Shenandoah Shutters?

Shenandoah Shutters is open and carefully providing plantation shutter services. Call us today at 800-733-1549 for more information on how we can safely schedule an appointment for your home during these challenging times.

Preparing Your Guest Bedroom For an Incoming Visit

Posted on

As stay-at-home orders are being lifted and shifted across several states, many of us are dreaming of a time when family and friends can safely visit our homes again.  Preparing a cozy guest bedroom is one of the most enjoyable parts of home design, and now is the perfect time to ready the room for your future visitors. Looking for ideas? Try incorporating some of these ideas into your own guest bedroom design:

Choose the Right Color

Neutral colors work best for guest bedrooms, but your choices don’t have to be plain. Pair neutral walls with a pop of color from the bedroom furniture or bedding for a more dramatic statement. You can also try out trendy wallpaper for a vintage guest room feel. Other solid choices for bedrooms? Calming blues, soothing purples, and sunny yellows. For a particularly bold effect, you can even paint your guest space in shades of black. Pair dark walls with a white bed comforter and white furniture elements for an elegant contrast that doesn’t feel too moody. 

Plan and Declutter

Since guest rooms are used sporadically, you’re probably using the room’s closet as extra storage for the house. Before guests arrive, empty the closet in the guest bedroom to give your visitors a clean, spacious place to hang their clothes. You could also offer a dresser for your guests to use during their stay. A coat hook, full length mirror, and clock are also helpful items to include in the room. 

If you want to have space for more guests in one room, consider switching out a larger bed in favor of a couple of twin beds. If you expect to have kids staying in the room, bunk beds are always a favorite. Make your guests feel special with indulgent bedding, like a rich quilt, fluffy pillows, and high thread-count bed sheets. 

Create an Oasis 

Thoroughly cleaning the bedroom and making the bed with a fresh set of linens is a given, but you might also want to provide a basket of extra sheets and towels for your guests. Part of the fun of setting up a guest bedroom is turning a room in your house into a mini hotel. As such, feel free to include helpful surprises, like a suitcase rack or a bedside reading light. A bench at the foot of the bed or near the door is another option for suitcases, as well as an appreciated spot for guests to put on shoes.

If your guest room regularly has visitors, an in-room coffee or tea maker is an increasingly trendy option for guest bedrooms. Make a little beverage station in the corner of the room and include a teapot and mugs, as well as tea and coffee varieties. Your guest room will quickly feel less like an extra room in your house and more like a fancy bed and breakfast. 

Add Fun Details

A bedside bouquet of flowers, trial size toiletries, a basket of snacks and bottled water, a diffuser, and other luxuries are fun additions to any guest room. You can also play up the guest theme of the room by adding playful decorations, like a be my guest sign or framed wi-fi password. Write the names of your guests on a chalkboard sign and hang the sign on the door for a sweet welcome. 

If you live near a lake or the ocean, you could use your location to your room’s advantage by incorporating a beach theme. Add beachy decorations and choose palm tree patterned bedding, for instance. You might also provide outdoor essentials, like a small bottle of sunscreen or bug spray.  

Consider a Seating Area

A deskspace is ideal for guests who are bringing along a laptop. Add to the hotel effect by including pen and paper. You could also incorporate a vanity area with a mirror to give your guests a convenient place to apply make-up and get ready for the day. Space too small? Even just a cozy chair by the window can help tie the room together and give your guest a place to read and relax. Toss a throw blanket across the chair for even more comfort and color. 

Don’t Forget About Entertainment

A nice television set with easy remote access will keep your guests entertained. Magazines, favorite books, puzzles, and even board games for families are other ideas for in-room entertainment. Add a personal touch to it all by displaying a few of your own favorite movies and books for your guests to enjoy. If you’re going to be showing your guests around town, you could even keep brochures of area attractions on the bedside table to maximize excitement. 

Brighten Up the Windows 

Freshly polished windows let your guests fully take in the view. Instead of blinds, opt for plantation shutters in your guest bedroom. Plantation shutters elevate the look and feel of a room. Plus, your guests will love the ability to filter sunlight in and out of the room during their stay. You don’t have to sacrifice a love of curtains for elegant shutters, either. In fact, pairing drapes and curtains with plantation shutters is a popular design choice. 

Plantation Shutters by Shenandoah Shutters

Shenandoah Shutters handcrafts custom made, hardwood plantation shutters that are elegant additions to any room. We’re local to Richmond, Virginia, within a day’s drive of all of our service areas in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. 

At Shenandoah Shutters, you’ll choose from traditional and contemporary plantation shutter styles that suit each room of your home. Choose from rich wood stains, vibrant whites, and custom colors for your shutters. Because all of our plantation shutters are custom built for your windows, we can cut plantation shutters to fit windows of any size or shape. 

Your plantation shutters can go far beyond guest rooms and living spaces. Install plantation shutters on your French doors, arches, sunbursts, and even sliding glass doors. 

Contact Shenandoah Shutters today to schedule an appointment for your plantation shutters.

Colors to Work Into Your Home’s Interior

Gorgeous Custom Plantation Shutters in a Yellow Room
Gorgeous Custom Plantation Shutters in a Yellow Room
Posted on

It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint or a pop of color can completely change the look and feel of a room. Color is one of the most important elements of interior design, but it’s also a tricky one for homeowners to get right. Finding the right type of colors for your home is the first step in creating a balanced color scheme within your house. Not sure where to begin? Take a look at these top shades for each room of your home:

Colors for Your Living Room

A living room is often the main space for entertaining guests and spending time with family. It’s understandable, then, that the most common colors for living room design are colors that are either calming or welcoming and inviting. As a general rule, cooler colors result in a more soothing and serene feeling within a room. Warmer colors, meanwhile, make a room feel cozy and even energetic. 

Gray is one of the most popular living room colors. This is an earthy, neutral color that makes a room feel relaxing. Gray is an extremely versatile color, too. Neutral colors let you place any type of furniture or decor in the room without having to worry about the pieces clashing with the paint color. 

Blue is just a step up from the shade of gray, so it makes sense that blue is another common living room choice. Since this is a cool color, a blue room also evokes a sense of calm. 

Prefer a warmer living room? Mix neutral colors, like creamy white, with pops of amber or red. Want a more dramatic statement? A touch of black on the walls paired with white furniture (and vice versa) is a chic design choice for modern homes.  

Colors for the Bedroom

Like the living room, the most common bedroom colors are usually neutrals or cool colors. You want your bedroom to be your oasis, afterall. For the bedroom, you might also want a little splash of personality with unique colors like purple or yellow. Blues, grays, and simple neutrals like white or beige are top choices for bedrooms.

Colors for the Bathroom

Before taking color to the walls of your bathroom, take the time to consider your design goals for the space. The optimal color for your bathroom may depend on your theme. If you have beachy elements in your bathroom, for instance, then you’ll likely want shades of blue or sea green for the walls. These are also ideal colors for a spa theme. Taupes, whites, grays, and shades of brown are solid choices for simple, more traditional bathroom spaces. 

Colors for Your Kitchen

Kitchens are places where warmer colors can really shine. In fact, the next time that you visit a restaurant, notice the colors in the room. Chances are high that the most visible colors will be reds, oranges, and yellows. It is thought that warm colors can stimulate the appetite, making these colors particularly appealing to restaurant owners. Plus, these colors are inviting and welcoming. You can include some of these shades to get the same effect in your own kitchen. 

Prefer a lighter eating area? Try blues with hints of red. You don’t have to stick to paint, either. Wallpaper is trendy again these days and there are many beautiful kitchen patterns to choose from, including bright florals and unique designs. 

Colors for the Kids’ Rooms 

Just like your own bedroom, you want your child’s room to be a space to relax and unwind. For a child, though, you might want to inject even more playfulness and creativity into the space. You can use neutral colors, but you might also choose to play around with bolder colors like hot pink or aqua. Your child’s personality should also influence your choice in color. 

Kids are thought to be especially sensitive to colors and their impact on mood. This means that you might want to use warmer colors in small doses, rather than painting an entire wall red. You don’t want to end up with a child too restless to sleep.

A single wall of fun elements, like stars or polka dots, can be a way to incorporate excitement without involving the entire room. Think, for example, rainbow wallpaper surrounded by otherwise light blue walls. Another creative idea for kids? A chalkboard wall!

Colors for Your Guest Room

A guest room can be a hard room to decorate, because you want the room to be versatile without feeling impersonal. Neutrals are great options for guest rooms, because they easily achieve this result. Give the room a little personality through your decor choices, like a playful WiFi password sign on the end table or a collection of trial size toiletries on the dresser. 

Improve Your Interior Design with Plantation Shutters

Shenandoah Shutters is ready to provide you with beautiful, custom made plantation shutters that effortlessly fit in with every color scheme. We’re local to Richmond, Virginia, within a day’s drive of all of our service areas in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. We’ve been handcrafting all wood plantation shutters for more than 30 years. 

Plantation shutters are timeless, elegant design choices that pay off for years to come thanks to increased resale value, improved energy-efficiency, and ease of maintenance. These are also versatile window treatments. You can choose from standard stains and whites, as well as custom colors that blend in with the chosen colors of each room. The natural hardwood adds character to your living spaces. 

Plantation shutters are terrific choices for every room of your home. Parents will especially appreciate the added safety of plantation shutters for young children, as there are no cords or curtains that could pose a safety risk. As long as you don’t have direct water contact with the plantation shutters, you can even install these shutters in the bathroom. In fact, they offer a beautiful extra light and privacy source for bathrooms. 

If you’re ready to add plantation shutters to your home, contact Shenandoah Shutters today.

12 Easy Home Improvement Projects

Posted on

With so much extra time spent at home these past few months, it’s likely that you’ve noticed some parts of the house that could use a little touching up. Home improvement projects can leave your home feeling refreshed, but you don’t always have to spend a lot of time or money to accomplish them. 

If you’re looking for a change, take a look at these 12 easy home improvement ideas that won’t break the bank or your clock: 

Pressure Wash Your Siding

It’s amazing what pressure washing can do for your house, windows, and outdoor settings. A quick spray with the pressure washer and your home will look polished and fresh. You don’t necessarily have to buy a pressure washer, either. Most home improvement stores have pressure washers available for daily rentals. 

Brighten Your Entrance

Painting a front door is easy and inexpensive. For maximum effect, choose a color that contrasts with the colors of your brick or siding. You could even go bold with an unexpected color, like purple or lime green. Boost your curb appeal even more with a seasonal wreath, outdoor plants, and stylish foot mat. 

Tend to Your Floors

You’d be surprised at how much dirt accumulates on your soft flooring. Renting or purchasing a shampooer is an easy way to polish your carpets and rugs. For wooden floors, you can use wood markers and fillers to hide scratches. 

Enhance the Outdoors

If you have an outdoor space, taking the time to deep clean outdoor furniture and add extra touches, like fairy or walkway lights, will give you a sanctuary right in your own backyard. If you have a green thumb, try your hand at a backyard garden. 

Freshen Up Your Kitchen

You don’t have to buy new cabinets to refresh your kitchen. Instead, give your cabinets a fresh coat of paint. You can also replace the knobs and handles with newer, more updated hardware. After you’ve hit the reset button, take the time to organize your pantry and toss out old kitchen utensils.

Add Inexpensive Upgrades

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get home upgrades that keep your home up-to-date. If you have an older thermostat, you can upgrade to a programmable edition for less than $200. You can also add a smart smoke detector, like the Nest, a smart door lock, or a video doorbell. 

Organize Your Closets

Tackling the closets is a spring cleaning favorite, but adding a few storage baskets,  racks, and shelving is an easy way to keep your wardrobe neat anytime of the year. For utility closets, take the time to label containers for easy access. Clear containers, too,  are great choices for storage, because you can immediately see what you’ve stowed away. 

Bring Plants Inside

Whether fresh or faux, plants make a home feel lively and vibrant. Adding a pop of greenery to your living spaces can also give rooms contrast and provide a strong focal point for the eye. Just make sure that any living plants you bring inside are safe for pets and curious children. 

Hang a Mirror on the Wall

Mirrors are terrific statement pieces and help direct natural sunlight into your home, making your space look large and cozy. They’re also a safe choice when you’re not sure how you’d like to decorate a space, like a guest room. You can find mirrors in a variety of styles and sizes. 

Create a Backsplash

Peel-and-stick tiles are an easy way to create an eye-catching backsplash on an otherwise plain wall. Backsplashes are especially popular in kitchens and bathrooms, just behind the sink. Can’t find any wall tiles of interest? You can also use adhesive flooring on your walls for an inexpensive backsplash in a variety of patterns. 

Try a Stair Runner or an Area Rug

Switching out your rugs or placing a runner on your stairs is an easy way to give your home a new look. Try out carpets with unique designs and textures to add interest to your rooms, or strive for a minimalist look with solid colors. You might also try an anti-fatigue mat or chef’s mat in the kitchen for a put together look with added comfort. 

Add Plantation Shutters 

Plantation shutters are a classically beautiful way to control the natural light that enters your home. Lighting is a powerful tool for any home, making rooms look larger and more inviting. Plus, plantation shutters offer a layer of privacy to your home. They are also energy-efficient. The structure of plantation shutters helps them to insulate your home, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter without overworking the thermostat. Many people find that plantation shutters decrease heating and cooling bills. They are also safer for young children than blinds, thanks to the lack of cords. Custom made, hardwood plantation shutters also boost the resale value of your home, making this a home improvement project with a strong impact.

Shenandoah Shutters has been handcrafting custom made, hardwood plantation shutters for 30 years. We service Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia homes from our woodshop in Richmond. At Shenandoah Shutters, we use high-quality American woods and a stunning silken lacquer finish to build beautiful plantation shutters that will last for years to come. 

Ready to Schedule an Appointment for Plantation Shutters?

Contact the team at Shenandoah Shutters today for the ultimate home improvement project. We’ll show you samples, answer your questions, and measure your windows. 

At Shenandoah Shutters, we customize every plantation shutter to fit your window, no matter how unique the size. Have oddly shaped windows? Hoping for a certain plantation shutter style? We can handle it all. You’ll choose from rich stains, creamy whites, and custom colors. We have traditional and contemporary plantation shutter options for all home designs. That’s why we invented the Softedge design, a clean look that hides the hinges of the plantation shutters when they’re closed. 

Explore our products and gallery for a closer look at our plantation shutters.

How Plantation Shutters Can Boost Your Curb Appeal

Posted on

With stay-at-home orders still common across the East Coast, it’s understandable that many homeowners are starting to daydream about selling their homes. Maybe you’ve realized that there just isn’t enough space for the size of your family, or maybe you even want to downsize to a smaller house. No matter your reason for thinking of selling, boosting your home’s curb appeal can make a huge difference in the outcome.

Thoroughly cleaning your home and tending to repairs before you attempt a sale is a given, but what about your house’s curb appeal? Your curb appeal is that important first impression given to potential buyers when they first see your house from the outside. 

What Boosts a Home’s Curb Appeal?

Making your home as attractive to buyers as possible is the key to elevated curb appeal. The best thing to do is to stand outside of your own house and really take in its strengths and weaknesses. Does the front door need a new coat of paint? Do the hedges need a trim? Taking simple, inexpensive steps like mowing the yard or pressure washing the siding can make your home look fresh and new. You might even consider adding a live wreath to the door or potted plants to the front porch. Choose plants with lively colors or bright greenery, and use them to accentuate walkways and windows. You’ll also want to make sure that your walkway isn’t cracked or run-down. If you don’t have a defined pathway for your house, you might consider building one. 

If you have plenty of space, you could include outdoor furniture to make your house more inviting. Cleaning off outdoor lighting fixtures is another easy way to boost curb appeal. Replace old fixtures or dust and clean existing fixtures to leave your home looking maintained. Even things like old house numbers or dated mailboxes can affect first impressions. Luckily, most of these details can be accomplished all on your own without outside help or a lot of money. 

Your windows, too, are an important part of boosting your home’s curb appeal. Homeowners want to know that there are enough windows for quality sunlight. This is where your window treatments come into play. When it comes to curb appeal, certain window treatments are more highly valued than others by homebuyers.

How Do Plantation Shutters Boost Curb Appeal and Home Value?

Plantation shutters do more than just boost curb appeal. They are also one of the rare upgrades that actually adds value to your home. Why are plantation shutters a terrific investment for sellers?

  • Aesthetics. Window treatments don’t just control sunlight. They are also aesthetically pleasing. Plantation shutters, in particular, are upscale, solid, and historic. They never go out of style. Wooden plantation shutters blend right in with custom moulding and furniture, adding to your home’s character. Plantation shutters are also unique in that, when they are used to control sunlight, you can easily filter the light in and out of your home to create the perfect ambiance. You can customize your plantation shutters for a price that is similar to custom drapery. The tailored look of plantation shutters is another favorite of homebuyers. 
  • Energy-efficiency. Buyers are frequently looking for energy-efficient home options. Plantation shutters naturally insulate your home, keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The result is lower heating and air bills that are easily attractive to homebuyers. 
  • Security. Plantation shutters offer an extra layer of privacy that is valuable to homeowners, without sacrificing picturesque home views and warm sunlight. When the shutters are closed, homeowners don’t have to worry about prying eyes looking through their windows. 
  • Permanency. Unlike blinds or curtains, plantation shutters stay with the home when it is sold. Homebuyers don’t have to worry about purchasing new window treatments or changing the look of the home with the removal of its current treatment. 
  • Durability. Plantation shutters are durable and long-lasting. With high-quality wooden material and top-notch manufacturing, plantation shutters delight homeowners for years to come. Plantation shutters are also easier to maintain than soft window treatments, like curtains, which tend to tear or fade over time. You can simply dust or gently polish plantation shutters, and they look as good as new!

Invest in Plantation Shutters for the Ultimate Home Upgrade

Adding plantation shutters to your home will make a difference when it comes time to sell. They might even refresh your house enough to make you want to stay! 

Shenandoah Shutters handcrafts beautiful, all wood plantation shutters in Richmond, Virginia. We’ve been serving Virginia, D.C, and Maryland for more than 30 years. Our custom made plantation shutters are available in stains, whites, and custom colors. We use yellow poplar wood for our cream colors and basswood for our rich stains. Shenandoah Shutters also offers custom wood favorites, like mahogany, cherry, and oak. We handfinish each shutter with a gorgeous silken lacquer. We even offer a 100-year warranty on the plantation shutters and a 25-year warranty on the finish. 

Choose from Traditional and Contemporary Designs at Shenandoah

Plantation shutters, in some form, have been around for centuries, but they never grow stale. At Shenandoah Shutters, we offer the traditional, movie famous style of plantation shutter, as well as plantation shutters with more modern twists. We know that different windows have different needs. That’s why we created the Softedge design, a particularly seamless option for casements and tilt-ins. You can even add plantation shutters to your sliding glass or French door for an effortlessly charming look that draws in homebuyers. At Shenandoah Shutters, we can customize plantation shutters to match windows of any shape or size. 

Schedule an Appointment for Plantation Shutters Today

Ready to add curb appeal to your home this spring with our hardwood plantation shutters? Contact our design team today! We offer a free estimate and consultation to answer your questions and plan for your investment. Take a closer look at our options with our online photo gallery.

How to Maximize Space for Your Kids During the Coronavirus

Posted on

With child care centers and schools closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, parents and other caregivers are spending more time at home with their children. Depending on the size of your home, having everyone in the house together for months on end can easily feel overwhelming. This is especially true for students engaged in distance learning or parents trying to work from home. Luckily, there are certain steps that you can take to make your home feel more spacious and inviting during this trying time. 

Spruce Up Your Entryway 

The humble entryway has taken on new levels of importance during the outbreak. Before the pandemic, you may have just hung up a coat or tossed off your shoes, but now, you’re likely finding yourself searching for a place to store your mask or sanitize your hands before coming inside. 

Many people are optimizing their entryways by creating sanitizing areas and makeshift mudrooms. Even if you don’t have a large entrance or hallway, you can still use up your wallspace with hooks and utility boards. A neater entryway will make disinfecting from your time outside a whole lot easier, especially since it’s being suggested that we should thoroughly clean our shoes after outings. 

An organized entryway is especially helpful for children, who benefit from organization and routine. Try out some IKEA hacks for fun entryway tools like dot wall hangers or repurposed spice racks. Even a simple bench or shelf will give you a place for gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer. Make sure to keep the area regularly swept and mopped for optimal germ control. 

Set Up Kid-Friendly Areas

The loss of school or expected daily activities can be overwhelming experiences for children. They’ll enjoy a sense of familiarity and comfort when they have their own, kid-friendly area to complete at-home school work. If possible, set them up with a desk and available school supplies for a calm place to focus. You can hang a calendar or home schedule and even include favorite books, music, craft ideas, blank journals for writing, and homemade calm down jars. 

While your kids are home, you can also enlist them to help you clean and organize their bedrooms. You’ll all feel better with a fresh room and everything in its proper place. Maximize floor space for indoor exercise (check out GoNoodle!) by using more wall and closet space for storage. 

Make the Most of Your Outdoor Space

We all need to get outside, and even the smallest outdoor spaces can be sanctuaries with a swept deck, live pants, and outdoor toys. Use bins and labels to organize playtime essentials like chalk and basketballs, so that your kiddos can easily find their favorites. Have terrific grass space? Go ahead and use this time to create your own family garden. This is a great time to think about adding fun things to your yard, like a basic swing set or a playful tire swing for much needed fun outside of the house. 

Optimize Your Home Office (and Your Time)

If you have a dedicated office space to complete work-from-home tasks, consider setting up a quiet corner of the room for your child to play, study, or relax while you work. This way, you can both spend time together while working on your own, separate tasks. Plus, your child can get a glimpse into what your workday is like. Are the distractions too much for you to concentrate? If two adults are home, you could also try “taking shifts” with the children. For instance, one adult can watch the kids in the morning and work in the evening, while the other adult watches the kids in the evening and works in the morning. 

Don’t have a home office? Pick a spot in your home with a neutral background to put a desk or even a coffee table. This way, you’ll have an easy place to video chat with co-workers, clients, and bosses. 

Get Creative 

Make these long days feel a little bit shorter with just a touch of creativity. Have a toddler? Pick a blank wall in your home and tape contact paper sticky side-up for a DIY sensory board. Add safe textures for your little one to stick and unstick, like big pom poms or large paper shapes. Move around furniture for older ones to have a dance party in the living room. It’s understandable to change up your home to suit the circumstances of quarantine. 

Dreaming of New Windows?

With all of this extra time at home, bright windows and warm sunlight has become even more important to families. Shenandoah Shutters handcrafts beautiful, hardwood plantation shutters for homes in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Plantation shutters are special window treatments, because they allow the homeowner to filter in and out sunlight using the parallel slats of the shutter (called the louvers). The result is the perfect mood lighting for every room in your home. 

Plantation shutters have extra benefits, too. They are known to increase a home’s resale value and make homes more energy-efficient. Since they have no cords, they’re safer for babies and young children. Plus, you’ll love the added home protection that plantation shutters offer. Thanks to the way that the louvers are designed, you can enjoy the sunlight and views from your home without sacrificing privacy. 

Choose from traditional or contemporary plantation shutter choices. We even created our own, patented Softedge design for more flexibility over unique windows, like casements and tilt-ins. Our plantation shutters are available in stains, creams, or custom colors. We use high-quality American woods, including yellow poplar and basswood. You can even request a specialty wood, like mahogany, cherry, or oak. All of our plantation shutters are finished with a gorgeous, silken lacquer finish for maximum aesthetic value. 

Schedule an Appointment for Spring Plantation Shutters

At Shenandoah Shutters, we’re one of the few window treatment providers to include a warranty on both the plantation shutters and the lacquer finish. We provide free design estimates and consultations for homeowners. Contact us today for more information on our plantation shutters, or to schedule an appointment.