How to Decorate Your Home With Plantation Shutters

Authentic, custom made plantation shutters are a decoration all on their own. The natural wood blends right in with most home furnishings and the controlled light they provide sets the ambiance of each room. Since they bring your window to the forefront of your room in such a vibrant way, many people wonder how exactly to decorate around their plantation shutters. Can you hang photographs or large art pieces in rooms with plantation shutters? Does the color of the shutters have any bearing on the design and style of the room?

The design consultants at Shenandoah Shutters will work with you on any requests or concerns regarding the crafting of your plantation shutters and their installation, but let’s take a look at the answers to some common questions regarding home decoration with plantation shutters: 

How Does Shutter Color Affect a Room’s Décor or Design Theme?

For interior plantation shutters, white, cream, and stained shutters are the most popular choices. To provide the richest possible color, shades of white and cream are best suited to yellow poplar wood, while stained shutters pair best with basswood. Some people have special requests for colors or woods that best match their individual home design. 

When trying to determine the best for your home, remember that white or creamy shades brighten rooms. The soft color combined with the sunlight from the plantation shutters creates an extremely light feel. If you live near the water, you might especially enjoy the lightness of white plantation shutters. This color pairs well with beach-themed rooms and wall colors like blue or gray. 

Of course, you don’t have to have a beach house to enjoy white plantation shutters. These color shades are timeless and allow the shutters to blend more fully into almost any home décor. Depending on your decorating scheme, white plantation shutters can shift into looking classic or modern. If you’re looking for more versatility in your home design choices, then white or cream colored shutters might be the perfect match for you. 

Stained hardwood plantation shutters, on the other hand, look exquisite alongside warm paint colors and other rustic, wooden furniture pieces. The light coming from richly stained plantation shutters lends a cozy atmosphere to any room. If you’re wanting your plantation shutters to add drama to your room and interact with your room theme, then you’ll likely prefer the natural beauty of stained plantation shutters.

What About Faux Wood or Other Plantation Shutter Types?

Faux wood shutters, plastic shutters, and other plantation shutter imitations may cost less, but they simply don’t offer the same authentic style and value as real, hardwood plantation shutters. Those shutters are made to look like the real thing for a reason, after all. All wood plantation shutters are an essential choice for quality window design. At Shenandoah Shutters, we finish every shutter with a lacquer, silken finish that fits right in with any elegant room design.

Can You Combine Plantation Shutters with Fabric Window Treatments?

You might be surprised to learn that it’s not at all uncommon to combine plantation shutters with fabric treatments. This is especially popular with white plantation shutters, as the versatility of white shutters easily pairs with colored drapery panels or curtains for dramatic effect. The combination of lace or sheer fabrics set against the light of the plantation shutters is another particularly gorgeous choice. There are also certain window shutters, like café shutters, that have a fabric valance at the top and plantation shutters at the bottom. This style is often seen in kitchens or breakfast nooks. 

The design consultants at Shenandoah Shutters are extremely familiar with coordinating existing fabric window treatments and plantation shutters. Let us know the vision for your home and we’ll help bring it to life.

Does the Light From Plantation Shutters Change the Design of a Room?  

The soft light of plantation shutters can effortlessly make a room appear larger. Regardless of your choice in room decorations or theme, plantation shutters will make your room feel cozy and spacious all at once. Through the use of plantation shutters and lamps, you may find that you don’t require as much overhead lighting, which is another way to help your home feel larger.

How Can You Decorate with Plantation Shutters?

Installing plantation shutters doesn’t limit your ability to hang art pieces, display framed photographs, or even place furniture or shelving. The best thing to do is to think of your plantation shutters as the foundation of your room design. Use the color, type, and location of your shutters (such as the center of your living room) to coordinate your furniture and décor. Some interesting ideas include matching furniture pieces to stained shutters, incorporating throw pillows or blankets that match white shutters, or treating the shutters like an art piece and constructing gallery walls around the shutter. The possibilities are endless!

Can You Put Plantation Shutters on Doors?

Plantation shutters look beautiful on French and even sliding glass doors. You can use plantation shutters however you wish, choosing only to include them in certain parts of your home, but having plantation shutters throughout your entire house definitely makes a strong design statement. In the past, customers of Shenandoah Shutters have loved the look of their plantation shutters so much that they even put forth special requests for louvered doors from our skilled craftsmen.

Looking to Install Plantation Shutters?

Custom made, hardwood plantation shutters offer more than just beauty. They are energy-efficient and increase the resale value of your home. In terms of style, they are versatile and set the tone of your home. You can decorate around your shutters in any way that suits you, from coordinating your shutters with dramatic drapery panels to hanging valuable art. Shenandoah Shutters offers a variety of types of interior plantation shutters, all locally crafted in Richmond, Virginia. If you’re concerned about how a uniquely shaped window will look with a plantation shutter, ask your consultant about our own, patented Softedge design that conceals the hinges and keeps the shutter appearance clean. No more bulky frames.

Contact Shenandoah Shutters today to set up your free, in-home design estimate and consultation with one of our expert team members. Don’t forget to view our gallery for more ideas on designing and decorating with your plantation shutters.