What Wood Is Best for Plantation Shutters?

When shopping around for plantation shutters, you’ve no doubt wondered about the different materials available for this window treatment. Plantation shutters add beauty, value, ambiance, and privacy to any home and are a worthwhile investment, but like any investment, you want to make sure that you’re getting the absolute best in quality. While shutters are available in a variety of materials, options like vinyl and faux wood plantation shutters simply can’t compare to the authenticity that is found in all-wood plantation shutters. Plantation shutters made from other materials, even plantation shutters found at places like Lowe’s, are all made to look like the wooden plantation shutters that you can get at Shenandoah Shutters, because wood provides the highest value with unmatched beauty and durability.

But, the question then remains, what kind of wood is best for plantation shutters? What woods are the most commonly used? Here’s a closer look at the types of wood most commonly used for plantation shutters and how they affect the quality of your window treatment.

Basswood: Ideal for Stained Plantation Shutters

Basswood is one of those rare woods that manages to combine strength and durability with a resistance to moisture and a natural lightness that makes it an excellent choice for the handcrafted, custom plantation shutters of Shenandoah Shutters. Thanks to its almost completely uniform color, basswood is just the right material for stained interior shutters, a favorite among the elegant homes found throughout our service areas.

Stained interior plantation shutters give your home that optimal, natural wood feel along with all of the benefits that you love about plantation shutters. Stained shutters pair beautifully with the other fine wooden furniture within your home, especially when topped with our silken lacquer finish. Plus, the stain of your basswood plantation shutter will only grow richer and more in depth over time, creating a powerfully beautiful shutter.

Basswood is actually a term used to describe a variety of tree species, but you’ll likely know it best as the American basswood. Different types of American basswood — from Carolina basswood to white basswood — can be found in different regions of the United States. This is an incredibly fast growing tree, so Basswood is also considered a renewable resource. With a basswood plantation shutter, you can feel good about how your plantation shutters affect the environment. We even craft your basswood shutters close to home in our Richmond, Virginia workshop.

Yellow Poplar: Perfect for Cream Plantation Shutters

Yellow poplar is like the sister of basswood in that it has the same durability and lightness that makes it an ideal plantation shutter material, but is unique in that the color of yellow poplar wood isn’t a uniform color. In fact, yellow poplar is typically a blend of colors like white, yellow, and even green. It is this difference that makes basswood a better choice for stained interior plantation shutters, but allows yellow poplar to really shine as a cream or white plantation shutter. Just like with basswood, you might also find that some of your furniture or even the trimming in parts of your home is made of yellow poplar hardwood.

Interestingly, yellow poplar is not actually a poplar variety of tree, but is instead considered to be a part of the magnolia family of trees. Also known as a tulip poplar, thanks to its characteristic tulip-shaped leaves, it’s a tall tree that is also found throughout the United States, particularly in the Eastern United States.

Shenandoah Shutters is proud to use only American woods in our plantation shutters.

What About Specialty Woods Like Cherry or Oak?

Many people enjoy the qualities of specific woods. Hardwoods like cherry, oak, mahogany, and walnut are beautiful woods that are frequently found in your finest furniture pieces. They can certainly enhance your home as plantation shutter materials and add their own unique elements to your plantation shutters. However, it’s important to note that woods outside of the more commonly used basswood and yellow poplar woods can sometimes be heavier, which requires more intensive installation. These woods also each have their own color variations which will impact your stain or color.

Shenandoah Shutters often has customers request specialty woods outside of basswood and yellow poplar. Our craftsmen have decades of woodworking experience, and will build a stunning plantation shutter out of your chosen material. We offer a free, in-home design consultation that will give you time to discuss the best options for your home.

Does the Style of Wood Affect Maintenance?

With all of our plantation shutters, regardless of the type of wood, you can use a simple, soft cloth to clean the hardwood. Alternatively, you can use a duster or a vacuum attachment. Because Shenandoah Shutters uses authentic wood, you’ll want to avoid using water or chemicals to clean your plantation shutters, as this can lead to warping and damage. If you would really like to use a furniture polish, be sure to use a polish that is gentle and safe for use on your wooden shutters. The really great thing about a hard window treatment like plantation shutters, though, is how much easier it is to clean when compared to other window treatments.

From Basswood to Yellow Poplar and Beyond, We’ll Craft Your Shutter for You

At Shenandoah Shutters, you can feel confident that no matter the wood material, your plantation shutters are carefully crafted to beautifully outfit your individual home. Since we specialize in only all-wood, interior plantation shutters, you can rest assured that your window treatment will receive our complete focus, attention, and expertise. You can choose a traditional plantation shutter style, a café shutter that only covers the bottom of your window, or even our original, patented Softedge design that conceals the hinges of your plantation shutters once closed, lending even more beauty to your windows. From your questions about wood choices and design to concerns about coordinating any existing window treatments, send us a message online or give us a call today to discuss your needs for your custom built plantation shutters.