About Exterior Decorative Shutters

Shutters are common and classic home accessories, but they can also be some of the most annoying. They may fall off their hinges or become loose and constantly bang and smack against the exterior wall or window. An answer is at hand with exterior decorative shutters. They allow homeowners all the aesthetic benefits of shutters without all the high maintenance or worry.

Function

The one and only purpose of exterior decorative shutters are to look good. They are fully fastened flat against the exterior wall and don't have hinges. There is no way they are going to open and close. In fact, the only time they would move is if they are not installed properly and happen to hang loose or fall from the wall altogether. Some may be used to spruce up a home, and others may be installed to help re-create a historical rendition of how the home used to look.

Types

Many different types of exterior decorative shutters are on the market. One of the most common materials used is fiberglass, which can be painted any color or to resemble wood, and stand up well to the elements. Others can be fashioned out of real wood, vinyl or aluminum. Wood, which are some of the nicest looking, can be some of the most difficult to maintain because of its penchant for splintering and weathering.

Features

Some of the most common exterior decorative shutters are long, narrow and rectangular, but they are available in other shapes. Shutters can be rounded, butterfly-shaped, triangular or even consist of two shorter shutters on each side instead of one longer one. Even those that follow the traditional style can still be embellished with raised slats, patterns, cut outs and highly striking colors, such as a blazing bright blue or vermillion.

Considerations

Decorative shutters are not limited to either side of an existing window. They can be installed, as if closed, where no window even exists. This might add a little interest to an otherwise big, barren blank exterior wall. Decorative shutters can also be used on either side of a doorway, portal or even framing an interesting pattern or design on the side of the house.

Warning

Just because a house looks bland doesn't mean it will benefit from the addition of exterior decorative shutters. One of the biggest faux pas people make is installing shutters on homes that do not go well with the shutter style. These include adobe ranches, sandstone box structures found in the desert or any high-tech, art-deco style that are meant to plain, sleek and simple.