How to Paint Window Shutters

Shutters are a classic exterior or interior window treatment. Decorative or functional, wood or metal, hung at a window or fashioned into a screen or room divider, shutters accessorize your home's decor. To give your shutters an inexpensive facelift with a new coat of paint, follow these simple steps.

Instructions

1. Remove old hardware and clean the shutters. Use a duster or vacuum the shutters with a brush attachment. If they're greasy or have a waxy buildup, wash the shutters with a sponge and a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid. Let the shutters dry completely before painting.

2. Start painting the side which will show least. Set the shutter upright so the slats or louvers slant downward toward you. Use a brush no wider than the depth of one slat. Start painting from the outside edge of the top slat, where it meets the frame. Paint toward the center, and stop halfway.

3. Move your brush to the opposite end of the top slat, and paint back toward the middle. Overlap the wet edge of your first stroke. Continue painting each slat this way, alternating from left to right and moving from top to bottom.

4. Paint the edges of the shutter frame, as well as the bottom and sides. Fill in any missed spots and smooth any drips.

5. Turn the shutter around and upside down, so the unpainted side is facing you with the slats sloping down toward you. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 to paint this side of the shutter.

6. Let the shutters dry completely before adding a second coat if necessary. Replace or add new hardware and hang your freshly-painted shutters, or use them to fashion a cottage room divider.

Tips & Warnings

• You can spraypaint shutters with a paint gun or aerosol can. Working outside in good ventilation, spray back and forth, left to right and back again in an S-shape from top to bottom on each side of the shutter. Apply several thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry fully before applying the next.

• Remove old, cracked layers of paint by sanding or stripping before painting if you want your shutters to look brand-new. You can paint right over the crackled old paint for the country cottage look, especially if you will be using your shutters indoors.

• Always wear eye protection and a mask when painting and sanding, and work where there is adequate ventilation.