Purchasing interior plantation shutters can be quite overwhelming. You have to know what style you want, what size you want, what material you want and more. If you don’t do your research before you go shopping, you could end up with too many choices and you won’t be able to make a decision. To avoid these headaches, here is a basic guide to buying interior plantation shutters.
1. The louvers of plantation shutters vary in size. You can get them as small as 1-7/8 inches to as large as 5-1/2 inches. Most homeowners, though, choose the mid-range, going with either 2-1/2 inches or 3-1/2 inches. Experts generally recommend the 3-1/2 inch-louvers because they look good on standard-sized windows. The large louvers are better for oversized windows and the smallest louvers are better for tiny windows. Remember that the bigger the louvers, the greater the spacing, which will affect the amount of light you can let into the room.
2. Plantation shutter louvers come in either a flat or elliptical profile. Elliptical louvers are a better choice than the flat louvers because the elliptical louvers are not as prone to sagging. Flat louvers can sag, which distorts the fit.
3. Since the main function of plantation shutters is to allow for adjustments to the amount of light let into the room when open and to provide privacy and darkness when they are closed. If the louvers are unable to stay in their installed positions, they will not be able to perform their main function. You should be able to control the tension of your louvers, which is often accomplished by either tightening or loosening a screw that is inserted through the side of the shutter panel into the louver. The best tension control device, though, is a split nylon pin that links the louver to the stile. This means the tension won’t change and you do not have to perform any maintenance on the shutters.
4. There are many different styles of plantation shutters that are based on the original plantation design. These modifications usually do not stay in fashion very long. For this reason, it is recommended that you buy interior plantation shutters that are modeled after the traditional designs. This will ensure that you won’t have to change your shutters every time you change your décor. Because of the low-maintenance aspect of shutters, you can guarantee that you will have your shutters for many years to come.