by Lacy Enderson

Created on: June 19, 2008   Last Updated: June 30, 2008

Let your creative mind capture the essence of excellence and beauty by embellishing your exterior windows with shutters. Who would have thought that something as simple as a window treatment could create the appearance of a home found nestled in the backwoods down a windy road? You know the look; the house that takes your breath away? The house that screams, "Buy me!" Shutters, as old a concept as apple pie, if done right, can be that one extra addition to your home that says, "That's it!"; the one final ingredient that ties it all together. Following a few simple guidelines you too can marvel at the magnificence of a new set of wood shutters.

Shutters come in many shapes and sizes as well as colors and textures. Buying the right shutter is not always easy. Do your homework and shop around. There is a certain shutter made just for your home and with the proper due diligence you will find it. Do not settle for less than the absolute best. Your home always deserves quality.

Choosing your shutter material will take some research. Choosing wood shutters has the added benefit of prestige. There is a difference between pre-colored vinyl and paintable vinyl versus paintable wood. Wood shutters have a lot more character. Wood shutters can be stained showing their natural wood grain.

The size of your pocketbook will determine which type of wood shutter you can afford. If you have a plastic injection mold pocketbook, pine, or poplar would be the less expensive choice. Cedar and redwood have the advantage of aging well. If you do nothing to them, they get better looking. Old barns in the 1800's were built out of cedar and redwood. Today they do not tear these barns down, they disassemble them, resurface the wood, and resale it. You can stain or use lacquer on redwood and cedar, or put it up as natural wood.

Out in nature, redwood without a seal gets very dark and often obtains black streaks. Western cedar will turn a very pretty fox gray. Whatever route you choose, you are sure to find the shutters with the exquisite appearance you are searching for. With so many choices, you are bound to come out a winner.

To increase the lifespan of your shutters do an annual inspection to ensure the product quality does not lapse over time. Checking for cracks, splits, rot, or any other type of damage will allow you to mend the problem quickly before it gets out of hand. If your shutters are stationary remove them every few years and inspect the backsides.

Staining your shutters, which reveals their natural wood, lasts a lot longer than paint. Although a beautiful coat of white paint looks great against your homes white panel board, you will surely need to repaint those shutters every now and then. It is up to you to determine how much the appearance of your home is worth. For a great looking home, a little hard work every once in a while, is always the best option.

Exterior shutters could be the difference between elegant and adequate. Why not go the extra distance and really spruce it up. Add a few wood shutters to your home dcor and soon you'll own the house that screams, "Buy me." Add a touch of country charm or a rugged woodland appeal, then sit back and relax at a job well done.

Learn more about this author, Lacy Enderson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.