Examples of Good vs. Bad Window Shutters
BAD: Shutters are mounted to sides of window and flat against siding. They look flat and cheap. No shadows.
Good: Shutters are mounted on hinges on the window casing providing the appearance of being able to close. Depth and details are obvious.
Bad: Fake plastic shutters. Better to have nothing.
Good: Historic wood operable louver shutter.
Cheap rectangular shutters. Better to have no shutters.
The following photos are all from the same house. I guess the owner was either confused or had a short attention span because the shutters are hung three different ways. There are many windows on this house. Some are correct, but most are wrong.
Hightstown NJ, is a very preservation minded town with some great buildings. Unfortunately, this house is the exception looking like a clown house with its drunken mixed up shutters.
First to the right we have a perfectly hung shutter.
Wood arched shutters with operable louvers.
The shutters on this window are installed backwards.
If the shutters were to close they would not fit into the arched shape of the window.
Here is another ridiculous looking window.
Rectangular shutters that are too tall on an arched window.
One would question the integrity of this homeowner.
Good: Arched shutters mounted correctly.
Bad: Arched shutters are hung backwards.
Bad: Rectangular shutters on arched window. Wrong size.
Bad: Wood operable louver shutters are mounted wrong making them look plastic. They are also the wrong size.
Perfect shutters. These shutters are similar to those on the left except they are mounted correctly. Notice the detail shadows make.
Bad: The perfect Board and Batten shutter for the deranged homeowner.
Good: This is a perfect Board and Batten shutter from the 1920’s.
Board and Batten shutters are the oldest type of shutters.
Use them on an 18th century cottage home.
They made their comeback in the 1920’s with cutouts designs.
NEVER EVER should they have spaces between the boards.
Homes with these shutters do not belong on this planet.
Never should there be spaces between the boards.
Bad: Painted shutters are the wrong size and in the wrong location. Shadows were not painted.
Bad: Just when you think you saw it all. Glass shutter insanity. Where do these people come from?
Bad: Guess the homeowner doesn’t know this is a garage. What’s next – shutters on a chimney?
Bad: Backwards arched shutters on square window.
Shutter insanity. Look closely. The homeowner attached shutter tops to make bunny ears. I’m more curious to see what the homeowners look like.
These shutters are so wrong that the town put up a sign about them. The sided bay looks like a wart on this house and the shutters look like ears.
the Torres Cafe in Perth Amboy NJ. Is the food as bad as the appearance? The exterior would scare me away!
Crazy people must live here.
Beautiful businesses with beautiful shutters except on the 1860 Washington House Restaurant, Basking Ridge NJ. Just look next door to see how to mount them.
There is an epidemic of contractors AND homeowners destroying the character of homes as seen in the above examples. This incorrect way is now the standard! If shutters cannot be mounted properly, a house would be better without any at all; otherwise, they can ruin a house and even the neighborhood. As you drive down the street, begin paying attention to shutters and you will now see the difference.
I love your blog! People should have knowledge about what they are doing to their homes and neighborhoods. It’s amazing how many people are insensitive to their surroundings. It’s all in the details…
I need shutters for Colonial windows shutter size 19”x 39”
Can I make myself ?
I guess you can try.
Exactly certain people act like they don’t know the difference between decorative shutters and functional shutters shaming decorative shutter installation like HELLO!
Decorative or functional – they all get installed the same way.
Hi Ken,
I have a question. I have clark tip blind shutter hinges and the shutter fasteners that look like this https://www.vandykes.com/images/xl/02010514.jpg.
How do you attach these to the shutter and the wall? I’m not sure which direction they should be mounted and/or which part goes on the shutter and which goes on the wall. I cant find any images of these mounted.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dana
I’m really not sure but I think the picture is upside down and the hook goes on the bottom of the shutter. I would call Van Dykes or a shutter company though to make sure.
They are shutter locks not hinges. The left piece attaches to the shutter – the right on the exterior window sill. When the shutters close the latch engages the catch.
This site has excellent information needed for anyone who even THINKS about remodeling or rehabbing a house. Shutters are huge pet peeve of mine..down here in Texas, the many builders have used tiny shutters on DOUBLE WIDE windows..it’s nuts. So many people hang them wrong, or buy them too large..Every single house I have purchased needed shutters removed or replaced with the correct sizes.
Do you by chance do consultations? I’m looking at buying a 1930’s cottage..and I can tell the windows are wrong, shutters, porch, porch supports and skirting around the foundation are all off and makes the house look strange. And inside..omg, weird trim around windows and doors. I don’t think people realize the period appropriate trim and mouldings, etc. can actually enhance the appearance!
Hi Susan, yes I do phone consultations. Go to the contact us on my website and send me a photo of your house.
I’m wanting to paint my dark brick house with limestone to create a modern cottage looking effect. I’ve seen similar houses done like this and have noticed they add shutters to their windows.
I see the huge difference the shutter can make in carrying the look of however my concern is the house has fairly modern windows. They are hatched with metal strips which will add to the effect I’m chasing- though they are very large windows so am thinking I will have to skip shutters. Any suggestions?
Send me a pic to the contact us, of the full front of the house and I will see if shutters are a good idea.
I’m going for a rustic “old Florida/Hemingway” look on the exterior of my house. Does anyone make a faux wood grained window shutter that will with-stand conditions in FL? I want it to look like real wood, not a painted finish. The door companies have done a fairly good job with faux wood grain options. Thanks! Love your blog!!
Feel free to email me directly.
I never saw a shutter that looks like finished natural wood. Garage doors are different.
I am so grateful to have found this blog five minutes ago! We just purchased our first home and I found this blog in doing online research of the architectural period of the house (I think it’s craftsman). I knew from our first viewing of the house that the shutters are all wrong: arch turned the wrong way – on windows that don’t even have a doggone arch… about 10 inches taller than the window… Inoperable hinges…
Thank you for getting me motivated to right this wrong! I wish I could post a picture of this laughable vision!
I would like to see it too. Last week I contacted my web guy to see if people can post their own photo. I would really like that but he said no due to possible virus problems.
Your commentary is fabulous – “deranged homeowner,” “Homes with these shutters do not belong on this planet.” I take your point and now will be bugged by all the “wrong” shutters out there.
I have gray shutters and off white window casings. What color or colors should I paint the shutter hinges? I believe they are Clark style hinges on a Greek Revival home.
black
You obviously have something against fake plastic shutters ! This has got to be the most anal article I’ve ever read !
Most definitely – the fake shutters are best used in trailer parks or for those who prefer that type of neighborhood.
Hi Ken,
I appreciate your blog and sense of humor. My wife and I are having a beach house designed and built for us and she asked me to look at window designs and shutters. Your blog has inspired me to make sure we are doing this correctly.
Thanks!
Doug
Hi,
I love your site. I have a very standard late 1950s Colonial I’m trying to dress up. We have Hardie Board siding. It has new windows. There were horrible old bent vinyl shutters on it before we replaced the siding. My question is, do I need to use wood or can I buy an Atlantic or Ekena composite (is that code for vinyl?) and have a pretty look, assuming they’re mounted to look like working shutters.
Thank you!
This blog is so helpful. We are painting our home and buying raised panel wood composite shutters. The situation is that we could save half if we went with 15”x 55” vs 16.5”x 57 “.
Our windows are 37”x 57”.
Please tell me your opinion. But I’m worried the 15” x 55” won’t look as nice…
If your window is 37″ wide then one shutter width would be 18.5″ wide.
Thank you! I just bought my first home and it’s an old farmhouse built before 1900. There are plastic shutters screwed onto the house and I hate them! This is really going to help me when I put up new ones. Might just have them taken down when we get our new windows installed.
Hi Samatha – do you realize you will totally destroy your house with new windows and become the enemy? https://www.oldhouseguy.com/windows
Thanks for blogging about one of my pet peeves! I just bought a house that has terrible, faded, mounted-to-the-siding, plastic shutters. Cringe. I love Spanish style homes, and while my home is traditional, built in the 70s, I am trying to fit in pieces of the styles and architecture that I love in a cohesive way. I would like to create my own shutters or find some that fit the bill. I sadly do not have arched windows. Any recommendations?
On a brick home, with the window recessed, should the shutter close inside and cover the full recessed opening of the brick; or, cover just the frame of the actual moving part of the window potentially leaving a gap in the brick enclosure when closed?
Excellent question! In Europe shutters may close fitting into the brick surround. Most homes in the US have shutters with hinges that are attached to the brick mold. The brick mold is to a brick house what the window casing is on a wood house. The brick mold is set back from the face of the brick and although not as wide as a 4.5″ casing, this apx 1.5″ brick mold frames the window sash making for a great appearance. This brick mold also has a blind stop. So the hinges are attached to the brick mold and the shutter rests inside the blind stop when closed just like that of a wood sided house.
There is a lot more detail on this and photos at this page. https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-designs/
Look for the image of a window showing different colors for the window parts. Not on a brick house but notice the blind stop and what it does.
Also – if you are in a New England state, windows do not have a blind stop in the window design so you should understand the following. https://www.oldhouseguy.com/eastern-style-window-casing/
This article has me in stitches! I’m very grateful for the excellent advice, which I will follow to the letter. But I’m even more grateful for your comments about the “bad” shutters, which are hysterically funny. Thank you!
Those shutters do look like ears. In fact, they look like my ears :/
Hi,
I have a question about the size of the louvers and the size of the rails. Is there a size that you recommend? Or does that depend on the size of the shutter?
I am in the process of ordering new fixed louver shutters with a tilt bar. I just want to make sure that the size that I am being quoted is correct.
Each individual shutter is 22″ wide x 58″ long. The company producing the shutters has on the diagram a 2 1/2″ top and mid rail and 4 3/8″ bottom rail. The louvers are set at a 30 degree angle and are 1 5/16″ wide. The tilt rod is 3/8″. Do those dimensions sound correct?
Have thoroughly enjoyed reading your information regarding shutters and it has been very helpful!
Each company may have variations. What you state sound pretty good.
This site is awesome! I’m looking stuff up i didn’t intend to just because there is so much i didn’t know. thank you!!!
If you had to choose is it better to get shutters two inches too long or too short? Please advise
I would love to share a picture of something I just saw…something awful.
You can email it to me.
Ken
I HAVE to send you a picture of the shutters on the house we’re trying to buy. They are insane.
We are residing our house. I selected clay with white corners and trim. I do not want decorative shutters. I think it will look clean and neat. My husband states that shutters are required for aesthetics. I believe we have a craftsman style house built in the 70’s. Are decorative shutters necessary for resale value?
No shutters are better than plastic shutters. Never heard of a Craftsman Revival house from the 1970’s. Colonial Revival homes should have shutters.
I love your website! I am a purist and believe that properly sized and proportionate operable shutters are the best way to go—especially on old houses. However, it seems to me that purely decorative simulated shutters (i.e., not operable and mounted directly to the wall beside the window casing without ornamental hardware) if properly sized and proportionate are akin to decorative buttons on the sleeves of men’s suits, on double breasted jackets, and on other similar articles of clothing, which are widely accepted without ridicule. Therefore, it seems to me that if well executed, the use of simulated shutters purely and unapologetically for decoration is OK—especially on newly constructed houses but on old ones as well. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on this.
I totally agree. While using operable shutters can be practical is some situations and actually fun to use, it is another job like running down to the cellar to add coal to the furnace which we no longer need to do. Out lives are complicated enough! Shutters for decoration is by all means good to do. Old houses and new houses shutters add a lot of punch to the beauty of a house providing they are in proportion to the architecture – the correct size and mounting of course.
I have come back to this good vs. bad page several times over the last few years just to have a good laugh. Love your commentary!
Just found your blog and I have to say i love it! Great examples and the humor really adds to it 🙂 I think i’ll be frequenting the site when i close on my (new to me) 1870s home!
We’re replacing the decorative vinyl shutters that were on our house with wooden shutters, and we’re trying to figure how tall the shutters should be. The exterior of the wall is stonework, and the window itself is six feet tall. The opening in the stonework is 6’6” tall though, to accommodate the window frame. Should our shutters match the height of the window, or of the opening in the stonework? The old shutters match neither… they’re taller than the opening in the stonework. Most of the pictures I see online, the shutters match the window rather than the opening in the stonework.
In Eurpoe they fit the opening while in the US they fit inside the window resting on the blind stop. However 6 feet is a giant window.
I would like to add shutters to my home, but the windows are faux-arched windows, and I’m not sure if the shutters should be arched or straight.
Sounds like you didn’t read my shutters articles. Shutters fit into the window and rest on the blind stop. Maybe your house shouldn’t have shutters.