Windows are the eyes to your home, but shutters allow you to control whether the eyes are open or closed. Although many modern homes use shutters merely for curb appeal, some styles can help you control the lighting, temperature, and insulation of your home. Use this guide to get a fuller understanding of some of the more popular styles.

Interior Shutters

It’s much easier to control interior shutters, so most are designed to completely cover the windows to more effectively regulate temperature, lighting, insulation, and privacy. Plantation, French door, and multi-tier shutters feature wide slats that can open or close individually.

Cafe shutters are either slatted or solid but only cover half of the window. This allows natural light to enter the room without sacrificing privacy. Barn doors, on the other hand, are solid rolling shutters that cover the entire pane and allow you to let in a little or a lot of light at once.

Exterior Shutters

Due to how hard they are to control, most exterior shutter styles serve only aesthetic purposes. Popular options like New England, board-and-batten, arched, raised-panel, and Scandinavian are cut to match the size and shape of the window and are mounted to the sides. These styles are not meant to be opened or closed, so they don’t help regulate light and temperature.

Louvered shutters are not quite as popular but are slatted and can open and close to control light and privacy. If you don’t mind how hard they are to clean or going outside to open and close them, they could be smart options.

Rolling shutters are typically the ideal external option if you want a balance between curb appeal and energy control. However, while they are easy to use, they aren’t usually as customizable as other options.

The only other purpose-minded exterior shutters are storm models. These are often permanently mounted to the windows to protect against tropical and heavy storms, but they tend to be easy to open and close.

If you need stunning windows to match your new shutters, contact Home Design Exteriors. For over 25 years, this family-owned company has proudly provided Parker, CO, with quality replacement windows, doors, and siding. They offer the top brands and styles at affordable prices. Call (303) 960-7217 for a free, no-pressure consultation, and visit their website to learn more about their services.