Decorative shutters look best when they are hung like real, working shutters.
From medieval inns to Mediterranean villas, a few basic shutter styles have gone in and out of favor, depending on fashion and necessity. Today, homeowners opt for the curb appeal of decorative shutters that mimic the style originally chosen for their historic reproduction or period homes. If shutters are fixed and used only as a design feature, they should be attached as if they were hinged, working parts of the window--and not just window dressing.
Panel Shutters
Panel shutters are as simple as slabs of wood fastened to exterior window frames or openings--or as carefully designed as fine cabinetry with rabbeting along the edges, raised panels and decorative cutouts, all hinged to the window frame. From the 18th into the 19th century, panel shutters were commonly used, although they were primarily on the first floors. The shutters provided security, privacy and some protection from the weather. If panel shutters had cutouts during this period, they may have been gun holes for defense rather than merely decoration. Panels, specifically raised panel shutters, enjoyed a brief resurgence of popularity in the early 20th century on colonial and cottage style homes. Twentieth century four-squares and bungalows would have panels with decorative cutouts but bungalows, as well as arts and crafts homes, generally skipped shutters altogether.
Board and Batten Shutters
Board and batten shutters are exactly what they sound like: vertical wooden boards joined together by a cross beam or bar. These might be as rustic as old barn beams repurposed into practical window coverings or as elegant as shipbuilders' cabinetry for coastal residential windows. Seafaring towns tended to favor a style with overlapping or joined vertical boards that kept out storm-driven sea spray. Cities and inland communities opted for slight spacing between the vertical panels that allowed for minimal light and ventilation. Board and batten shutters used as decorative exterior finishing look authentic when attached with rustic or iron hinges that appear to be hand-forged.
Louvered Shutters
Louvered shutters--they look like mini-Venetian blinds set in wood frames--became popular in the late 18th century. At first they were used on the second story of a home that had secure, solid panel shutters on the first floor windows. Then they started to replace panels and board and batten shutters. The advantage of louvers is that they can be adjusted for light and air. A rail that runs up the middle of the louvers and is fastened to each individual wood slat controls how open or closed the slats are. Even faux, decorative louvered shutters on a home today should have a center rail. Without it, the shutters look fake---the louvers should also be angled slightly open, to about 25 degrees, to give the exterior of the house an appearance of depth and interest and fool the eye into thinking the shutters are functional.
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