Shutters Beyond Windows: Creative Uses in Home Decor
Shutters are more than just functional window coverings. Traditionally used to control light and provide privacy, shutters have evolved beyond their intended purpose. From adding a touch of rustic charm to a modern space to serving as multi-functional decorative pieces, plantation shutters have found their way into various aspects of home decor. Let's look at the creative and innovative ways shutters can be used into interior design, changing spaces with their unique appeal.
Creative Ideas for Shutters
Statement Wall Art
Shutters aren’t just for windows; they can be repurposed into stunning statement wall art that adds charm and character to any space. Transform a collection of shutters into a captivating focal point by arranging them creatively on a wall, mixing various sizes, shapes, and colors for a unique appeal. Whether painted in vibrant colors or left with a distressed look, shutters offer a versatile canvas for showcasing artwork, photographs, or ornamental pieces. Incorporate LED lights between the slats for a subtle yet impactful illumination, casting intriguing shadows and highlighting the textures of the shutters. Embrace their natural architectural appeal by arranging them asymmetrically or in a geometric pattern, lending a touch of rustic elegance or bohemian flair to your interior design.
Photo from Barnwood USA
Headboard Alternative
Shutters, typically used for their intended purpose of controlling light and privacy, can be repurposed as a creative and rustic headboard alternative. Their diverse styles and sizes offer a unique opportunity to add character and charm to a bedroom. Arrange a set of shutters horizontally behind the bed to create a captivating backdrop, or vertically for a taller headboard effect. For a personalized touch, paint or distress the shutters to match the room's decor or leave them weathered for a vintage appeal. By employing shutters as a headboard alternative, you not only infuse your space with an eclectic vibe but also repurpose functional items in an imaginative and sustainable way.
Room Dividers
These versatile panels, with their adjustable louvers and diverse styles, offer an inventive solution for defining spaces within a room. Embracing both functionality and visual appeal, shutters can serve as decorative partitions in open-plan living areas, creating separate zones without compromising natural light flow. By hinging multiple sets together or mounting them on tracks, these adaptable dividers can be easily folded, slid, or angled to customize the layout according to specific needs.
Photo from BBSA
Functional Shelves
Transforming old shutters into functional shelves is a creative way to repurpose these classic household fixtures. By refurbishing shutters into shelves, you can infuse a touch of rustic charm and practicality into any space. Mounting the shutters horizontally or vertically on a wall creates individual compartments that serve as unique display shelves for books, decorative items, or even small potted plants. The slats of the shutters offer natural dividers for organizing items, while the weathered or painted finish adds character and depth to the room. This upcycling project not only breathes new life into discarded shutters but also introduces an innovative and stylish storage solution that blends functionality with aesthetics, adding a distinctive flair to any home decor scheme.
Garden Accents
Shutters, typically reserved as a window treatment solution, find themselves stepping into a new role as inventive garden accents. Going beyond their traditional function, shutters can breathe fresh life into outdoor spaces. Picture repurposed shutters repainted in vibrant colors, now transformed into vertical planters, with cascading foliage, blooming flowers, and succulents, injecting bursts of color against garden walls or fences. Beyond mere ornamentation, these shutters, when hinged together, become an imaginative backdrop for outdoor gatherings, separating areas within the garden, or even a makeshift trellis for climbing plants.
Photo from Flea Market Gardening
Decorative Accents
Shutters now serve as versatile decorative accents in home design. Embracing creativity, these window dressings offer a variety of unconventional uses. Incorporating shutters as wall art adds rustic charm to a space, no matter as a standalone piece or as a backdrop for hanging photos, artwork, or string lights. Repurposing shutters as a headboard injects a vintage appeal into the bedroom, while transforming them into a unique room divider infuses character into an open-plan layout. Adapting shutters into shelves provides an innovative way to display keepsakes or create a stylish storage solution.
Keep in Mind
When incorporating shutters into your decor, keep in mind their size, color, and overall condition to make sure they harmonize with the existing appeal of your space. Embracing imperfections like chipped paint or distressed surfaces can add character and a sense of history to your decor.
Whether you prefer a vintage, country-style ambiance or a more contemporary look, shutters offer a versatile canvas for expressing your personal style. By thinking beyond their traditional use, these architectural elements can breathe new life into your home decor, adding texture, depth, and a touch of uniqueness to every room. So, explore the possibilities and let shutters become the creative focal point that elevates your home's design aesthetic.
About Cal Coast Shutters
Cal Coast Shutter Company, Inc, is family owned and operated in San Diego County. Founded with the goal to produce the finest quality, custom, basswood shutters on the market, while providing the highest level of customer service in the industry. With over 4 decades working in the window treatment industry specializing in shutters, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners over the years with interior plantation shutters and custom closet doors and exterior shutters. We have worked hard to earn a reputation as a family owned and locally manufactured window treatment provider that brings unmatched customer service to our clients’ window treatment needs. Cal Coast also provides plastic shutters for homeowners that prefer "poly" over wood.
