Back in the eighties, wooden shutters were all the rage, and the total look of warm wood tones was very popular. Wooden shutters were a bit expensive way to add this warm touch to a room, and the idea even extended to wooden venetian blinds. This look is becoming popular once again but now it is returning in new materials that give the look of wood, but are much easier to clean and care for, and are even less expensive. These and other reasons are good ones for choosing faux wood over real shutters.
The idea behind window shutters is to give a room privacy and protection from the sun's rays. Shutters give a better protection for both privacy and light than shades. The shutters made to look like wood today are usually made of PVC that imitates the color and texture of wood, but at a fraction of the cost.
Because of this expense of wooden shutters, most of the time the homes that had them belonged to the wealthy. Today's advances in the designs of faux wooden shutters makes them accessible to everyone. In fact, since the shutters made of PVC to look like wood have become so popular, the manufacturers of real wood shutters have had to lower their prices in order to compete. But wood is still more expensive than PVC, so about half of the market for shutters is for real wood, and half for faux wood shutters.
Anyone who wants to protect the environment and save trees might consider substitute shutters rather than using wood and further depleting the forests. There is another side to this argument, however. Even though faux wood shutters do not destroy any trees, using wood can be said to be more environmentally friendly since wood products are biodegradable. PVC and other materials made from plastic composites do not biodegrade, and therefore stay in landfills forever. Most people consider the price of goods they purchase more than the ecological impact, but it is an issue to think about.
Faux wood shutters do have some advantages over wood, however. They are very strong and resist damage since they do not warp or crack and are not subject to moisture damage. They retain their shape and texture when they are exposed to the sun, which is the idea behind the shutters. Wooden shutters fade in the sun and need to be re-stained from time to time. The look of faux wooden shutters can be incredibly realistic, especially from a distance, and they create the desired sun and privacy protection while giving the soft ambiance of wood, which is the look most people want to create in the room.
When you really sit down to ponder over the interior design of your house, you will realize that there are many different ways you can decorate your own home. What you eventually decide to do, depends largely on time and budget. But bear in mind that decorating your home doesn't have to cost a bomb. It's all a matter of creating visual effects. Mainly, you will be concerned with colors, design, and light. These 3 important elements combine to give you the overall look and feel of your house.
Thinking along those lines, have you thought of any way to decorate your home without spending a lot of money? One suggestion is to install window treatments in your home. Many homeowners install window treatments for two reasons. The first reason is to keep out unwanted glare. The second reason, is to make the home even more beautiful.
Ever walk into a house and you immediately start to feel a welcoming feeling? That is because the visual aspects of the house, as well as the temperature, feels right to you. That's why you feel at home immediately. And window treatments can have that effect on people some times.
When you go around sourcing for window treatments, you will quickly learn that there are many different types of shades available. You can have someone install the treatments for you, or you can buy the treatments and install them yourself. Usually, DIY treatments come in various dimensions. You should be able to find something that fits without much difficulty.
Choice of shades depend on design, and personal preferences. Personal preferences here refer to reduction of glare and privacy. The more opaque the shades, the more privacy you get. Also, the shades come in different grades, and they may be made from different materials such as wood, vinyl, or PVC.
As you shop around for the right window shutters, keep thinking about the design at the back of your mind. It's easier if you have a clear idea of what you want. That's because there are hundreds of color combinations that you can find in the market. To make matters worse, they come in different styles and designs! So it helps to have a clear idea.
Another issues to consider is ease of maintenance. Usually, lower quality shutters tend to collect dust easily, while higher quality shutters are dust resistant. You should always check with the vendor on the quality of the shutters.
Finally, if you have more budget to play around with, consider a motorized window shutter. Such shutters are especially useful if you have a big house. You don't want to be walking across the room every time you want to adjust the shutters! You can use a remote to make the adjustments. If the place is small, manual window shutters will do just fine.
Both Adam Peters & Gen Wright are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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