As far as your home’s exterior design goes, shutters are like the cherry on top. They add the finishing touch to your home. Without window shutters, a home can look unfinished and lack personality. When you choose the perfect color, you set your home apart from the rest.
But how do you select the perfect shade for this all-important feature? What factors should you consider? In this article, we'll take a look at several important considerations to guide you in choosing shutters that ideally suit your home.
Your Home's Exterior Palette
A home’s exterior typically consists of three color components: the base, the trim, and the shutter. These colors should harmonize to create a cohesive look. Most people choose a neutral base color, a contrasting trim, and a shutter that pops and provides an accent. However, there is no hard-and-fast rule. The sky is the limit, and consulting a design professional can help if you are unsure where to start.
Your Style
Do you prefer stately neutrals or splashes of sunny color? Does your home’s design emphasize traditional architecture or possess contemporary flare? If you don't intend to sell your home in the near future, you’ll have plenty of freedom to express your style. If you do plan to put the house on the market, it is advisable to keep your selection to a color that is more neutral or popular.
The Neighborhood
Walk around your neighborhood and analyze the color schemes used by other homes. You might find compelling inspiration right around the corner. Additionally, try to choose a color that is somewhat consistent with the palette of the neighborhood if you plan to sell.
Lighting
We tend to look at paint colors indoors - often at the store or on chips you bring home. However, window shutters will always be viewed in natural light, so make sure to examine your options outside. Do this at different times of the day as well so that you can see how your shutters might look around the clock.
Common Colors
Now that we've mentioned some important considerations, let's review a few of the most common colors:
Black Shutters
Bold and timeless, black exterior window shutters add definition and elegance to a home's exterior. Like a little black dress, they never go out of style and flatter in every season.
White Shutters
An excellent match for bold colors and neutrals alike, white shutters provide a crisp, airy finishing touch. They also tend to make windows appear larger than they really are, so they are perfect for smaller homes and narrow windows.
Blue Shutters
If you are going for a traditional look but want to veer away from black, navy may be your best choice. This shade of blue maintains a traditional feel, but offers a bit more personality. A less traditional option is a lighter or brighter hued blue or turquoise. We see these most frequently in coastal homes. They add a pop of color and can bring a laid back, unique feel to your exterior design.
Gray Shutters
Homes in need of a little modernization often benefit from gray window shutters. They have a distinctly updated feel without appearing too trendy. Gray also works well with a wide range of base colors, from light neutrals to jewel tones.
Brown Shutters
Dark brown window shutters can bring out the warmth in homes that feature earth tones like brown, beige, or green. Popular since the colonial era, brown shutters (or stained wood) offer another traditional style.
Red Shutters
If you really want to make a statement, red window shutters can pull out all the stops. Bright crimson shades look great on white, cream, and tan alike; dark reds tend to complement olive, navy, and brown.
Make sure to dress your home in shutters that will add the perfect finishing touch to its exterior. Reach out to us at All About Blinds & Shutters to learn more and see a wide selection of finishes and materials to fit your needs. We are here to answer all your questions. We look forward to speaking with you!
