When decorating and furnishing your home, you will most likely spend a good amount of time choosing paint colors, furniture, and accessories. Combined together, these elements turn a house into a home. Dressing your windows is also important for completing the look of a room, but you may find yourself overwhelmed by the different options for window treatments.

From drapes and mini-blinds to shades and a valance topper, the possibilities are endless. Fortunately, many homeowners are seeing the benefits of installing plantation shutters. With this guide and a specialist's help, you will be able to determine if plantation shutters are right for you and your home.

1. You Want to Increase Your Home's Value

Plantation shutters can be a great investment for your home because they are considered window furniture that becomes a long-term part of the house.

Once you decide that shutters are right for your home, professionals will take detailed measurements, ensuring that the shutters are custom-fitted to the exact size and shape of the windows in your home. By customizing the shutters to your window's exact measurements, they will become a permanent addition to your house.

If and when you sell your home, buyers will find your home more appealing because of the added plantation shutters. In addition, they will be more likely to pay more for your home that has custom window treatments already installed.

2. You Want Privacy - Sometimes

Another reason you should consider plantation shutters is because you want privacy and the ability to allow in natural light.

Plantations shutters allow you to open and close the slats as you desire. At night when you want a bit of privacy, close the slats. When you want to reap the benefits of natural light during the day or just want to enjoy the view, open the slats of your shutters.

Double-hung shutters offer the best of both worlds. This design allows you to open the top louvers while leaving the bottom louvers closed.

3. You Want a Versatile Style

Most people are surprised by how many different colors, materials, and sizes are available when selecting plantation shutters.

When selecting a look for your home, you need to first decide on the material of your plantation shutters.

Wood shutters are popular because they offer an authentic look and feel that shutters are known for. Unfortunately, moisture or humidity can affect wood shutters over time.

Faux wood is a good alternative. Not only are faux wood shutters more durable and easier to maintain compared to wood, but they are also more affordable.

Constructed out of PVC, vinyl shutters can be less durable than wood and faux wood, but they are the most affordable option in most cases. For the most durable option at an affordable price, choose vinyl-clad wood shutters. These shutters are made out of wood but wrapped in vinyl for more protection.

Traditionally, homeowners choose a white or cream color shutter. However, darker finishes, such as oak, walnut, espresso, grey, and even black, are available.

4. You Want to Conserve Energy

Heating and cooling account for a large portion of your home's total energy usage. Plantation shutters can conserve energy, keeping your home more comfortable while saving you money on your heating and cooling costs.

Since they are fitted to the interior of your windows, wood and vinyl shutters act as a layer of insulation between your home and the outdoor temperatures.

In the summer, the shutters can reduce solar heat gain, improving your system's cooling ability. In the winter, the shutters will reduce the amount of heated air escaping through your windows.

Dressing your windows in appeal, value, function, and efficiency is possible. For more information on plantation shutters or other window treatments, contact Genie's Drapery Service.

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