Plantation shutters make for a wonderful addition to any home. Apart from being a superb aesthetic feature, they can shield your home against harmful UV rays, insulate it from seasonal temperature changes, and protect it from moisture and dust. And the benefits don’t stop there.

If you’ve decided to feature Australian plantation shutters in your home, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll find a checklist of things to consider when choosing the right interior set for your home and discover the pros and cons of each choice.

4 Factors to Consider When Buying Interior Plantation Shutters

With so many plantation shutter models and varieties available today, it can be difficult to narrow down your options. Below are four key points to get you started:

1. Space

Before you take out your tape measure and start marking your window frames, step back and carefully consider the rooms where you plan to install them.

You undoubtedly have a reason for wanting to buy them. Is it to regulate the moisture and humidity in the bathroom? Or to keep the sun out of your bedroom during scorching hot summer days? Or perhaps to give your dining room a more sophisticated look?

Different rooms may require variations in your approach to aesthetics, functionality, and material choices. So, starting with the where and why will help in limiting your search to the number of models that best serve your purpose.

2. Material

Interior plantation shutters usually come in three material types: wood, plastic and a blend of both. To help you sort through these options, here's a quick overview of where each type excels and where it might fall short:

      •  Wooden shutters

When it comes to aesthetic appeal, no other material can surpass the timeless look of basswood or poplar wood. Its grain texture and subtle imperfections are perfect for those who seek a touch of elegance and refinement.

Among the many benefits of wooden shutters are their durability, strength, lightweight and multiple colour variations. You can also opt to stain them, rather than paint them, to match your furniture, walls and floors, and give your space a more cohesive look.

On the downside, though, they tend to come with a higher price tag and are prone to warping in areas where there might be consistent humidity or moisture.

Best Applications: Bedrooms and living rooms

      •  Plastic shutters

Plastic or PVC shutters are an excellent option if you’re looking for something affordable, low maintenance, and can hold its ground against moisture.

 However, plastic is deceptively heavy. So if your windows are excessively large, the weight of the shutters may put some pressure on your window frames and hinges, and result in the panels sagging over time.

And unlike wood, plastic shutters come in a pre-set colour palette, usually white or off-white. This can be limiting if your home décor centres around bolder tones.

 Best Applications: Bathrooms, kitchens and garages

      •  Hybrid shutters

If you can’t decide between wood and plastic, don’t worry; there’s a third option. Hybrid shutters are made of dense polymer foam that looks and feels like real timber.

This material is as impervious to exterior elements as plastic, more affordable than wood, and bests both materials in terms of fire resistance. In fact, this hybrid model takes three times the amount of heat to catch fire compared to wood or plastic.

The only two drawbacks are that its cost is a little higher than PVC and it’s just as limited in terms of colour choices.

Best Applications: Any room in your house

3. Style

There are three different styles of interior plantation shutters: café, tier-on-tier and full-height. Each style offers different levels of privacy and light control.

      •  Café

Café-style shutters cover the bottom half of the window. It's a favourite among those who love to enjoy more sunlight with a classic look.

      •  Tier-on-tier (double hung shutters)

As its name implies, tier-on-tier shutters consist of two separate assemblies, stacked one above the other, leaving a gap between each set. They operate independently from each other, so you can control the exact amount of light and airflow you’d like to let into a room.

      •  Full height

Full-height shutters span windows or doors from top to bottom. As far as privacy goes, these shutters are the undisputed winner. And you can also add a centre rail or a split tilt design to give them the same functionality as tier-on-tier.

4. Tilt rod type

There are generally two types of tilt rods: standard and hidden.

The standard tilt rod is a classic option that features a visible vertical rod in the middle of each panel, which can be used to open and close the slats.

On the other hand, if you want a cleaner, more modern look, you may opt for the hidden tilt rod. This model tucks the mechanism behind the shutter so it's not visible inside the room. With this option, you can control the panel by rotating the slats with your hand.

Although this is a personal preference for most homeowners, hidden tilt rods are the superior choice if you want to enjoy a full view of the scenery outside.

Plantation Shutters: A Worthwhile Investment

Interior plantation shutters are an investment that can last for a long time. They exude luxury, and their functionality and durability make them an optimal addition to any home.

Now that you know what to look for in your new window treatments, you can confidently weigh your options and find the plantation shutters that are right for your home.