Wooden shutters have become a lot more popular and mainstream than they have been in the past. Originally seen as luxurious and exclusive to the wealthier members of society, shutters have recently become extremely affordable and convenient for many modern homeowners. It’s unclear what has changed over time to make these more popular, as the general design remains the same.
Originally, the natural beauty of the wood was the main appeal to those privileged enough to have them in their home. Painting a wooden shutter was considered unheard of, as the natural effect it added to a room was one of the key selling points. However these days, many people choose to paint their shutters. This isn’t to say however, that painting shutters is the correct decision for every home. Here are a few things to consider when you’re thinking about painting your shutters.
There are many things to take into account before deciding to paint your shutters. Firstly, just stop and take a good, long look at the room your shutter is in. Whilst you do want your shutter to stand out and be noticeable, it should still blend in nicely with general feel and décor in the room. The main thing to try and achieve is for the shutters to complement the existing décor without standing out too much.
The easy solution here is to fit your shutters in with the décor you already have. So, if you have a lot of wooden furniture in your room, wooden floors or decorations, then it would probably be wise to leave your shutters with their natural wood finish, or at a push a simple stain effect.
On the other hand, if there is a lot of colorful, painted décor in your room instead of wood décor, then your wooden shutters may look slightly out of place with their natural or stained finish. If this is the case, then it would probably be wise to paint your shutters. If your room (and home in general) has a more contemporary look, then the chances are that your shutters would benefit more and fit in better with a lick of paint.
If you’re still undecided, then you may wish to consider the effect of light too. The lighter your surface, the better light will reflect off it. As a result, if you want a light room then natural wood finishes probably aren’t the best choice for you. In the day time, a lightly painted shutter will help brighten up a room with natural sunlight, and at night the room will feel lighter too.
Finally, it’s worth considering the type of paint to use too. Water-based paint is a good choice for most shutters, as it is durable and easy to clean up once you’ve finished painting. It is also one of the most UV-resistant finishes on the market. Latex enamel offers a few different options to the homeowner as it can be sprayed on, brushed or rolled onto the windows. The one downside to this is the fact that the finish isn’t quite as smooth as alternative options. Another option is oil-based enamel, which also allows a smooth, glossy finish. However, this also comes with the disadvantage of not aging well and can go yellow as the years go by.
Photo courtesy of caribbeanfreephoto
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