Do you want to elevate your home interior style? Plantation shutters are the way to go! This versatile window treatment works with various home interior styles by adding aesthetic appeal and practical function. The best way to understand how to match your plantation shutters with your existing home style is to know more about the various features of shutters to find the right fit for your needs.
What Are Plantation Shutters?
Plantation shutters consist of frames that are made up of solid panels or louvres. These louvres and frames are made of different materials ranging from wood to PV. They can also be available in various colour finishes, which expands their versatility in style and functionality.
- Full Height Shutters – They provide maximum light control and privacy because the shutter frame extends to the entire length of the window. They’re a good choice of window treatment in rooms wherein privacy is paramount.
- Tier-on-Tier Shutters – They are the most versatile style for plantation shutters because the top and bottom panels function independently of each other. You can close or open the top or bottom panel, allowing you to get maximum control in adjusting light and privacy.
- Café Style Shutters – This plantation shutter style has a fixed bottom and the top panel can be adjusted to open or close as desired. They offer maximum privacy while allowing some natural light into a room.
Matching Home Interior Styles with Plantation Shutters
Choosing the right plantation shutters to match your home interior styles achieves a harmonious look. When there is harmony in the styling elements, it can add impact to your overall home styling. Refer to the guide below in choosing the right plantation shutters installation to enhance the interior style of your home.
Victorian Homes
Victorian homes refer to an architectural style that dates back to the 1840s to the early 1900s. Specifically, it was the time period when Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain, hence the name.
Victorian home interior styles are known for their ornate detailing that feature asymmetrical architectural designs and decorative elements. Most Victorian homes have large bay windows that facilitate maximum natural light into the interior space.
Therefore, installation of plantation shutters in homes in Australia with Victorian designs offers many benefits. First, these shutters are practical in providing privacy and security to these homes, such that the home interior is blocked from outside view. Also, they work best for homeowners who want natural lighting, since plantation shutters can be easily adjusted to maximise or minimise light coming into your space.
Adding plantation shutters provides more elegance to any room in the house while accentuating any existing architectural features, such as large bay windows. Tier-on-tier plantation shutters are the best styles available for Victorian homes since you have the flexibility to open the top and bottom halves independently. For example, you can close the bottom half of the shutters for privacy and have the top half open to allow in natural light.
A café-style shutter also works best for Victorian homes since the lower half of the shutter is closed, allowing you to maintain privacy within your home. At the same time, the style of these plantation shutters showcases the height of the windows, creating the illusion of having more space or a higher ceiling.
Finally, you can choose full-height plantation shutters in Australia if you have a Victorian home style. Like the other shutter styles mentioned above, a full-height shutter offers maximum privacy and light blockage. You have the option to add a mid-rail for more flexibility in adjusting the upper and lower slats, depending on how much privacy and light you need.
When it comes to colour, choose traditional colours to fit the Victorian style, especially for older homes. Choose heritage-inspired colour schemes to bring the entire look of your home together. Of course, you can never go wrong with white. It goes with any home interior style and adds a touch of elegance that fits into the Victorian theme. If you don’t want to use white shutters, you can go for off-whites, natural wood stains, and lime wash finishes. These colour and finish options add a historic look to your home interior.
No matter which shutter style you choose, consider the size of the slats to fit your period home. The ideal size is a 64mm slat for most Victorian bay windows. Avoid choosing very wide slats because the contemporary look does not align with the period aesthetics of your home.
Colonial Homes
Colonial home styles are those that draw inspiration from the early American architecture. Unlike Victorian homes, they feature plain exteriors with minimal adornments. This home style has symmetrical features, usually made in light or neutral colours, and a square or rectangular façade also featuring a central entrance. These homes vary largely as some are made of wood and others are built with bricks. Another notable feature of a colonial home are uniform size windows and doors.
The best shutter styles for colonial homes are the classic louvred shutters. This style works best for the rectangular windows of colonial homes. With their horizontal slats and minimal aesthetic, they blend perfectly into a colonial home interior design. The angled slats on this shutter style helps to provide insulation during the summer months, which keeps your home interior cool by blocking the sunlight. The louvred design also mirrors the symmetrical elements present inside the home.
Meanwhile, the best colour options for colonial homes are white and muted earth tones. These shutter colours provide authenticity to the home style. You can choose between wooden or vinyl shutters for your home interior. These shutter designs provide a historical charm and elegance to colonial homes, which makes them a suitable choice for this home interior style.
Cottage Style Homes
A cottage style home has many defining characteristics. It is usually quaint, charming, and has a cosy vibe. The overall aesthetic feels welcoming and warm. Also known as Cottage Revival, this home interior style was popular in the 1920s because of its whimsical craftsmanship. It features a few defining elements, such as sloped roofs, stone façades, arched doorways, and oversized chimneys.
Even though it has been over 100 years since they were popularised, more homeowners in Australia are embracing this home interior style because of its cosy charm. There is also an attraction to this home style because it draws inspiration from other European architectural styles, especially those that featured heavily on classic English literature.
Traditional plantation shutters are the best option for cottage style homes because they offer functionality and elegance while aligning with the whimsical characteristics of the home. Plantation shutters installation complement the architectural and interior design of the home without making it feel or look dated.
Choose plantation shutters in light yellow, cream, pale blue and pastel hues to match the warm and welcoming ambiance of your home. No matter which style you choose, shutters add to the inviting nature of a cottage-style home.
Mediterranean Homes
Mediterranean homes are very popular in Australia, especially in Melbourne. This is a classic design choice for homeowners who want a long-lasting style that endures time and trends. Mediterranean style homes are popular in communities that are near bodies of water or those in warm weather conditions.
The common architectural and interior elements commonly found in Mediterranean homes include stucco exteriors, marble flooring, wrought iron accents, and arched doorways. These elements provide a warm and inviting aesthetic to the home. Therefore, choosing a shutter style that perfectly matches this vibe is crucial to ensure continuity of the design.
Louvre style shutters are a no-brainer choice for Mediterranean-style homes. They provide exotic charm to Mediterranean-style homes while providing the practicality of adjusting the natural light that enters the room. They also provide insulation so that homeowners can regulate the temperature inside the home.
To complete the look of your home, choose plantation shutters in white or neutral tones. Aside from neutrals, you can choose terracotta and other colour palettes typical of a Mediterranean design, such as ochre, green, and blue.
Wood tones are also a good option, or you can choose wooden shutters to complement the overall home décor. You can select other materials, such as faux wood or natural wood based on your maintenance requirements. When all else fails, choose natural materials to maintain the rustic elegance of a Mediterranean home.
Modern Farmhouse
A modern farmhouse design is exemplified by a relaxed approach to styling while maintaining a sophisticated look. This home design is notable for its modern accents, such as adding sleek lighting and stainless steel pieces, while also being balanced with rustic design elements.
A key feature of a modern farmhouse design is sustainability. Therefore, this home interior design features reclaimed wood pieces, lots of vintage elements, and repurposed furniture. There are plenty of handcrafted elements, too.
Because of its focus on simplicity, functionality, and comfort, plantation shutters are a perfect match for a modern farmhouse design. Wooden plantation shutters accentuate the farmhouse feel and add a touch of charm to the home interior. Sticking to primary or white-coloured plantation shutters works best, for this home style.
Café style shutters are also a suitable option for modern farmhouse designs. They deliver practicality and add elegance to a rustic home interior. And if you want to stick to a traditional look, choose louvred plantation shutters.
Contemporary Homes
If you have a contemporary home in Australia, you’re in luck because there are plenty of options available when choosing a plantation shutter. This home style has various similarities with modern designs, such as large windows, minimalism, and open spaces. But contemporary homes have free-form composition and take inspiration from numerous architectural and interior styles.
It is a cross between modernism and minimalism. Therefore, contemporary home interiors feature elements from both design philosophies. The good thing about this home interior style is that it allows more flexibility and freedom when styling with plantation shutters.
This home style also benefits a lot from plantation shutters installation because these window treatments offer clean lines and a timeless touch to the home interior. The sleek design is unobtrusive, so it works best for minimalist homes. Meanwhile, you can easily personalise your plantation shutters with different finishes and colours that fit into the overall aesthetic.
If you prefer the sleek and subtle design, choose white plantation shutters because they add a light and breezy touch to the home. They blend well with the minimalist theme of many contemporary homes. But if you prefer something other than white, go for a neutral-coloured plantation shutter for a subdued look or something that is Hygge-inspired.
Aside from colours, choose plantation shutters with larger slat sizes as they are consistent with the contemporary look. Meanwhile, full-height shutters that cover your entire window create a streamlined, less busy look to the home interior.
Southern Style Homes
Design-wise, Southern style homes are highly distinctive. Common design elements, such as wood flooring, columned porches, wrap-around verandas, crown-moulded ceilings, dormer rooflines, and formal staircases are featured. These elements are what makes a traditional Southern-style home.
Homeowners in Australia who have adopted this home interior style can have a lot of use for plantation shutters in terms of adding Southern charm to their homes. The best part about that is that you can use interior and exterior shutters for maximum styling impact. With this home interior style, there is a balance between the use of modern appliances and antique decorative elements.
Wooden plantation shutters work best for Southern-style homes because they provide a rustic feel that is consistent with this home interior design scheme. Again, you can connect the interior plantation shutters with exterior shutters for an easy flow from indoor to outdoor living spaces. Using exterior shutters can also boost the curb appeal of your home.
Another way to enhance the Southern design is to combine plantation shutters with other window treatments. These are common design techniques employed by traditional Southern homes. Draperies are a common example of window treatments used along with plantation shutters, providing added style and an extra layer of insulation.
Picking the right plantation shutters in Australia is crucial based on your home interior style. It ensures a continuity of the design to complete the look of your home interior, making it more visually appealing to your family and guests.
