Interior shutters can be a great choice for any room of your home, as they're more compact than large, billowy curtains and are sure to coordinate rather than clash with any fabric on your upholstered furniture. They can give a space a clean, modern look or a more traditional, homey appeal. When choosing shutters, you want to think about more than just the style and want to ensure you choose the right material for those shutters, so they stay durable and resist damage. Note a few tips for choosing that material before you shop.
Wood
Wood is a very traditional material for shutters and offers the advantage of being easier to paint or stain than many other choices. You can then change the look of your shutters more readily when you choose wood. You can also replace a broken slat with a new wood slat rather than having to replace the entire panel, if a shutter should get damaged. However, note that wood may absorb humidity and moisture and then expand and contract, causing it to warp over time. It may also be more prone to chipping and cracking so it needs more maintenance than other materials.
Engineered wood
Engineered wood is a mix of wood fibers with a bonding agent. This can give the shutters the look of traditional wood while creating a material that is stronger and more resistant to chipping, cracking, and other such damage. Because they're stronger and stiffer, engineered wood shutters may be more difficult to repaint or stain on your own, but they may require less maintenance overall than solid wood.
Polywood
Polywood is a synthetic wood that is mixed with a bonding agent and which is then powder-coated with a colored finish. It too is stronger than natural wood, but it's very difficult to repaint polywood on your own. If you want the look of wood without the regular maintenance, this can be the best option.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a very popular choice for shutters because it doesn't absorb moisture, chip, crack, or otherwise suffer the damage you often see with wood shutters. It's usually the best choice for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and any room with excessive humidity and moisture. While vinyl will usually be available in a wide range of colors, note that you cannot paint or otherwise change that color on your own. However, if you're happy with white or off-white shutters or know you won't want to replace your shutters anytime soon, vinyl can be the most durable option.
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