Shutters or No Shutters and What Color?

Most of our homes do not have as many windows as this beautiful historic Federal style house, but some windows just call out for shutters. If your house is a colonial or ranch style with double-hung windows ("six-0ver-six" panes of glass separated by "grids" or mullions), then you should consider investing in shutters to add a finishing touch to your house. Of course, if you live in an area threatened by periodic hurricanes, then shutters are required for protection. But I'm speaking to those of you who, just like putting up curtains in the living room, might add shutters to "dress" the windows.

If you have a modern or contemporary home with a variety of window styles, shapes, and sizes including casement ("open-out") windows, then shutters might be more of a distraction than an asset to your curb appeal. Also, if there is no room to put in properly sized shutters, then forget it. Don't opt for the mini-sized version just to cram the shutters into the facade. It's not worth it.

As for color, white works in only limited palettes; it is best to pick an accent color. I prefer dark shutters with a dark roof; however, there's more to dark than just your standard black shutters. Various shades of Midnight blueand Charleston green can add enough color to make the house interesting yet enough contrast to make the house stunning from the street. Adding dark shutters is like adding a touch of black to your interior palette. It just dresses up the house.

For those of you choosing from standard off-the-shelf shutter colors, your options are more limited, but remember that black always works. One note: if the shutter color is in your house somewhere (in the brick tones, for example), then that shutter color will work. However, if you have a rusty red brick, beware of clashing red shutters. I see them everywhere, just slightly off.

There are so many shutter styles to choose from these days that you can make a real design statement just by adding shutters. If you have a question about your own house and whether or not to add shutters (or what color), I'm at your service.