Interior or Exterior

• Wooden shutters can be found on the inside or outside of windows of all sizes and shapes. As a result, shutters are made to fit the opening.
  
  

Exterior Shutters

• Exterior shutters usually are made larger than the window opening so that they can be closed tightly against the side of the building to keep out the elements. They can be painted or stained, but paint is the more frequently used covering.
  
  

Interior Shutters

• Interior shutters are often made to fit within the window opening and since weather is not a problem they are usually stained or left natural to display the natural beauty of the wood grain.
  
  

Open and Closed

• Exterior shutters are usually designed so they swing to the open or closed position. Often exterior shutters are mounted on a series of small posts that are anchored to the wall. In this case, the shutter will have a metal sleeve attached so it can be easily slid off the posts and taken down for cleaning and painting.
  
  

Decorative Exterior Shutters

• Some exterior shutters are installed in the open position so they cannot be closed. These shutters are often lightweight, inexpensive and painted a bright color to match the decor of the building.
  
  

Plantation Shutters

• A plantation shutter usually refers to a wooden shutter with very wide slats that are used to make up the louvered part of the shutter.