Should you put shutters in your home? Last week we covered the types of shutters and trends in shutters, but choosing a product and look is only one part of the process. You’ll want to know how to budget for the shutters and how to maintain them once they’ve been installed.

Budgeting for Shutters

Shutters are like a piece of furniture for your windows and should be budgeted for with the same eye towards longevity. The framing goes around the perimeter of the window, so you’ll need to consider the entire length and width when calculating what you need.

Shutters cost between $15 and $45 per square foot, including installation. What is the difference between shutters at the low end and those at the high end? The materials used to make shutters vary and more expensive materials will raise the cost.

The price of custom wood shutters will be closer to $45/sq. ft. Vinyl shutters will cost less. Budget according to the materials you expect to use, but it may be helpful to know that the average price of shutters is $22/sq. ft.

Keep in mind as you are thinking about a budget that shutters may not be the best choice. They are expensive and permanent. They also block some of the light because the framing covers part of the window and they really aren’t meant to be left open.

Shutter Maintenance

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a window covering that requires almost no maintenance, shutters are for you. Most shutters only need to be dusted. The vinyl shutters can handle being washed with water, but it may not be necessary. Dusting them should be enough.

If you’re looking for a window covering that adds interest, isn’t fancy, requires very little maintenance and lasts as long as the home itself, shutters can be a good option. Contact us and we’ll help you determine if shutters are right for your home.

It’s so hard to know what to put on your windows. Shades? Blinds? Shutters? Drapes?

And what happens in 10 years when all the trends have changed? Do you have to start all over?

If you are looking for a window covering that isn’t plain, isn’t overwrought, doesn’t need to be replaced in ten years and adds a classic feature to the room; consider shutters.

Shutter Style

Shutters have been around a long time, probably longer than any other kind of permanent window covering. They add a timeless, classic look to the room.

If you want a window covering that looked good 20 years ago, looks good now and will look good 20 years from now, shutters may be for you.

Believe it or not, trends do affect shutters, but classic shutters outlive trends. Currently, we are seeing trendy dark espresso shutters with white trim. Some people are even using black shutters, but this probably won’t last a long time.

If you want a long-lasting, classic window covering, look at white shutters or those with a classic stain. These will last a lifetime.

Types of Shutters

Historically, shutters were made of wood, but modern technology has given us more options.

• Custom solid wood shutters remain popular. You can choose the stain, the vane size and the trim to produce exactly the look you want.
• Another option combines the classic look of shutters with modern technology for a beautiful, durable window covering. Hybrid shutters are an affordable option made with composite wood and come in a variety of colors and shapes.
• Technology has also given us a way to do something we could never do before. Palm Beach Luxury Vinyl Shutters can tolerate water, which means you can use them on a window that gets wet! Do you have a window in your shower? These shutters can give you privacy without frosting the window.

Oh, by the way, you know that bar that you sometimes see on the front of shutters that connects the vanes? That bar is not an operating system. It simply holds the vanes together. You open and close the shutters by taking hold of a vane and repositioning it.

Rear Tilt Shutters don’t have that bar. The vanes are held together in the back so that your view is unobstructed.

Next week, learn to budget for shutters and find out how to maintain them. Like our Facebook page to be among the first to read our posts!

How can you make your home look more updated without starting all over? As we mentioned in our recent post, How to Decorate Without Dating Your Home, the best way to decorate your home is to install the more expensive, permanent features, such as window coverings, cabinets and fireplaces with a classic look and then use accessories to add more trendy touches.

The current trend in accessories is minimalism. The decor is simple, bold and often large.

You’ll want to budget for accessories and art. Consider adding $200 – $300 for each large piece and $100 for small items. You’ll need at least $2000 for new accessories for a large room.

Power Pieces

Sometimes, all a room needs is a single impressive accessory. You might add a sculpture or a painting to the room. If there is a fireplace, consider finding a pair of imposing candle sticks for the mantle.

Since current decor embraces minimalism, that may be all you need.

Artwork

Southwest decor was popular earlier in the century, but one element of it is coming back. Artwork depicting single feathers or arrows has become popular again. The wall art often has an angular, tribal look. You don’t have to use this kind of art in your home, but don’t be afraid of it if you like it.

Do you love the work of a local artist or something you found in a gallery? Accessorizing a room with art is a lot like accessorizing an outfit with jewelry. You can express your personal style by using artwork to make a statement in an otherwise classically decorated room.

Heirlooms

Besides artwork, we all have heirlooms and beloved unique possessions that we love to display in our homes. We encourage you to keep your favorite items as you redecorate, but do be aware that you’ll want to refresh other items in the room.

If the accessories are older than about 10 years, the room will look dated. Consider retiring anything that is that old and isn’t unique. If you bought a painting from an artist on a fondly-remembered trip, keep it and decorate around it. But if you bought something for the living room from a retail store in 2005, it may be time to retire it or move it to a more private room.

Remember pickled cabinets? They were cabinets with a whitewashed sort of finish that was popular in the 1980s. How about the southwest decor of 20 years ago with the kiva fireplaces?

We loved those trends in their time, but what would you think if you saw them now? You would say to yourself, “Oh! This house hasn’t been updated in a long time!”.

If you want to maintain the value of your home, it’s helpful to keep the decor updated, particularly for homes in the $800,000 and above range. If you don’t keep the home updated, you’ll lose equity.

How Often Should I Update My Home Decor?

Did you know that nationally, the average amount of time between home decor updates for homes at the upper end of the price range is only nine years? Styles change and if your high-end home doesn’t look current on the inside, its value actually decreases.

Luckily, the average time between updates for Colorado Springs is a little bit longer. If you update your home every 12 to 15 years here, you’ll be fine.

Temporary Trends

If you are ready to redecorate, read our post How to Update Your Home Without Tearing Everything Out. As you’re thinking about what to change, remember to use classic styles for the most permanent features. In twenty years, something like a barn door is going to make people think nostalgically of 2017 and you will have to go to a lot of trouble to replace it.

Instead of using trends in the permanent architectural features of your home, consider adding trendy items to a classically decorated home and using current accessories. For example, we aren’t seeing a lot of knick knacks on mantlepieces right now. You can keep your fireplace in a classic color and shape, but with just a few easily-changed, bold items placed on the mantle.

Wall art, pillows and plants can also be incorporated. Read our post What We Learned From the Parade of Homes to learn more about the colors that are trendy right now and next week we’ll delve into how to use these other accessories.