Plantation shutters are not the cheapest of window coverings and therefore you want to be sure that when you order your shutters you are going to end us with a great design. People’s first thought when they start the process of buying their plantation shutters is thinking first of all about the colour they want their shutters to be. Certainly, when thinking about your plantation shutters, this is a good starting point as colour can impact the end result quite considerably. That lovely wood stained walnut shutter sample you saw when the sales person visited may not look quite so stylish and refined when you see it all over your windows when the shutters are installed.

However an oft overlooked but equally important design consideration is choosing the optimum number of panels for your plantation shutters. Whenever I bring this issue up with my customers, it’s clear that other shutters companies have not mentioned this to them and therefore this helps explain a rise in the number of badly designed plantation shutters installations you see around the UK! The main point to consider is how do your windows currently divide? Look closely at the horizontal and vertical framing that the window has and see how this would translate into an effective design for your plantation shutters.

The transom’s and mullion’s on your window refers to the horizontal and vertical framing. If your window mullions (the vertical framing on the window) has the effect of dividing the window into 3 glazed sections, then putting 4 plantation shutter panels onto that window would not be ideal. The vertical upright parts of the plantation shutters (known as the stile) would not be aligned with the framing of the window and would create a very messy look. However, going with 3 shutter panels to match the glazed area will ensure your plantation shutters look great as the shutter slats are mirroring the glazed area of the window and you are not adding vertical wood from the shutter to the glazed sections.

3 panels in this instance would work if the shutters panels were able to fold 180 degrees back onto the side walls or if the shutter panels were closed most of the window, with the slats tilted. If you wanted to fold the panels back during the day then 6 panels would be a better option as they would still minimise the about of vertical wood through the glazed area.

The best rule of successful plantation shutters design is to keep things simple. Try and tie the design to match the framing of the windows and don’t make them look too fussy and out of kilter with the windows!