how do you use old shutters

25 Ways To Reuse Old Shutters In Home Decor

• Furniture Grab old shutters and turn them into adorable furniture with a farmhouse and shabby chic feel! ...
• Decor Old shutters can be used for wall decor – it’s an interesting way to add texture to the space. ...
• Doors Use old shutters to make sliding doors – inside a home or even outside to the terrace. ...

Full Answer

How to build simple and inexpensive Rustic shutters?

• Cut fence planks to desired size and sand the edges You’ll need 8 – 1x4x30″ and 4 – 1x4x14.5″
• Measure 4 inches from the top and bottom of the longer planks This is where you’ll be placing the 14.5″ planks.
• Attach the 14.5″ planks Using wood glue and 1″ finishing nails attach the cross support to the planks. ...

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What to do with old window shutters?

Old shutters can also be used to construct various kinds of furniture. You can create anything from a park bench to a glass topped table. One inventive way of using shutters is to make a side table that is lit from the inside. This provides extra table space and glowing light for your outdoor areas.

What wood should I use to make exterior shutters?

The 11 Types of Wood Ideal for Exterior Shutters

1. Cedar. Due to its exceptional durability on the face of rot and weather resistance, cedar is considered one of the best wood for shutters.
2. Basswood. If you have gone out window shopping for some wooden exterior shutters, you most likely have come across Basswood shutters.
3. Redwood. ...
4. Poplar. ...
5. Cypress. ...
6. Black Locust. ...
7. Ipe. ...
8. Teak. ...
9. Douglas Fir. ...
10. Acacia. ...

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How to decorate with shutters?

• Mix old and new furniture and decor to help tie in the classic look of plantation shutters.
• Use a pop of bold colors to give some contrast between neutral-toned shutters.
• Position a unique focal piece of furniture to draw the eyes to your stunning shutters.

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Can shutters be reused?

Old shutters can be used for wall decor – it's an interesting way to add texture to the space. You can cover a whole wall with various shutters to bring farmhouse charm and a vintage feel to the space at once. You may also hang shutters over a bed or a sofa – whitewash or paint them in some way to fit your space.

What can I do with old plastic shutters?

This guide explores different ways of reusing these fittings and the benefits.Create a Bookcase. Love books? ... Build A Beautiful Closet. Wondering what to do with those old outdoor shutters? ... Repurposed Coffee Table. ... Stylish Toilet Paper Organizer. ... Jewelry Holder/organizer. ... Wall Organizer. ... Epic Headboard. ... Shutter Mug Rack.More items...•

How do I use old garden shutters?

Wall shutters can also hold flower pots or succulents for a fresh, blooming accent to your patio. It's easy to add metal hangers to slip in flower pots or Mason jars. Old shutters can also be used to construct various kinds of furniture. You can create anything from a park bench to a glass topped table.

What was the original purpose of shutters?

Before glass was commonly available, shutters were introduced as a way to control light and offer protection to a home's inhabitants. In ancient Greece, interior shutters were constructed from marble, making them quite solid and strong, thus providing protection that a cloth covered window didn't.

How do you decorate shutters?

2:343:41How to Decorate with Shutters, Doors and More | A Country Sampler ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can paint them all the same color to unite the look. Even something as simple as a shutter canMoreYou can paint them all the same color to unite the look. Even something as simple as a shutter can be transformed into wall art by their very nature shutters.

Can you remove plantation shutters?

Most shutter frames attach to the wall around the window opening, so you can just pull back the panels to make room for installing your new windows. If you have shutters affixed to a window frame that now needs replacing, it's easy to detach the shutters.

Are shutters a thing of the past?

Operable shutters became a thing of the past, and the modern homeowner of the 1950's and 60's used shutters purely as decorative elements for their homes. Looking in mid-century plan books, you'll see decorative shutters on many a house.

Do shutters increase home value?

Yes, adding plantation shutters to your home will increase its market value as they instantly add a low-maintenance, elegant, and energy-efficient fixture to your home.

Why do Italian homes have shutters?

Italian shutters serve an important purpose. Most homes in Tuscany have shutters, and many of them do not have air conditioning. In Italy, shutters have an essential job: to preserve the cool air inside from being heated by the Mediterranean sun.

Did colonial houses have shutters?

It might come as a surprise, though, to hear that many homes from the colonial period forward were not only built without shutters, they were never meant to have them. The reason? Prior to 1890 or so, most homes had interior shutters.

Did colonial homes have shutters?

Shutters in the 19th Century From the early 1800's shutters became attached to the exterior of houses and walls became thinner. In early Colonial times, shutters were widely used on all types of dwellings. They provided successful protection against the harsh sun and heat of the colony.

Where did shutters come from?

Originating back in ancient Greece, plantation shutters were used to cover windows and keep out the elements. Glass was a very expensive and hard to come by material so was very rarely used until more modern times. Shutters were made from marble as wood shutters had not been invented yet.

Why do houses have outside shutters?

Block extra light But too much light harms the mood, health and interior of the house. If your window is in the exposed position where it gets direct contact with the sunlight, it may cause too much light in the room. Many shutters are finished with a UV-protective layer which protects your house from extra lighting.

How do I clean old shutters before painting?

Old shutters are usually filthy, so clean them well before painting. I scrubbed it outside with Dixie Belle White Lightning mixed in a bucket with hot water. A brush helped to loosen all the yuckiness and some of the flaking paint. Then I hosed it down to rinse it.

Where do I put screws on a shutter?

If your shutter is loose, put the screws in the outermost section of wood, not on the inside section of the shutter like I did. The outermost section on my shutter wasn’t in great shape so I put the screws in the interior section of the old shutter.

How to chip paint off wood?

Using a flat edge chef’s knife that I only use in my workshop, I chipped away some of the paint by scraping the flat edge of the blade along the wood. You’ll see in the YouTube video below that the paint chips away so easily.

Can you hang a shutter wall sconce on the wall?

It’s time to add the hanger! This old shutter wall sconce light fixture is meant to hang on the wall but you could also lean it into a corner of a room. If you do that, take precautions that no little ones could knock it down and hurt themselves.

How to clear out cabinet space for coffee mugs?

Clear out cabinet space by making a handy shutter mug rack to house all your coffee mugs.

Can you add shutters to mirrors?

Add shutters to a mirror for an extra touch of flair. You could just add them on either side, but you’ll get bonus points for installing them on hinges to open and close them whenever you’d like. Lovely!

Step 1: Sand Them, or Don't!

I hand sanded for hours. Because I was using Old Fashioned Milk Paint, and the look I was going for was antiqued, I sanded the ones I used the Milk Paint on. Milk Paint only adheres to surfaces that do not have a prior paint or stain on them (unless you put in the special bonding agent).

Step 2: To Paint or to Stain - That Is the Question!

After sanding, I painted the shutters. A word to the wise (which I wasn't on the first shelf). Make sure the shutter is closed all the way and glue the cross bar in place.

Step 3: Brackets, Brackets, Who's Got the Brackets?

I have used both wooden and metal brackets. I discovered that I can get the metal brackets from King Architectural Metals for real cheap for the size needed for these shutters. On the first shutter I simply nailed gunned the shutters together and then attached the brackets.

Step 4: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions - What Hangers to Use

This next step is when I installed whatever I had chosen for hangers. Whether drawer pulls or door knobs. Depending on the item, decide how big a hold you will need to drill and whether the back side will have to be recessed so that your shelf will fit flush to the wall. Then simply attach your hanger.

Step 5: Hanging Your Shelf

The first shelf I made I actually drilled three holes and put screws into the wall with expanders behind them. Then put plugs in the holes and painted the plugs. Way too much hassle. Then I discovered these handy hangers on Rockler Woodworking and Hardware and also came across them in Lowe's.

Can shutters be hung on the wall?

Old house shutters can be hung on the wall and used to create a magnificent vertical wall. Shutters come with a slatted surface that can be used to hook flower pots. The shutters create another dimension on your wall, adding to the beauty of your natural garden.

Can you hang pictures on the wall?

It is exciting to get into a house and see a range of photos on the wall. Hooking these photos on the wall may damage the aesthetics of such a room. A rail frame on your wall is also an ordinary way of hanging photos on the wall. Wooden window shutters provide a slated surface to hung the photos instead of using nails or the rail.

What to do with old shutters?

Not only are there amazing old shutter decorations, but more practical projects, too! When decorating with old shutters, add some hooks, shelves, or a basket to transform a vintage window covering into a beautiful organizer. Want to give your bedroom a funky antique feel? Try one of the ideas for headboards or family photo displays. This list even contains old shutter decorations for your garden! From planters to pedestals, your outdoor space can benefit from decorating with old shutters as much as the interior of your home.

What is a shutter in a home?

This shutter creates the illusion of a small space being able to “open up.” A shutter, a mounted light, a pop of color, and a couple of small bottles, make a well-loved space here.

What color shutters are used for burlap wreaths?

I love the power of a shutter display to lift the gaze. This single panel shutter adds height to a fall-themed accent table, and its natural wood color creates a perfect stage for a burlap scrap wreath in vivid yellow, bringing the whole display to life.

How to keep your house organized?

Use an old shutter in the entryway of your home to help everyone in your household stay more organized! Details like a basket for mail, and clothespins for to-do-lists, grocery lists, receipts, and bills—even a charge cord station—will keep you running on time, no matter how often you rush in and out.

What do old shades look like?

In a stroke of genius, the homeowner has turned their old shades into sliding doors. They’re affixed to a sliding bar above the closet. If you didn’t know they were shutters, they’d simply look like closet doors with the hinges removed. The rustic paint job adds a touch of weathering to an otherwise-immaculate room. It’s especially interesting combined with the marble countertop.

What are the slats on a magazine shutter?

The slats have been repurposed as an organizer for different magazines. The gorgeous dark chocolate-colored wood is a perfect backdrop for the colorful covers. Thin rods have been sunk into the shutter’s frame, allowing magazines to be draped over. A lamp filled with seashells adds to the sense of being in a mermaid’s cove.

What is the shutter on an antique shelf?

The shutters serve as the backdrop for an antique shelf. Each of the shelves have been attached to the frame. Flawless white dishes are displayed against the pale gray of the shelf. One notable feature is the rounded top of the shelf, which gives it additional antique feel.

What to do with old shutters on mantel?

Use old shutters as a backdrop for your mantel to add a gorgeous farmhouse feel.

Can shutters go inside?

Shutters can go indoors too, adding texture and contrast to a room like Chatfield Court. Keep your jewelry in sight and mess-free, with this beautiful old shutter jewelry organizer by Design Dreams by Anne. If you liked this collection of ideas, pin this image to share it with others!

What are old shutters used for?

Old wood shutters are a thing. They can be used in so many ways. I use them all the time in my porch decor and out by the back door. They are great staging pieces. I also like to use them as backdrops on my mantel because our brick fireplace is so busy I need a solid color backdrop.

What is the second shutter headboard?

The second shutter headboard in this series is totally different from the first one. This headboard is made from the typical louvered shutters where the one I shared from the Tybee Island cottage was made from solid panel shutters.

Can you make welcome signs out of shutters?

One of my projects. Making welcome signs out of shutters works well if you use the right size shutter. You can’t use the really large ones…..or I haven’t.

Can shutters be turned into wreaths?

A totally deconstructed shutter can be turned into a unique wreath in no time flat. Add a bit of color and you have a designer looking wreath. It's easy to take a louvered shutter apart especially the older ones where the joints have loosened up through the years.