Pic: The Shutter Store
1 Modern windows
If you’re nervous about hanging window shutters in interiors that have embraced the latest looks, think again. Both pared-back schemes and those featuring rich color and bold pattern are complemented by shutters as a window treatment. ‘In a contemporary space, shutters work beautifully,’ says Ideal Home magazine. ‘Their clean, simple lines tend to suit a minimalist room better than curtains and they are great for urban homes where you need both privacy and natural light.’
Pic: House & Garden
2 Subtle treatment
Yes, we love them, but shutters don’t always have to be center stage in a room. Put them in a supporting role and they’ll still do a great job for you. Proof? Check out this interior inspiration: the home of designer Emma Oldham featured by House & Garden magazine. The solid shutters blend with the walls leaving the focus on the beautiful color and texture of the sofa. Emma’s advice for styling your room: ‘Focus on one leading design feature, such as a large-scale piece of furniture or a block of color, and work around it.’
Pic: The Shutter Store
3 Color co-ordinate shutters
Jewel tones and confident pattern including large repeat designs are here to stay, but for decorators who haven’t dabbled in the look before, what’s the secret? We’ll be taking the advice of designer Justina Blakeney. ‘If there is one question I get asked over and over about boho decor, it’s how I make so many eclectic, unexpected elements work together to create something cohesive and visually compelling. And my answer is always the same – it’s all about color. You can mix patterns to your heart’s content, layer in textiles from all around the globe and so long as you work within a defined color palette, your space will come out looking cohesive.’ That makes styling window shutters in 2017 simple. Just pick up one of the elements from your color palette and they’ll look a million dollars.
Pic: House & Garden
4 Organic look
Fallen for the trend for hygge – the Danish concept that’s all about comfort and coziness? Then what should interiors, including shutters, look like to create the perfect surroundings for Scandi-influenced relaxation? This serene bathroom has the right mood, and here are the key elements identified by the experts at House & Garden magazine. ‘Stripped-back wooden shutters and floorboards add a natural feel to this simple, functional bathroom in a restored manor house. The vanity top was handcarved by Belgian designer Joris Van Apers from a block of Belgian blue stone.’
Pic: The Shutter Store
5 Greenery shutters
The trend forecasters at the Pantone Color Institute have named Greenery as the color of the year. It’s a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew, they explain, and who would say no to that as interior inspiration? ‘Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose,’ says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. It – naturally – looks beautiful for shutters, as seen in this living space.
Pic: The Shutter Store
6 Shutter and drapes combo
If you love the soft lines and detail created by hanging drapes at the window, but adore the practicality and style of shutters, the interiors experts are with you. After all, how fabulous is this window dressed with pretty pink shutters and soft drapes? Take the advice of expert Lara Sargent via Houzz to get the look in your home: ‘The trick is to keep the room scheme fairly calm and neutral, to avoid overkill.’