Interior shutters are innovative window screening products that have long-lasting applications. They are incredibly functional, environmentally friendly, have a positive effect on interior design and today are considered a sign of the highest taste in window decoration, reports the OKNA MEDIA portal.
Typical shutters are an external accessory on windows. However, interior shutters are becoming increasingly popular on the market today as a functional alternative for window and interior decoration. Interior shutters have a unique new style that unites modern and traditional interiors. They are made from very durable types of wood and protective finishing materials that are resistant to sunlight.
Interior shutters - what are they?
Interior shutters, also known as shutters, were invented in Ancient Greece.
Their main task was to regulate the amount of light entering the room. Today, the main purpose of interior shutters remains, but they also play an important role in interior design. When chosen accordingly and integrated into the style of a room, shutters can give it a new quality, change the mood and add charm. Shutters are modern interior shutters made of wood, consisting of one or more panels. One panel is a frame into which so-called slats or structures of narrow and long slats installed at an angle to each other are mounted horizontally, reminiscent of wooden blinds. Shutters can be hinged, folding or sliding. The adjustable angle of the slats allows you to control the light transmission.
Wooden tower near the metropolis
Photo: an 18th century residential building is decorated with a tower; wooden windows with double-leaf shutters and platbands are an integral element of the structure. Unfortunately, wooden buildings are very fragile structures: their average lifespan is 100-200 years. At the same time, there is little that compares with wood in terms of its ergonomic properties: to do this, it is enough to spend at least a day in a wooden log house, and then return to a standard dwelling in a city apartment building, no matter how modern and comfortable it is. In every wooden house one can feel a unique atmosphere of sincerity and warmth that is unique to it.
Photo: wooden dachas of the past near both capitals abounded in carved elements on the facades. A tall tower traditionally crowned the entire structure. From a 19th century magazine Perhaps private suburban construction will at least partially make up for the disappearing tradition of wooden buildings, following the example of the wonderful tower near Yekaterinburg. Indeed, today new homeowners have at their disposal not only hundreds of inspiring historical sketches, photographs and drawings, but also a large number of modern technologies that allow them not only to turn their unique ideas about their home into reality, but also to make the life of a wooden house with a quaint tower as long and safe as possible .
Internal shutters (shutters) are increasingly being chosen
Interior shutters, made mainly of wood, are popularly called shutters, since in the modern version they are American shutters, although they owe their origin to Greece.
Interior shutters, unlike external systems, are installed on the inside of the window frame. In addition, these shutters are not similar to monolithic external ones, as they consist of slats (lamellas) that transmit light. Therefore it is not a solid panel.
They look interesting and allow you to change the interior, which may determine the recent fashion for decorating a house with interior shutters. They allow you to regulate the flow of natural light in such a way that their role can be compared to typical blinds.
Functions and designs
Today there are various designs of window shutters. It is worthwhile to dwell in detail on each of the types.
If the windows are small, then it is best to opt for single-leaf shutters. The process of closing them is carried out using a lock or the simplest locking latch, which are installed from the inside. In this case, the canvas on one side must ideally have a hinge-type fastening.
The most popular shutters for garden windows lately are double-leaf ones, made exclusively of wood or metal. Thanks to the classic arrangement of their canvases, most designers note that they look much more interesting than single-leaf ones. They can be locked from the outside with any lock, or from the inside if the windows are hinged.
If it is necessary to protect windows with a sufficiently large area, then structures of the equally well-known folding type are used. They consist of several small doors at once, which, when opened and then closed, turn on their hinges.
When looking at photos of shutters on windows, it is impossible not to pay attention to blind shutters, which, despite the fact that they practically do not let the light of the sun into the room, can perfectly protect the windows.
No less often than adjustable structures on the construction market, you can see variants of shutters in which the plates do not rotate at all.
European-type roller shutters are extremely popular not only among summer residents, but also among owners of various offices and shops. If you are looking for reliability, aesthetics and compactness, then this is the ideal option.
The only drawback of roller shutters is their relatively high cost. When compared with swing doors, the price tag is significantly different.
Relatively recently, designers began to offer their clients to install interior shutters, which primarily serve the function of decorating a room and regulating its illumination. It is worth noting that such structures have a minimum level of protection of the house from penetration.
Interior shutter panels
Although interior shutters are one continuous structure, it is worth noting that there are critical components. One of them is, of course, panels.
The design of internal shutters requires a frame, that is, a panel. The number of such frame panels may vary. This depends, first of all, on the size of the window opening. The width of the frame must be directly matched to the width of the window opening.
Sometimes window openings are very wide, which makes it impossible to use conventional panels. In this case, sliding panels are used that move along guides.
The panel is a key element in determining the size of the shutters. The dimensions of the shutters can in practice be considered identical to the dimensions of the panels.
Slats (slats) of internal shutters
The slats are an integral component of the panels of internal shutters, representing the openwork filling of the panel.
Compared to typical blinds, the width of the slats for interior shutters differs significantly. The slats of blinds are narrower; their width can reach a maximum of 61 mm. In the case of internal shutters, the strips come in several standard widths: 31, 47, 63, 89 and 114 millimeters. The choice of lamella width is carried out according to the principle: the wider the panel, the wider its lamellas should be.
Typically, the slats for interior shutters are made of wood, as are the panels. The shape of the ribs is not limited to just a rectangle - very often elliptical lamellas are available in company offers.
Thanks to the ability to rotate the slats, the required flow of light deep into the room is determined. Since interior shutters regulate the amount of light, it is possible to completely customize the light intensity to ensure user comfort.
Material for interior shutters
Popular interior shutters are mainly made from wood. As a rule, this type of shutters is made of linden wood. Cedar wood is also of interest to users, primarily due to its reddish hue. Not only wood is used as a material for interior shutters. It can also be wood-composite or wood-fiber compressed material.
Wooden interior shutters are coated with protective paints that allow the different color effects of the wood to be hidden. In addition to paints, varnishes and special wood coatings are used.
The color scheme includes a range of standard colors reminiscent of the structure of wood, as well as all colors of the RAL palette. It is recommended to match the color of internal shutters to the color of the window frame, so that the shutters will look more harmonious and aesthetically pleasing.
Time has no power over them
Neither years, nor changing fashion, nor cutting-edge technology could make people forget about wooden shutters. Today, when humanity is chasing environmentally friendly materials, there is no better option than real wood. In addition, they changed their appearance, became less bulky and more convenient to use. At the request of the customer, the shutters can close tightly or, on the contrary, swing wide.
Despite more modern materials for the production of window shutters, wood is always held in high esteem. The strength and durability of plastic, as well as aluminum, cannot be compared with the quality of wood. It may require more trouble, both in processing and maintenance, but its aesthetics and environmental friendliness are unsurpassed. The only drawback of wooden shutters is their high cost.
Scientists have long proven the benefits of wood on the body. With its help, a person can again feel the colossal energy emanating from a wooden product, which can absorb negative emotions and charge with vigor. Man is inextricably linked with nature and is a direct part of it.
Application of internal shutters
Interior shutters, as mentioned at the beginning, are suitable for both traditional and modern interiors. The color and design of the interior shutters has a strong influence here, of course.
The use of interior shutters cannot be limited to the living room or bedroom only. Very often they are a noticeable element of cabinet or office windows.
They also fit harmoniously into the interior of a modern bathroom.
In the case of large glazing, for example, panoramic windows, massive shutters look better.
The use of internal shutters is also recommended in the case of windows of unusual shapes due to the possibility of creating structures of any shape, such as circle, arc, triangle and all polygonal shapes. Not only can shutters be used as shutters, they can also serve as partitions, both indoors and for various cavities such as closets. They can also serve as a door.
More recently, interior shutters have also begun to be used for roof windows. It is an innovative sun protection solution that works well as a decorative solution.
Types of shutters by opening method
Interior shutters differ not only in the material they are made of, but also in the design of the shutters. Shutters are installed on windows using different mechanisms. This allows you to choose the most convenient opening method for any window opening. Also, the use of different devices for opening the shutters allows you to influence the design of interior shutters. There are currently several types of systems available.
Swing
Internal shutters with the traditional method of opening the shutters are usually installed in openings with a small width. Depending on the area and installation method, they are equipped with hinges with an opening angle of 90° or 180°. When choosing them, it is necessary to ensure that the shutters and slopes do not touch and do not damage each other during operation.
Lifting
This system ensures that the shutters open in a vertical plane. Most often, such a mechanism is chosen to equip small-sized single-leaf structures. To hold the sash in a vertical position, the system is additionally equipped with special fittings.
Folding
One of the most popular methods of opening interior shutters has a second name - “Book”. This system consists of 2 types of hinges - hinged and connecting. With the help of the former, the structures are attached to the walls, and the latter are used to join adjacent sashes. Thanks to this opening system, the shutters swing open and fold at the same time. They are recommended for installation in wide openings. Since they are made using narrow sashes, such interior shutters do not require much space outside the window or doorway to open fully.
Swivel and slide
This combined system is recommended for installation in wide doorways. It is also often used when equipping large high windows. The opening mechanism consists of a sliding system and connecting hinges. The simultaneous use of these two devices allows narrow sashes to simultaneously fold and slide to the side, freeing up the opening. This combined system can also be called “Accordion”, since the shutters, when moving, are somewhat reminiscent of the bellows of a musical instrument.
Sliding
With this method of opening, the sashes of the internal shutters move apart in different directions in a plane parallel to the window. In practice, classic sliding systems are used quite rarely, since their operation is associated with some difficulties:
- when installing sliding shutters inside the opening, only half of the window can be opened;
- If the shutters are mounted on the wall, there should be enough space on both sides of the opening for retractable shutters.
To avoid such problems, it is recommended to give preference to a tilt-and-slide system. It requires significantly less space to open and, with any installation method, allows you to completely free up the light opening.
Shutters can be opened either traditionally manually or automatically. It is recommended to equip heavy and vertically rising shutters, as well as structures located in hard-to-reach places, with electric drives.
Prices for interior shutters
In practice, one of the elements of inaccessibility is the price of internal shutters. Shutters are actually very expensive to control light intensity. Their price can be above 200 euros per 1 m2.
The most expensive ones, of course, are made of solid wood. A slightly less expensive material is wood composite or plastic. However, in terms of appearance, solid wood interior shutters are gaining the most interest in Europe.
Prices largely depend on the individual needs of the customer. Thus, there may be significant differences. User reviews, however, do not confirm that solid wood interior shutters are not worth the money.
Why is it worth buying custom-made wooden shutters?
If you have long wanted to install such a structure in your home, but don’t know where to start, then we are ready to give you a couple of recommendations. Firstly, it is necessary to take into account the main rule: each house is a unique structure, with its own opening sizes, dimensions, etc. Therefore, it is very difficult to find a standard product in a store that will exactly suit your dacha. Secondly, making sashes with your own hands is a very long process that requires extensive experience in working with wood. Agree, it is quite rare now to meet a person who knows all the intricacies of wood processing. If you don't have the required skills, you will most likely end up wasting time and money that will ultimately prove fruitless.
Taking this into account, the conclusion is that the work should be trusted only to professionals. Most often, owners choose the option of making them “to order” from window companies. This solution is beneficial: you do not have to independently measure the dimensions of the windows, look for materials and make sashes and frames. All you need to do is choose the style you like, and then convey your wishes to the company’s specialists, who will perform all the necessary operations themselves. As a result, you will receive high-quality, reliable products that will serve you for many years. In our company you can order wooden shutters of any complexity. Specialists will manufacture and install the structure, strictly adhering to deadlines.
Shutters - the highest standard in window design
Shutters are an alternative to blinds, roller shutters and almost any other internal sun protection system. The charm of interior shutters also lies in the fact that they help distribute the sun's rays into the room differently than before - more or less intensely. There are also attractive adjustable sun beam angles. Interior shutters are not an obstacle when you open or close a window. The comfort of use is therefore not affected.
The undoubted advantage of this type of internal solar shading systems is the aspect of additional insulation. Closed shutters can limit the flow of cold air from outside to some extent. In addition, this type of interior window accessories becomes more modern in terms of handling, materials and statics.
Shutters with adjustable slats, like no other window accessory, provide a sense of privacy, provide adequate ventilation and a unique play of light in residential and public buildings.
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Designer design
In ancient times, woodcarvers were especially honored. Today they are called decorators. They are able to decorate wooden shutters not only with a carved pattern, but also to give the wood an aging look. Artificial aging of wood is very popular and is divided into three types: chemical, thermal and mechanical.
You can artificially age wood. Thus, the worn surface of wood is achieved by mechanical aging, while the surface of the shutter is rubbed with a special brush to remove soft fibers. Chemical aging involves treating the surface with ammonia, after which the wood becomes gray, very much reminiscent of the old one.
Over the years, wooden shutters have changed and improved, but remain popular to this day. They will regularly perform their functions for many years, and their decorative design will decorate any home.
