Of all the materials used in both classic and modern interior design wood is the most versatile. It is beautiful, environment-friendly, varies in colour and texture, yet always gives that warm an homely touch to he most minimalist or industrial interior. At the same time, wood is never out of fashion.
Wooden shatters have been protecting our houses against elements and assuring privacy for centuries. Nowadays, they are also a very functional element of interior design. Wooden shutters are attractive, sturdy and long-lasting while comparatively low-maintenance.
Shutters are basically a vertical frame set with horizontal rails or slats, the angle of which is adjustable. The design of shutters allows us to control the amount of light entering the room. (It is convenient when we need to keep the sun away from our bedroom on Sunday.)
Shutters also enable room ventilation without letting dust in or your pets out. Being a cat owner, I believe shutters are a god-sent invention for those who try keep their pets from wandering but allow them fresh air and a pick outside.
The origin of shutters is attributed to the Ancient Greece, where a construction of marble plates offered protection from the blazing sun and the neighbours' eyes.
This simple device later spread through all the areas of Mediterranean and Middle East.
Shutters and screens were extensively used in Asia, where they always had aesthetic as well as functional value.
In Europe, shutters became popular around the 16th century, first as a protection for window glass and then as an integral part of the interior.
It is probably thanks their long history and internationality that shutters easily fit into any style of interior design -- from zen to country, from Tudor to high-tech.
Moreover, wooden shutters go very well with screens or curtains you may use to decorate your windows, helping you to create a truly unique yet integral design.
If you feel like it is time to change something in your house, start with adding shutters. Shutters will allow you to experiment with room lightning and combinations of wood, textile and other designing elements. It is very likely that would be the only change you need.
