Installing decorative shutters is a new fashion trend

Key tasks of shutters

The primary purpose of window shutters is protection. Initially, they were installed to protect windows from bad weather, excess sun and prying eyes.

Today, these building exterior parts perform the following tasks:

• provide UV protection;
• retain heat in the house;
• protect from street noise;
• create a stylish appearance;
• prevent burglars and thieves from entering.

Windows with shutters can most often be seen outside the city - in private cottages and country estates. Here they are used as a theft prevention measure.

However, they can also be used like blinds: to change the temperature in a room and retain heat in the winter.

Interior design and architecture

The most ancient type of window in Rus' was a narrow fiberglass window. It was made in the simplest, most accessible and primitive way, cutting out a piece from one log, from which the wall of the hut was built.

The fiber window was a long quadrangular slit, extended horizontally. Smoke often came out through this opening, which filled the entire hut during the heating of the Russian stove. The volok window was closed with a wooden latch, which was called a “volok” - and it was thanks to this latch that the window got its name.

Gradually, the fiberglass type of window was replaced by a window of a more complex and advanced design, which was called “slanting”. The slanted window was based on a wooden quadrangle or log, inserted into a special window opening made in the wall of the house. It consisted of two side jambs, which is where its name came from, an upper lintel and a lower board - the window sill. Practically in its appearance, the slanted window was not much different from the appearance of modern windows in wood frames.

A window was inserted into the deck, which was a wooden frame to which mica plates or ends made from pieces of bull's bladder were attached, which were the predecessors of modern window glass. They almost did not let in any light, but in songs and fairy tales they were always called “crystal”. And indeed, this was the only opportunity at that time to provide at least minimal access to light into the Russian hut.

An important component of a slanted window was the platbands. They covered the gaps between the wall and the deck and were always covered with beautiful decorative patterns in the traditions of folk art of that time. The platbands were most often carved and were real works of folk applied art. Sometimes the platbands were painted by hand using paints. These features of window design are reflected in the saying “The shutters are carved, the windows are painted.”

The upper casing, which was called “kokoshnik” because its shape was really similar to this type of festive women’s headdress, always had a schematic or stylized image of the sun in the center. Solar symbolism was extremely popular in ancient times. It was believed that the image of the sun could endow family members living in the house with good health, longevity and bring financial well-being. To the right and left of it were images of goddesses - stylized drawings of zoomorphic figures protecting the house from evil spirits.

The side trims, which were called “towels”, due to their resemblance to decorative linen towels, lavishly decorated with embroidery, were also covered with ornaments, usually associated with the symbolism of images of earth or water. The entire window ornament was a single complex image, which had an important ritual and protective significance and served as a talisman for the house against the penetration of evil spirits and evil spirits.

Kinds

Modern manufacturers produce a huge range of shutters of various modifications.

Depending on the opening technology, such devices are divided into:

• Hinged (divided into single-leaf and double-leaf).
• Roller shutters (the protective sheet is rolled onto a rotating drum).
• Folding (the accordion principle is used, and by changing the position of the doors, it is easy to change the degree of illumination in the room).
• Sliding along guides.

• internal doors (typical for city apartments);
• external doors (typical for suburban and private urban housing).

Separately, it is worth noting the materials that are used to make these products. As you can see in the photo of window shutters, they come in:

• made of wood;
• made of metal;
• made of plastic.

In addition, there is a type of window sashes called roller shutters.

How I chose shutters

That is why, as in the old days, today most country houses have shutters, consisting of one or more sashes fixed in the window opening. But winter is not summer, and opening the shutters when the owners only occasionally visit their dacha is not at all necessary.

On the windows in the hallway I installed inexpensive removable shutters made from a 2 mm thick metal sheet welded to the frame. Cheap and cheerful. I secure it with bolts screwed into the inside of the wall.

But in my rooms the windows are quite large, and here I had to install a hinged structure. I thought through everything down to the smallest detail so that it would not be very easy to hack.

Wooden devices

This can be lining, tongue-and-groove board, special profile, etc. Such façade elements always look stylish and aesthetically pleasing, most effectively emphasizing the unique architectural style of the building.

Speaking about wood species, the most commonly used are oak, larch, pine, cypress, and thuja. There are also shutters made of juniper.

Other varieties are prone to shrinkage and drying out (with excessive exposure to the sun), as well as swelling (with excessive moisture).

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Due to these disadvantages, they are not suitable for creating decorative window elements. Wooden window shutters have a number of advantages. They:

• have a simple design solution;
• perform the full range of window shutter tasks;
• quite beautiful in appearance.

They have three disadvantages:

• they are not a serious obstacle to vandals;
• they have a high price.
• they must be regularly treated with varnish and special anti-rotting compounds.

Window shutters: 20 ways to bring freshness and novelty to the interior

Perhaps not everyone will believe that in addition to the usual curtains, there are many other decorations for windows.

Today we will prove to readers of the Design Museum website that there are no less interesting, original and stylish ways of design.

We'll talk about window shutters. Once they were used for a clear practical purpose, now – as a fashionable interior detail. We present to your attention twenty of the freshest and most interesting ideas.

Snow-white colors and natural wood - what could be more simple and beautiful at the same time? The boiling white shutters let the first rays of sunlight into the room as if a glazed crust was breaking.

If you don’t want bulky curtains and tulles, then these blinds will suit your taste. They do not take up much space, giving the interior decoration charm and a playful mood.

Shutters in children's rooms complete the overall atmosphere of joy, play and fun. Early in the morning they open the whole world outside the window to young researchers. And the rich red color “sounds” life-affirming and positive.

Window decoration does not have to be rich and pretentious. Sometimes the simple wooden sashes on the windows, which can be found in ancient estates and estates, evoke admiration. The effect of charm is achieved through the contrast of simplicity, a certain roughness of untreated wood and exquisite armchairs.

The idea that shutters take up a lot of space is a misconception. With the right approach, they, on the contrary, can visually increase the window space. In the photo, the impression is created due to the almost complete match in tone with the walls.

Neat shutters that are not the size of the windows, but only cover them halfway, stand out due to their color contrast.

At first glance, this does not sound at all, and it is unlikely that anyone would want to have barn-like windows in their house. However, looking at the photo, we can confidently say that they are “in place”, and their stylistic affiliation is emphasized by the bathroom in the spirit of the 18-19th century.

Simple wooden doors made of boards fastened with hinges. The style is emphasized by the plants in the pots that stand on the windowsill.

A soft window sill, a large window and small shutters are an ideal place for privacy. Perhaps everyone dreams of this.

Who said that one window opening requires only two shutters? Let there be four of them, but small ones. As if in a doll's house, they are neatly folded on the sides. The real charm of the houses of the European aristocracy.

Old noble houses and estates carefully preserve the memory of bygone times. Is it worth interfering with the cozy atmosphere? Therefore, many people prefer retro style when reconstructing buildings.

The mysterious design of the shutters in the photo probably reminded many of fairy tales, when all the action began with just such windows, opening up a magical world to the viewer.

This interior design is a striking example of how window sashes can visually enlarge your space, filling it with light and sunlight.

Shutters in cheerful colors are an ideal solution for a child's room. They blend harmoniously with the red and white color scheme of the surroundings.

It turns out that the shape does not always have to be traditional - rectangular or square - oval or round varieties are allowed. Observing such a design move, the first thing we remember is the portholes. The rich design of the bathroom is emphasized by a simple white frame and an original window.

This option reflects the concept that is most familiar to everyone. Wooden shutters in a neutral shade complement the classic design of the room.

If the windows above the bed were closed, then at first glance it would not be clear where the shutters were. The original design idea balanced the romantic and feminine atmosphere of the room.

The energy of the sea and sun could not help but be reflected in the interior. Original doors will decorate not only a bungalow, but also a children's room or living room in your home. The focus is on a bright, rich blue color and an unusual way of closing.

The design is colonial style with southern charm and chic. The shutters in it play a secondary role, without weighing them down or jumping to the fore, but only supporting the overall harmony of all elements.

The simple and modest design of the room and the abundance of white require a bright accent. This role is played by wooden shutters with a bright orange frame, as well as bedspreads and cushion covers with elements of ethnic style.

Roller shutters

Such products are assembled mainly from metal (aluminum or steel), although there are also plastic specimens.

Area of ​​application: offices, factories, industrial facilities, shops, warehouse buildings.

Aluminum models provide excellent protection from winds and thieves. The lowering and raising of the sashes occurs using electric or manual devices.

The positive aspects of these window designs:

• good thermal protection;
• good reliability;
• affordability;
• easy care and maintenance;
• variety of colors.

Disadvantage: low attractiveness.

Useful tips

When you decide to install shutters, it is better to entrust this task to professionals. They will do everything very efficiently and reliably.

You should also not engage in the manufacture of sashes yourself. It's simple.

Metal models require special equipment and tools.

As for wood products, it is very difficult to make them decorative with your own hands - only experienced carvers can make not just shutters, but an exquisite accessory.

Therefore, it is worth remembering that there is only one way to save money - to place an order for the sashes in a specialized workshop, and install them yourself.

Buying Tips

If you are going to buy a mirror-shutter, then first of all you should decide where exactly it will be placed. When choosing, you should take into account the width of such a decorative item, both closed and open. This will allow you to determine exactly how much space on the wall or how large the niche will be needed to accommodate it.

It is equally important before purchasing to make sure that the shutters of the mirror you choose can be easily opened and closed. No matter how attractive it may be with the doors closed, they must still be in good working order and ensure the multifunctional use of such an object in the interior, including the possibility of being used for its intended purpose.

Wooden shutters look most natural and combine well with a mirror surface, but your choice should not be limited by this criterion. The wood frame with openwork forged inserts creates an equally impressive effect. In addition, such a mirror with shutters will fit perfectly into modern interiors, but will look no less attractive when decorating a living room or bedroom in the spirit of a medieval castle.

In any case, when purchasing, you should be guided by the combination with the overall style of the interior. Therefore, if you are going to buy a Provence mirror

, then you obviously shouldn’t place it in the hallway or high-tech living room.

Mirror shutters will bring special comfort to the interior of your home and create the atmosphere of a fairy tale created with your own hands. A competent choice of such a decorative element will ensure the creation of just such a harmonious combination. Bringing magical charm into the interior is quite simple, and you can clearly see this by purchasing a mirror with shutters . Stay with Westwing and continue to conquer new heights of harmony of beauty and comfort in the home, the secrets of which our shopping club strives to share with its subscribers.

Self-installation

How to install shutters on windows using solely your own strength? First of all, you need to clarify for yourself the material and shape of the structure.

The easiest way to do this is by drawing a diagram and calculating the parameters of the window opening. If you decide that you have enough skills and abilities, then you can refuse to buy a finished product.

Before you start cutting out the sashes, experts recommend taking care of the components. They can be purchased at the store or made by yourself.

Installation of shutters is carried out in several stages:

• Preparing tools for drilling.
• Making holes and installing anchors.
• Installation of the device frame.
• Grinding the bolt heads with a grinder to reduce the risk of loosening.
• Hanging shutters.
• Installation of locks.
• Attaching decor.
• Carrying out testing (checking the quality of work performed).

Let's look at the last stage in more detail. After completing the installation work, you just need to open and close the doors several times. You can also shine a flashlight from the street to evaluate their light transmittance.

Window shutters for a summer house are not only practical and functional. Properly selected, they can become a real decoration of your home, its main highlight.

Terrace shutters, pergolas, canopies, openwork – there are many variations. Therefore, choosing the right product for your situation will not be difficult. The doors look especially impressive on facades in Provence or country style.

New in blogs

Speaking about the Russian hut, one cannot lose sight of such an interesting design element as platbands, shutters and other window framing details.

Tomsk, 19th century

The large windows with glass that we are accustomed to appeared in Russia relatively late, already in the 17th…18th century, and even then they were available only to wealthy people. Previously, rich houses used mica - the so-called “mica ends”, much less often small, cloudy glasses in thick lead bindings.

Antique mica window

The “transparency” of mica is quite visible. It is suitable for lighting, but it is difficult to see something through such a window.

Volokovy window with bars

Double fiberglass window - also with a grille, but not from a rod, but from a strip with a connection with rivets

In simpler dwellings, they were content with a relatively transparent bull's bladder or the bladder of large fish, oiled with cloth. But even so, the window sizes were, to put it mildly, small. The first options were generally cut to the size of one or two logs of the log house, and were used not so much for lighting as for the release of smoke and ventilation.

Another option is that the damper moves from bottom to top

What’s interesting: the dampers (lifting, horizontally movable, removable) were usually located from the inside of the home - which is quite logical. But in some cases external dampers were also used.

Just the same external damper. Please note - there are almost no platbands, but the frame and window sill are decorated with carvings. Dormer windows did not have dampers, were constantly open, and were used to ventilate attics and non-residential premises.

Since it was impossible to completely cover the window opening with one piece of mica or bubble, a composite structure was used - the so-called “oblique window”.

Simple sloping window with one shutter

Composite shutter, with transverse fasteners and forged hinges

With the advent of relatively large “light” windows, they began to be called “red”. As many people know, in Russian “red” and “beautiful” are almost synonymous