Cheap Plantation Shutters: Do They Exist?

If you are looking for a cheap window treatment, then no, Plantation shutters are probably not your best choice. However, if you want to install plantation shutters yet you do not want to outlay a lot of money on them, there are alternatives. Indoor plantation shutters are made from varying materials.

Of course, the classic shutter is made from hard wood. Originally these shutters were made on site, in the large plantations, where they were needed to provide both security for the homestead and a way to close up the house when bad weather was approaching. To make these shutters, large hardwood trees were felled and the shutters were made from it. These days most wood plantation shutters are also made from specially treated hardwoods. They are not cheap, however, and even though they look great there are still alternatives made from other materials that are quite a bit cheaper and yet can still give your room that very classic appeal.

Shutters can be made from PVC or vinyl and they can also be made from faux wood. Typically the vinyl shutters are usually white. Faux wood shutters are made to resemble real wood shutters, thus they are often finished with a wood grain type appearance to closely match their wood counterparts. Vinyl shutters are usually the least expensive type you can buy. Faux wood shutters are also relatively cheap. If you are looking for cheap plantation shutters you may want to take a look at either of these kinds.

As the name implies, faux wood plantation shutters are not made from real wood even though they may look like they are. In fact, from a distance it is often very difficult to tell the difference between wood and faux wood shutters. They are made with different ‘grains’ and appear to be made from different types of wood. Other differences, aside from the material they are made from, do exist however.

They are usually quite a bit heavier than the real wood shutters, due to the heavily compressed material they are made from.  This does not normally pose a problem, however if you are hanging them on extremely wide or high windows and you are planning on opening them up to the side fairly often you may find they are a trifle more unwieldy than either vinyl or wood shutters.

On the positive side, they are often the best choice if you live in an area where there is high humidity as they do not swell or buckle when exposed to moisture. Wood shutters do need to be cared for and above all they must not be subject to high humidity as that can cause them to become somewhat misshapen. Of course, some wood shutters are treated to be extremely moisture resistant, but you should expect to pay dearly for that.

As the name implies these are made from vinyl or PVC. Usually these shutters are white, though you can find plantation shutters made in different colors too. They are much cheaper than other kinds of shutters, though again it does tend to depend on the brand you buy and the actual design. If you have to have custom made shutters due to an unusual window shape you will be expected to pay more than you would for standard sized and shaped shutters.

White plantation shutters can make a room look larger than it actually is. They are bright and cheery, and give the room a light, fresh and clean appeal. They are also very easy to clean and are not at all damaged by humidity or water. Another plus with these cheap plantation shutters is that they are also usually fairly lightweight and easy to manage.

On the downside, they can scratch—as can wood or PVC shutters. If they do, they do not look that great anymore and, unlike wood that can be sanded and refinished, they are more difficult to repair. You can paint over them, but the scratch will still be there.  They can also yellow if exposed to too much sunlight. If you live in an area that is exposed to long hours of bright, strong sunlight you may want to opt for the wood colored PVC shutters instead as any yellowing is usually less noticeable.

Of course, a lot also depends on where you buy your shutters from. Probably the cheapest place to buy plantation shutters, at least the standard type, is online. Very often the supplier will offer free shipping so all that you are paying for is the actual shutter itself, and they will often explain to you via email all about blinds, shutters and the different types available. The downside to buying shutters online is that you usually have to be prepared to both measure and install the shutters yourself, or hire someone to do it for you. That adds to the overall cost.

Another option is to buy from Home Depot or Lowes or a similar store. Frequently they will install the shutters for you at no extra cost and they will often also even come out to measure them for you prior to your purchase.

You can also often find new plantation shutters at the resale counters in these stores. These are often shutters that were ordered but ended up being the wrong size, thus they are returned. Because they have been sold once, they are resold at a considerably cheaper price. It is always worth looking into this when you are considering buying cheap plantation shutters as while you may not always find what you need, very often you do.