With so much extra time spent at home during this worldwide epidemic, many people are turning to home improvement projects. Hopefully, we'll all come out at the other end of this virus with significantly more beautiful homes. One simple improvement you can make while staying home due to social distancing is updating your window coverings. There are a few options when it comes to window coverings, but the most elegant is the plantation shutter. In fact, plantation shutter installation is one of the easiest and most elegant updates you can make to your home. If you decide to go forward with this home update, here are a few tips to keep in mind: Choose Custom If you're going to do a home update, you might as well do it the right way. Custom designed plantation shutters are easier to fit to your exact window shape. This is especially important for people with older homes as the windows are often shaped differently than modern homes. The other benefit of choosing custom designed shutters while doing a plantation shutter installation is you can match the character of your home. If you have an old door or shed made from unique wood, it can be really fun have it turned into shutters in order to preserve your home's historic character. A Hidden Tilt-Rod All shutters that are able to open and close must have a tilt rod, but some shutters are able to hide the tilt-rod from visibility. It's best to go with the hidden tilt-rod for a few reasons. First, it's a stronger and more reliable design. Because the shutter is out of sight, it is more resilient and has a longer life span. The second reason to choose a hidden tilt-rod is that it gives you a clearer view out your windows when the shutters are open. This helps bring more natural light into your house, which is much needed if you're spending more time indoors. Every year certain design trends sweep through newly built and newly redecorated homes. Whether you're designing a new dream house or sprucing up your current decor, you'll want to carefully think through your design choices to ensure you're in love with the look for years to come. One of the top design choices recommended by experts in the interior decorating field is interior wooden window shutters. The design choices you make for your interior shutters can tie together the aesthetic of the whole room. Consider some of the following options for your wooden shutters. Painted White Wood The most popular color for shutters right now is not even a color at all. White is the perfect color because of its versatility. If you want to add an accent wall and some funky furniture, white shutters won't be a problem at all. On the other hand, if you're going for a minimalist-inspired aesthetic, white is ideal. The best part about white shutters is you can easily switch between different aesthetics as styles change and your interests shift. Interior wooden window shutters that are painted white also brighten up a room. They cause more reflection of light, which makes it feel brighter at every time of day. Wide Louver Shutters Shutters with wide louvers are most popular in plantation-style homes, but they can be used in any home to add an old-fashioned aesthetic. This style of shutter is popular right now because it is a way to add a distinctness to your home's design. Traditional shutters have narrow louvers, and this is what you most commonly see in homes. By adding wood shutters with wide louvers, you're setting your home apart from all the rest. The added benefit of wide louvers on your interior wooden window shutters is it allows increased airflow and ventilation. If you're dealing with a stuffy room, this type of shutter is perfect for you. In any home, beautiful wood window shutters stand out. They're elegant and bring in the light better than other options. If you're thinking about updating your windows with custom shutters, you have a few things to consider. Choosing custom shutters allows for a lot freedom with design, and the first decision you need to make is which type of wood you will use. Painted Interior Shutters If you're planning to paint your shutters, basswood is an excellent choice. Whether you want a timeless white color or a more quirky color to show off your personality, this type of wood holds paint better than most. In fact because of the durability of this wood, it's easy to repaint as your taste in color changes. Because basswood is typically pale white or light brown, the light shade is easy to cover with any color. Knots in this type of wood are highly unusual, which makes it easy to quickly cover the full surface area with paint. Shutters made from this type of wood are some of the most durable. A basswood shutter can potentially last for centuries. Stained Wood Window Shutters Stained wood window shutters add a lovely rustic quality to a home. If this is the direction you're thinking of going, knotty alder wood is perfect for you. Knotty alder wood comes from a tree that grows rapidly in North America. Because of the abundance of these trees, knotty alder is very affordable for a high-quality wood. Besides being affordable and excellent quality, knotty alder is a popular choice because of its notable beauty. The name knotty alder comes from the wood's frequent knots. These knots create interesting and rustic designs in the texture. The color usually ranges from pale yellow to a shade of reddish brown. These warm colors make a room feel brighter. The softness of the wood also allows the stain to sink into the pores, creating a shiny or glossy look. Regardless of your choice in materials, wood shutters are a beautiful addition to any home. Guests will envy the abundance of natural lighting that shutters allow, and you'll get to enjoy that brightness every day. If you're feeling bored or unenthusiastic about your home's aesthetic lately, you know it's time for a new house project. A simple way to add freshness is to add interior wood shutters. This small step doesn't take too much time and will instantly make any room feel classy and new. You'll save energy. If your utility bill has been giving you a headache lately, it's time to improve the insulation in your house. Because drafty windows are one of the most common sources of wasted energy, adding interior wood shutters is an easy way to improve energy efficiency. The best shutter style for maintaining moderate indoor temperatures is the plantation shutter. Long before air conditioning or central heating, plantation shutters were used to help keep homes comfortable. Plus, they add a fashionable and vintage touch to your home. Wood shutters are timeless. One of the most inconvenient aspects of redoing your home's design is having to redo it every few years as things go in and out of style. The great thing about using wood shutters that they've been in style for centuries, and will stay in style many years to come. You won't have to think about replacements in another five years. Wood window shutters have been around even longer than window glass. They were popular as far back as medieval England. This means elegant homes that have been around for hundreds of years can share characteristics with modern homes because of the timeless nature of this design choice. Interior wood shutters match every aesthetic. The awesome thing about interior wood shutters is they can be customized to match so many different styles. Lighter woods are great for brightening a room, while dark woods are perfect for adding a cozy and elegant touch. You can choose between a stained or a painted finish. Whether you're aiming for a modern, bohemian, minimalist, or vintage style, there will be something for you.