Picture this: You’re making your yearly rounds to inspect the shutters on your home’s exterior. You find that most of them are in fairly good condition, but there are a few that clearly need to be replaced. What do you do? Is it OK to mix new shutters in with the old ones, or do you have to begin from scratch?
The short answer: Sure, blending your shutters is A-OK — but there are a few things to consider. We’re diving into the details ahead.
Restore existing shutters.
One approach to the mix-and-match shutter scenario is to clean up shutters that are salvageable, and toss and replace the ones that are beyond repair. Then, you simply paint the new and old shutters the same color in a fresh coat. The question: How do you tell if your shutters are even worth restoring?
If paint is peeling or bubbling, sanding them down and repainting may be all it takes to give them a second life. If the shutters are chipped, rotting, or flimsy, it’s better to start fresh with brand-new shutters. It’s best to be honest with yourself here. Skimping on needed replacements only delays the inevitable and takes away from whatever upgrades you do spring for.
Consider materiality.
The type of material of your existing shutters plays a big role in deciding whether to keep and restore, replace only some of your shutters, or upgrade entirely. For example, if you have vinyl shutters and half of them are deteriorating, you may be thinking about replacing the other fifty percent. However, you need to consider the time, effort, and longevity of repainting vinyl shutters. Will it be a good overall investment that will extend your home exterior’s looks for at least a few years — or will the original half need to be replaced before long anyway?
→ Choosing to repaint your shutters? Be sure to read up on how to avoid cracked paint.
Mix matching styles…
If you do go the route of mixing old, freshly repainted shutters with a few new ones, your shutter selection cannot be a free-for-all. Adding in a couple new shutters may be an option for you if you already have a popular shutter style on your home. If that’s the case, replacing a select few may be as simple as scrolling through our range of options, finding the shutter style that matches the ones currently on your home, and hitting “Add to Cart!”
…Or intentionally choose two complementary styles.
Mixing and matching two different shutter styles can be done tastefully, and may be an easier answer if your existing shutters are unique. Symmetry should be a top consideration if you’re mixing styles, especially if you are working with a two-story house.
Using both louvered shutters and single-panel style shutters is the most common combination, but incorporating board and batten shutters with single panels is not unheard of, either. There are zero hard and fast rules about what styles can be combined, but they should make you smile when you walk up to your doorstep.
Of course, the best way to postpone the need to replace exterior shutters is to keep tabs on their condition, regularly clean them, and repair as needed. Proper maintenance and the right up-front shutter selection and installation is the key to long-lasting curb appeal. Interested in making the most of your shutters?
