Many homeowners don’t realize that plantation shutters can do more than just provide a stylish touch to their windows — they can actually change the way windows appear in size.
Whether you’re looking to make your windows look taller, wider, or even shorter, the right type of shutters can help achieve these effects with ease.
If you’ve ever wanted to modify the appearance of your windows but didn’t know where to start, shutters might be the solution you’re looking for.
This article will guide you through some simple techniques and shutter styles to help visually elongate or shorten your windows, ensuring you get the exact look you want.
How shutters can elongate windows
One of the most effective ways to make windows look taller is by installing shutters that emphasize verticality.
Full-height shutters, for instance, stretch across the entire height of the window, drawing the eye upward and creating an elongated effect.
This effect is even more profound when you opt for more than the standard two panels opening left and right.
If you choose shutters with two panels opening on each side — left-left and right-right — it increases the visual lines, further enhancing the sense of height and creating a grander, more dramatic look.
Additionally, here’s a trick: installing the shutters just above the window frame, closer to the ceiling, can further enhance this illusion of height.
By moving the focal point of the window upward, you’re not only making the window appear taller, but the entire room can feel loftier too.
The vertical lines created by the louvres also play a major role. Shutters with slim, well-spaced louvres help draw the eyes along their length, which enhances the perception of height.
How shutters can shorten or shrink windows
Not every room benefits from tall, elongated windows, and sometimes you might want a cozier, more grounded feel.
For windows that you want to visually shorten or shrink, tier-on-tier or café-style shutters can be great options.
Tier-on-tier shutters allow you to cover just part of the window when you close the panels, either the top or the bottom, creating the illusion of a shorter window.
This design gives you flexibility with light control and privacy while breaking up the vertical space to prevent windows from feeling too tall.
On the other hand, café-style shutters cover only the bottom half of the window.
This style is ideal if you want to bring the focus downward, naturally making the window look shorter and enhancing a cozy, intimate atmosphere in the room.
Colour can also affect how windows appear.
Darker shutters tend to “anchor” a window, making it feel more solid and less visually imposing.
Lighter colours, conversely, open up a window and make it seem taller or wider.
How shutters can widen windows
If you’re looking to create the illusion of wider windows, shutters can help here too.
Shutters that emphasize horizontal lines can make windows seem broader.
One effective option is bi-fold shutters.
When opened out from the centre, these shutters reveal more of the window, making the window appear wider.
Another trick is choosing shutters with wide louvres.
Larger slats create broader visual breaks, which can widen the perceived size of a window.
Additionally, you can install shutters that extend beyond the window frame, covering part of the wall.
This technique tricks the eye into thinking the window stretches farther than it does.
Pro tip: If you’re wondering how to best widen your windows with shutters, think about how you want the room to feel. Is it open and airy or compact and cozy? Your shutter choice can make all the difference.
Whether you’re aiming to make your windows look taller, wider, or shorter, shutters offer a versatile solution that lets you control the appearance and feel of your room.
With full-height shutters to create vertical lines, tier-on-tier and café-style shutters to ground your space, or bi-fold shutters to widen your window frames, the right choice can completely change how your windows are perceived.
Ready to transform your windows?
Book a free no-obligation survey or request an estimate today, and find out how window shutters can be tailored to achieve the exact look you want.
