Window shutters made of wood started to become extremely popular in the United States in the late 1900’s, as part of a trend incorporating use of wooden accessories into the home. 
At the time wooden shutters were quite expensive so that limited the sales to those who had the money to spare in buying what were classed as a somewhat luxury item. Those who couldn’t afford the real shutters resorted to buying wooden blinds or faux wood shutters instead. As often happens there has now been a reversal in trends and today’s consumer is now looking once again to purchase wooden shutters.
The advantage of window shutters are that they can add a degree of privacy and shade to your room that isn’t quite achieved with normal drapes. Although solid wood window shutters are still relatively expensive, there is an alternative available in the form of faux wood shutters. These are usually made from PVC or a similar material and are intended to give the impression of real wood, whilst at the same time being relatively maintenance free and certainly a lot more cost effective.
The popularity of faux wood shutters and the increasing demand has put manufacturers in a position of having to cater to consumer demands, consequently far more styles and types are available in today’s market. Another plus to this increase in demand is that to compete, manufacturers of solid wooden blinds have been forced to lower their prices to enable them to get their share of the market.
Another reason behind the demand for faux wood shutters is because they are perceived to have no threat to the environment, in effect they don’t require excessive amounts of wood, compared to an all natural wood shutter. In addition they are easy to maintain and care for and can sustain atmospheric conditions like humidity which tends to effect the durable life of natural wood shutters.
They have advantages in terms of durability, and resistance to weather conditions, plus they don’t warp or fade over time when constantly exposed to the sunlight. You can buy faux shutters in a variety of styles and textures, and many of them replicate real wood effects. Whilst you can tell the difference between the faux and the real on close examination, they are still sufficiently attractive enough to make them an asset to your home and windows, giving that extra bit of style to your home.
At the end of the day the decision on which type of shutter to purchase will come down to the consumer and the budget they have allocated and what they are prepared to outlay in improving their home. There is no question that real wooden shutters are a quality product, but you need to take into account the factors such as cost, maintenance and the weather conditions of your residential area, such as humidity and whether you are prepared to spend that bit of extra time looking after them. So the final question is do you want real wood or faux imitations?
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