While we don’t want our storage sheds to look ramshackle and badly maintained, they’re purely functional right? There’s no point trying to spruce them up with things like shutters is there? Or is there?

Shutters on storage sheds are necessary to add extra security, and to keep shed contents cool in summer whilst protecting them from rain, wind and snow in colder months. Colorful painted shutters will also make your shed look more appealing and provide an attractive talking point in your backyard.

We think adding shutters to sheds might be a good idea here at Take a Yard, so let’s look into this subject in more detail to discover why you would do this and how.

Are Shutters Really Necessary On a Garden Shed?

Shutters aren’t strictly necessary, but they are very useful, and we’d definitely recommend looking into them (no pun intended). If you have a storage shed with a window, a set of shutters can help in many ways.

Firstly, security. A shed is more vulnerable to break-ins than your home, and a glass window is a weak point. A pair of shutters is a good deterrent, especially if you can padlock them closed at night. They can also be used to hide what’s inside: you don’t want your collection of expensive tools on display, and a shutter acts like drapes.

Next, by shutting out the light, they can keep your shed cooler. Close the shutters during the day to prevent your shed from overheating: this is especially important if it doubles as a workshop. If the shed window opens, choose louvred shutters. This means you can have the window open, but the shutters closed and still venting – the best of both worlds.

If you live in an area where strong winds or even hurricanes occur, storm shutters are essential if you don’t want flying debris taking out your window panes. 

And, shutters can look really good. Let’s face it, sheds aren’t always the best-looking building, and an attractive pair of shutters adds a nice feature.

What’s The Point of Fake Shutters On Your Shed?

Simply, they can look really nice. As we’ve just mentioned, sheds don’t always look very good, and they can have a utilitarian appearance. A pair of decorative shutters softens this look. If you have shutters on your house, you can have the same design or color shutters on your shed to create a pleasingly coordinated effect.

If your kids have a playhouse in the yard, fake shutters are super-cute. Paint them in a cheerful shade or in your kids’ favorite color.

Should Shutters Be Longer Than The Window?

Unlike drapes, shutters shouldn’t be longer than the window. The shutters should be measured to the window casing (the glass), because the idea is that they enclose this area, covering the glazed part. This gives a pleasingly neat appearance. 

If you are making decorative shutters that will never be closed, each shutter still needs to be half the measurement of the casing. If it isn’t, the finished look will be displeasing: you may not be sure why it doesn’t work, but you’ll know it doesn’t look quite right.

The exception to this is if you’re fitting storm shutters. These are typically made from metal or polycarbonate, and the simplest designs are stored in a box above your window, and are rolled down like a blind when needed. These are naturally larger than the window. 

You can also get traditional-looking storm shutters that resemble wood but are made from aluminum, and these follow the classic design of fitting the inside frame measurement.

Can You Trim Wood & Vinyl Shutters?

If you have standard size windows, you shouldn’t need to cut your shutters. However, shed windows come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and it might not be so easy to buy shutters that are exactly right.

If you are reasonably skilled at DIY and have decent tools (the fact you have a  storage shed suggests that this is the case), you can trim your wooden shutters to size. If you want them to look good, however, it’s not just a case of sawing out a couple of the louvres, as you have to make sure that there is still a frame on the cut edge.

Can you cut vinyl shutters? Usually no, you can’t. The reason for this is that vinyl shutters are often hollow, so trimming them leaves you with a gap at the cut edge. You can get bespoke shutters, which is a good option if you have a non-standard window and want vinyl shutters. Yes, this might not be the cheapest option, but vinyl shutters are easy to care for and should last you for years. 

If you want wooden shutters of a certain size, and have the skills to trim down store-bought shutters, then you can probably make your own. Take a look on YouTube to find out how to make your own shed shutters.

What Color Should Your Shed Shutters Be?

Painting the shutters on your shed is a welcome change to bring a splash of color to your yard. When you’re choosing the color for the shutters on your home, the general rule is to pick something that tones with your walls, but a few shades darker.

There’s no real rules on shed shutter aesthetics, so go with whatever shade makes you happy! You can paint them the same shade as the shutters on your home, or choose a color that matches your yard furniture. If you don’t want to make a feature of the shutters, paint or stain them the same color as your shed.

Can you paint vinyl shutters? Yes, you can. Use an exterior latex paint (or any paint that says it’s suitable for exterior plastic), and it’s a good idea to use a latex primer, too. Be prepared to have to paint on more coats than you do when painting wood or walls, and allow each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next.

The only thing we’d add is that the color choice isn’t as wide as it is with normal exterior paints. So, if you fancy painting your shed shutters in an unusual hue, go for wooden ones.

How Much Are Shed Shutters & Are They Worth The Cost?

How much do shed shutters cost? They are not an expensive purchase. You can pick up a pair of 9” by 27” storage shed shutters on Amazon for under twenty dollars. These are made from UV-resistant plastic and come in a choice of colors. These are basic shutters without proper louvres; however if you want a quick and inexpensive solution, it’s a good option.

Home Depot has a wide selection of exterior shutters, from polypropylene to traditional, old-style board and batten designs. These may be sold with the home rather than the shed in mind; however for a few dollars more, you get a super-robust set of shutters and a far wider choice.

Louvred vinyl shutters from Home Depot start at around $50; however expect to pay at least $150 for a pair of wooden board and batten ones. Antique raised panel shutters are somewhere in between, but they might look a bit out of place on a shed.

If you need hurricane or storm shutters, it’ll cost you about £15-20 per square foot for accordion shutters. You’ll need to find a specialist store, but as you’ll know if you live in a hurricane zone, there are plenty of places out there.

Maybe you don’t have a shed window at all, and all this talk of shutters has made you realize that glazing would be a great addition to your shed. You can actually buy shed or playhouse windows, complete with a pair of vinyl shutters, for not much over $40 on Amazon. This would bring natural light into your shed, with all the added benefits that a set of shutters brings.

Summary

Whilst shutters are not strictly necessary on storage sheds, they do have three clear benefits.

Firstly, they add an extra layer of security to your shed, which is important if you keep expensive power tools inside.

Secondly, they protect your shed and its contents from adverse weather conditions. In the hotter months they help to keep the inside of the shed cool – while blocking out rain, wind and snow in storms and the colder months.

Thirdly, adding colorful painted shutters to your shed will make it look great – especially if it doubles up as a play shed for the kids.

So with that all said, we think shutters on sheds are definitely worth considering. 🙂