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Exterior shutters and beach homes are a classic match. If you have ever wondered which shutter styles are the best for beach homes, you'll find that there are plenty of options. Whether they are Bermuda shutters, board & battens, or panel shutters with a fun nautical cutout design, beach homes just look better with shutters! They can add character and function all in one punch. And don't forget the boosted curb appeal that will set your house apart. But first, you'll need to choose a shutter style.
Introduction to Shutter Styles for Beach Homes
Bermuda Shutters
Bermuda shutters (sometimes called Bahama shutters) are a great choice for your beach house exterior. One of their most common applications for Bermuda shutters is coastal homes, including beach houses. Bermuda shutters function somewhat like a cross between an awning and a louver shutter (the shutters with slats for venting, covered below).
These unique-looking shutters are a great option for beach houses due to their high exposure to sunlight and wind. Basically, you get to have the best of both! By changing the degree of openness, Bermuda shutters allow you to adjust the amount of sunlight coming into the house.
blue bermuda shutters on beach house bungalowThe breezes coming off the ocean are always welcomed into the home to some degree. Whether the shutters are open or fully closed, air flow is a constant. Due to their slats or louvers, Bermuda shutters let some breeze in even if they are fully closed. Naturally, when they are open, more airflow is free to blow through.
Bermuda shutters' style is known for giving homes an easy-going, tropical vibe. Their unique open-up design adds a different kind of architectural dimension to your home exterior. Some popular beach house styles that Bermuda shutters are installed on include cottages, ranch homes, Cape Cods and bungalows
outdoor kitchen with white Bermuda shutters
You may see Bermuda shutters mixed with other styles of shutters on a single house. Homeowners often decide that these shutters make sense on certain windows and elect to install louver or board and batten shutters on other windows.
Another interesting application for Bermuda shutters is to install them on porches, outdoor kitchens, gazebos, and other semi-outdoor spaces to create three-season rooms.
Louver Shutters
3-story beach house with blue louver shuttersA classic French design, louver shutters are among the most prevalent shutters you will see throughout the US and the world.
These are another popular choice of shutters for beach houses. Similar to the Bermuda shutter, louver shutters include slats called louvers that allow some breeze and sunlight into the home. There are two basic types of louver shutters. Deciding which type of louver shutter you want will determine whether you can adjust the light and air flow.
Fixed louver shutters are built with louvers at a static angle. The slats are open a specific amount that cannot be changed. Hence, they are “fixed” louvers. The size and placement of louvers will affect the standard amount of light and breeze.
Larger louvers are set farther apart, with fewer and larger spaces. These let more light and air inside. The smaller louvers are generally placed closer together and break up the sun and breeze a bit more. The choice between the two is more often aesthetic than anything, which is also true of operable louver shutters.
blue fixed louver beach house window shuttersOperable louver shutters give you the ability to adjust the openness of your louvers. Many times we see these shutters used for beach homes due to their flexibility of use.
Being on the shore can create rapidly changing conditions. One moment, you may have them opened a bit to let some sunlight in, when all of a sudden a storm cloud rolls through. Simple fix! Just use the tilt rod to close the louvers and you can keep the rain from spilling inside.
Louver shutters of both kinds offer versatile style. Either type can look quaint or give off an air of refined elegance, depending on the shutter and house designs.
Louvers can be a great option when seeking exterior shutters for beach houses, and are especially popular with French cottage-style and Victorian homes, like those detailed beauties in Cape May! Homeowners also choose louver shutters as a complementary style on homes sporting two styles of shutters; more on that below.
Panel Shutters & Combination Shutters
combination shutter with fixed louvers and top panel featuring v-groove detail and diamond cutoutPerhaps the most widely recognized shutter style, panel shutters can dress beach houses quite nicely. They are very customizable, which gives homeowners the opportunity to get creative. Different panel profiles offer a variety of style options, and panel configurations (how many panels and how large each one is) allow for unique, tailor-made looks.
Panel shutters offer added protection due to their solid structure. They were originally created to protect against weather, critters, and burglars alike! Additionally, if you want to take a daytime nap, closing your panel shutters is probably the most effective way to get a room nice and dark for resting.
coastal exterior shutters including flat panels with v-groove detailPanel shutters can be tailored to your style with tons of available custom options. Go for a classic look with 50/50-configured raised panels, or a combination shutter with both panel and louver sections!
Panels give you the opportunity to add even more of the beach house look to your shutters with a custom cutout (covered in the next section). With tons of panel profiles, configurations, and custom options, panel shutters can be made to match nearly any house style.
Board and Batten Shutters
green board and batten shutters with exterior shutter hardwareOften seen on farmhouses and cottages, board and batten shutters are a quaint, charming style and have seen a tremendous comeback. Many beach houses now feature board and batten shutters. Their basic design is simple, usually 3-6 boards running lengthwise alongside each other with “battens" - essentially horizontal boards - that run widthwise across the vertical boards to join them together.
Options to customize board and batten shutters include the number and width of boards, placement of battens, open or closed style (whether there is open space between the boards), and adding cutout designs, Z-braces, or cross-brace battens.
Board and batten style may be the most popular choice for beach cottage exterior shutters, but they can work on a variety of architectural styles. The closed-board type have the same benefits as panel shutters for light blockage, but with a more laid-back feel. Board and battens are kind of the unpretentious, low-key, yet charming and homey option among the classic shutter options.
Mix and Match Styles
Among the styles mentioned, some combinations of styles on a single house are popular. The most common pairings include panel shutters (first floor) and louver shutters (second floor), Bermuda shutters and any second type, louver shutters and Bermuda shutters, combination shutters (louver/panel) and single-style panel or louver shutters.
blue exterior shutters installed on beach cottage bungalow, both louver and Bermuda
Customizing Your Beach House Shutters
There are lots of ways to make your shutters reflect your own style. Adding custom options allows you to truly put your own spin on the overall look! From colors to hardware to selecting the best material for your climate, design options are almost endless. Read on for a primer on different ways to style your custom-built shutters.