Strategies for Decorating Around Your Interior or Cafe-Style Shutters

Large indoor or cafe-style shutters offer a dramatic design element. Here are 12 tips for decorating rooms that feature interior shutters:

1. Highlight Shutters – Keep surrounding walls and ceilings minimal to prevent competition. An all-white backdrop can highlight bold colored shutters.
2. Incorporate Natural Textures – Balance sleek shutters with wood furniture and fabric layers. A jute rug and linen sofa can soften wood louvered shutters.
3. Maintain a Consistent Color Scheme – Harmonize shutter colors with pillows, art, and accessories. Navy blue shutters, pillows, and ceramic pieces can create a calming palette.
4. Align Proportions – Size other furnishings to match large-scale shutters. An oversized sofa can balance massive cafe-style shutters.
5. Contrast with Lightweight Window Treatments – Balance substantial shutters with sheer curtains. Airy embroidered panels flanking multi-panel wood shutters create an elegant look.
6. Adjust Lighting – Use dimmers and layer portable lights to highlight dramatic shutters. Sconces illuminating arched transom shutters can create a romantic ambiance.
7. Incorporate Architectural Alignments – Complement shuttered archways by mirroring them elsewhere. Arched doorways aligning with arched shutters can enhance architectural symmetry.
8. Use Reflective Surfaces – Bounce light around shuttered spaces with mirrors and metallics. A brass side table reflecting color off stained shutters adds an elegant touch.
9. Design Functional Spaces – Create reading nooks, workstations, or dining areas around installed paneled shutters.
10. Consider Sightlines – Arrange furniture to showcase impressive shutters. An entry table framing the view of bold front entry shutters can create a focal point.
11. Add Textural Rugs – Define shutter spaces with natural fiber rugs like jute, sisal, or wool.
12. Play with Scale – Mix massive shutters with delicate decorative objects for interest. A short bookshelf showcasing collectibles against tall louvered shutters offers a contrast.

Decorating thoughtfully around distinctive interior shutters enhances their dramatic impact. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need further clarification or have additional examples!