Understanding Louver Size
The biggest choice you’ll face while designing your plantation shutters is selecting the louver size, which refers to the depth of the horizontal slat that can be tilted open and closed on the shutter. Typical louver sizes include 2.5 inches, 3.5 inches, and 4.5 inches.
Are 2.5 inch shutters out of style? The short answer is Yes, 2.5 inch shutters are out of style. They’re just not as trendy as they once were. They used to be quite popular back in the early and late 90s, but in the late 2000s, interior design trends leaned towards bigger, bolder, and simpler designs.
Nevertheless, our factory still produces 2.5” louvers. They account for approximately 3% of all our shutter sales. So, who purchases them? Some individuals opt for them to match their existing 2.5 inch shutters, while others with historic homes prefer the traditional look over more modern designs.
The Problem with 2.5 inch Shutters
The catch with 2.5-inch shutters? They can really hog your view. As Alan Thomas, our Senior Installer puts it, “Those little louvers gobble up a lot of your glass.”
“2.5-inch louvers are like a step up from those 2-inch faux wood blinds. If you’re going with shutters, you might as well upgrade your view.”
Plus, there’s the added fun of dusting off many of those louvers – more surface area, more dusting adventures! 😄
The History of 2.5 inch Louvers
The Predecessor to 2.5 inch Louvers
The “original” louver size was the 1-7/8 inch louver, commonly referred to as “California style.” This style fell out of favor more than a century ago.
This style was particularly popular in Charleston and lowcountry cottages. As time passed and windows grew larger and wider, these louvers could only be built around 16” before they began to warp.
Due to the challenges posed by the sheer number of these small louvers, their lack of stability, and the dwindling demand, we have never offered shutters with 1-7/8” louvers in our product offerings.
The Rise of 2.5 inch Louvers
Dalton Taylor, Owner and Founder of Artisan Shutter, reminisces about the high demand for the 2.5-inch louvers:
“When we first started our business, 2.5 was all that anybody wanted. 3.5 were too contemporary and 4.5 was so modern for what anyone wanted at the time”
Artisan Shutter opened its doors in 1993.
“But, as time went on, 3.5” became more popular. Interior Designers drove the demand for a cleaner, more contemporary look, and today, 4.5” louvers with our hidden tilt have become our most popular seller. Designers wanted an even larger, cleaner look, and 4.5” louvers with no visible control rod are the most modern form of our product”.
Help! I don’t have enough depth for a larger louver!
Worried that 3.5 inch or 4.5 inch will stick out too much? Our Charlotte shutter experts can help you determine which mounting options are best for your shutters. Don’t worry too much about louvers protruding into your room – keep in mind that the frame size on the shutter is the determining factor when it comes to how much the shutter louvers will protrude into your room. Our smallest depth frame, the L0 profile, has only 1-5/8” of depth, perfect for keeping your shutters tight to your window.