There’s no denying that plantation shutters are popular in homes, especially those found here in Southwest Florida. These crisp, white louvered shutters are a great addition, providing style and function to virtually any room of the house. One of the great things about choosing plantation shutters is the ability to customize them to fit your needs.
Today, we’re here to talk about one of the customizable options you have for your new plantation shutters: standard tilt and hidden tilt.
How Plantation Shutters Work
Before deciding on which look you like best. Let’s first start with the fundamentals of a shutter. How exactly do all of the moving parts work together? The first thing most people notice about a plantation shutter are the slats that open and close to allow light to filter into the room when they’re opened or to allow for privacy when they’re closed. These slats are actually called louvers in the biz, so let’s start calling them that from now on.
The louvers open and close (or tilt...another biz word) using a mechanism, and depending on which look you’re going for, the mechanism will look different. For a standard tilt operation, there is a tilt rod located down the center of the shutter. For a hidden tilt operation, there is no tilt rod. Sounds simple, right? Let’s get down to what makes each option great.
Standard Tilt Plantation Shutters
Now that we know the difference between each style of operation, you’ll now need to know which option fits best with what you’re looking for. Standard tilt is what many customers choose for the operation of their plantation shutters. The tilt rod, which runs down the center of the shutter, is attached to the louvers with heavy-duty staples, which allows it to move the louvers to the open position, closed position or anywhere in between to allow the right amount of light and privacy to enter the room.
This easy operation makes standard tilt a popular choice, simply because it makes opening and closing the plantation shutters effortless. Plus, as with any product, wear and tear occur, and fixing standard tilt shutters is quick and painless.
Hidden Tilt Plantation Shutters
If you’re leaning more toward style in your design, hidden tilt may be the option for you. Instead of having the mechanism to tilt the louvers running down the center of the shutter as a tilt rod, the mechanism is actually hidden behind the shutter, hence the term “hidden” tilt. You can adjust the shutter open, closed or anywhere in between by simply using your hand. Gently adjust the louvers to achieve the amount of light that you desire.
This is a more popular choice with those who simply don’t want to see a tilt rod running down the front of their plantation shutters, providing a cleaner look, and with the same easy operation.
Standard Tilt vs. Hidden Tilt: The Difference
The option you choose is based entirely on your needs and wants. To recap, standard tilt:
- Has a tilt rod running down the front of the shutter.
- Operates by moving the tilt rod up or down to close and open the louvers.
- Is easy to fix and maintain.
To recap, hidden tilt:
- Has its tilting mechanism hidden in the back of the shutter.
- Operates with just a touch of your hand to open and close the louvers.
- Is a popular choice for those who wish to have a stylish, clean look to their shutters.
So there you have it...the difference between two operating systems of the same great product. All you have to do now is decide which one works for you!
