In other countries some times other local woods are used so ask or check on line for what is popular in your area.

Basswood Shutters

The hardwood called Basswood grows in many areas of central and northern America and Canada but is not grown as in the Southern States as the climate does not suit it.

The reason for Basswood's popularity is it grown from sustainable forests so that under careful management the supply of this wood should remain for many years to come and is of excellent quality.

One of the key advantages in building interior wood shutters with a hardwood such as Basswood is that the wood is strong with an indistinct grain and this makes it easy to work with. Also it can be screwed, glued and sanded without damaging the wood.

This wood looks great when stained and adds a affordable attractive feature to any home.Chances are if you see interior wood shutters in an American home of high quality they are made of Basswood.

Poplar Shutters

Poplar's use in creating woodern shutters is far more limited it is very heavy and does not take stain well but can be painted. One of the biggest advantages to using poplar wood is it is much cheaper than hardwoods like Basswood but the cheaper wood is not ideal for shutters and the difference in cost is paid for in a loss of quality.

Oak Shutters

A very attractive wood to use but expensive and heavy is Oak there can be no doubting that Oak does look very nice when used for interior shutters but if used you will need to strengthen the window jambs it is really heavy. Obviously you would stain Oak shutters as they would not be suitable for painting and why would you want to cover the beautiful grain of the wood. The other problem with Oak when is it can warp when used for louvre shutters.

Maple Shutters

Canadians will of course be familiar Maple but like Oak this is a very heavy wood and is not the best for interior window shutters much of what applies to Oak is also true of Maple although it is less likely to warp than Oak.

Cedarwood Shutters

Cedar shutters tend to be easy to work with but as the wood is far softer than Basswood and other hardwoods. Therefore it does tend to be less robust and can actually be scratched and dented far too easy for my liking.

However if you accept this limitation Cedar makes great window shutters that will last well against the elements. This wood is used extensively on the outside of the home and in construction but there is no reason with these qualities it is not great for use inside as well.

Generally speaking Cedar needs painting to prevent it becoming damaged however this does not mean it can't be stained.

Pine Shutters

Pine is a softwood.Unlike hard woods the grain and quality tend to vary significantly so if uniformity are an issue or you wish to stain it probably not the best choice.

The biggest advantages to using pine are that it is cheap and will take paint well but in my view does not look that great stained.Companies that only sell pine shutters tend to be catering to those on a tighter budget so expect the quality not to be as good as for example basswood.

In conclusion interior wood window shutters can dramatically enhance a room but make sure you choose the appropriate material for your needs and budget carefully.