A Guide to Choosing the Best Wood Species for Plantation Shutters

Lexi Westingate | Blinds Chalet Design Team

Updated: Sep 23 2024

A Guide to Choosing the Best Wood Species for Plantation Shutters image

When selecting real wood plantation shutters, the type of wood you choose will greatly affect the shutters’ appearance, durability, and performance. Each wood species has distinct characteristics—grain patterns, color variations, and moisture resistance—that make it unique. In this guide, we’ll break down the most popular wood species for plantation shutters to help you decide which is the best fit for your home.

1 Basswood: The Versatile Favorite

Basswood is a popular choice for plantation shutters because of its lightweight, durable nature and smooth texture. Known for its fine grain, basswood takes both paint and stain well, offering flexibility in design.

Key Traits: Lightweight, smooth grain, resists warping.
Best For: Larger shutters and homes with varying design styles, from classic to contemporary.

Why Basswood? It's versatile, lightweight, and durable, making it a solid option for most homes.

2 Poplar: Affordable and Customizable

Poplar is a more affordable option that still delivers solid performance. It has a smooth, even grain, making it easy to paint and customize.

Key Traits: Budget-friendly, easy to work with, ideal for painting.
Best For: Custom shapes and sizes or shutters that will be painted.

Why Poplar? It’s cost-effective and customizable, especially for painted finishes.

3 Cedar: Durable and Naturally Resistant

Cedar stands out for its natural resistance to moisture and pests. Its reddish-brown hue and aromatic quality add a distinctive touch to your home.

Key Traits: Moisture-resistant, durable, pleasant scent.
Best For: Humid areas like bathrooms or homes in coastal regions.

Why Cedar? Its durability and moisture resistance make it a perfect choice for humid environments.

4 Oak: The Classic and Sturdy Choice

Oak is a traditional choice known for its strength and bold grain patterns. It’s a durable hardwood that can handle heavy use.

Key Traits: Extremely durable, distinctive grain, heavier wood.
Best For: Traditional homes and high-traffic areas.

Why Oak? It’s a timeless choice for homeowners looking for strength and classic style.

5 Maple: Refined and Elegant

Maple’s fine grain and dense structure make it an ideal choice for a polished, modern look. Its durability also makes it resistant to wear and tear.

Key Traits: Smooth, consistent grain, durable.
Best For: Modern interiors and high-use areas.

Why Maple? Its sleek finish and durability make it a great fit for modern, high-traffic spaces.

Considerations When Choosing Wood Species

When selecting the wood for your shutters, keep in mind:

Climate: Humid areas may benefit from moisture-resistant wood like cedar.
Design: If you prefer a bold grain, oak or cedar may work well. For a more subtle, modern look, basswood or maple could be a better choice.
Budget: Poplar is a more affordable choice, while oak and cedar are generally pricier.
Maintenance: Hardwoods like maple and oak require less upkeep over time due to their resilience.

Conclusion: Finding Your Ideal Wood

Choosing the best wood species for your plantation shutters means balancing appearance, durability, and budget. Whether you lean toward the versatile basswood, the durability of cedar, or the timeless charm of oak, there’s a wood type to match your style and needs.

Check out BlindsChalet.com for a variety of customizable real wood plantation shutters and professional installation services.

Details	Good	Better	Best
Pricing	FREE	$	$$
Duration
3 year limited warranty	✓	✓	✓
5 year limited warranty		✓	✓
5 year unlimited			✓
Warranty
Defects	✓	✓	✓
Parts	✓	✓	✓
Restrings	✓	✓	✓
Normal wear & tear			✓
Anything			✓
30 Day Returns			✓

Details

Good

Better

Best

Pricing

FREE

Duration

3 year limited warranty

✓

5 year limited warranty

✓

5 year unlimited

✓

Warranty

Defects

✓

Parts

✓

Restrings

✓

Normal wear & tear

✓

Anything

✓

30 Day Returns

✓

3 Year Standard Guarantee
Who is covered: Warranties cover the original purchaser of the window blinds and shades. What is covered: Any defects in materials of workmanship Operating mechanisms and other parts Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds Broken vertical vanes Restrings for internal cords What is not covered: Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use Normal wear and tear Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning Accidental damage Resolution: BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective. If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired. In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade. Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer. 30 Day Returns This plan does not cover returns.

3 Year Standard Guarantee

Who is covered:

Warranties cover the original purchaser of the window blinds and shades.

What is covered:

Any defects in materials of workmanship
Operating mechanisms and other parts
Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades
Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds
Broken vertical vanes
Restrings for internal cords

What is not covered:

Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use
Normal wear and tear
Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning
Accidental damage

Resolution:

BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective.
If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired.
In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade.
Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer.

30 Day Returns

This plan does not cover returns.

5 Year Guaranteed to Last
Who is covered: Warranties cover the original purchaser of the window blinds and shades. What is covered: Any defects in materials of workmanship Operating mechanisms and other parts Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds Broken vertical vanes Restrings for internal cords What is not covered: Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use Normal wear and tear Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning Accidental damage Resolution: BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective. Limit 1 remake per covered product. If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired. In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade. Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer. 30 Day Returns This plan does not cover returns.

5 Year Guaranteed to Last

Who is covered:

Warranties cover the original purchaser of the window blinds and shades.

What is covered:

Any defects in materials of workmanship
Operating mechanisms and other parts
Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades
Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds
Broken vertical vanes
Restrings for internal cords

What is not covered:

Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use
Normal wear and tear
Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning
Accidental damage

Resolution:

BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective. Limit 1 remake per covered product.
If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired.
In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade.
Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer.

30 Day Returns

This plan does not cover returns.

5 Year Guaranteed to Love
Who is covered: Warranties cover the original purchaser of the window blinds and shades. What is covered: Any defects in materials of workmanship Operating mechanisms and other parts Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds Broken vertical vanes Restrings for internal cords Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use Normal wear and tear Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning Accidental damage Resolution: BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective. Limit 1 remake per covered product. If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired. In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade. Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer. 30 Day Returns If for any reason you are not satisfied with the window coverings and wish to return them for store credit, please notify us within 30 days of receiving the order. Our customer care department will provide a Return Goods Authorization number (RGA) and shipping address for the return. Please note, return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer and shipping labels are not provided. Returns are for store credit only and store credit will be available immediately after the items are received (Guaranteed to Love fee is not credited). Shutters,custom graphic shades, commercial/dealer orders are not covered.

5 Year Guaranteed to Love

Who is covered:

Warranties cover the original purchaser of the window blinds and shades.

What is covered:

Any defects in materials of workmanship
Operating mechanisms and other parts
Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades
Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds
Broken vertical vanes
Restrings for internal cords
Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use
Normal wear and tear
Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning
Accidental damage

Resolution:

BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective. Limit 1 remake per covered product.
If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired.
In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade.
Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer.

30 Day Returns

If for any reason you are not satisfied with the window coverings and wish to return them for store credit, please notify us within 30 days of receiving the order. Our customer care department will provide a Return Goods Authorization number (RGA) and shipping address for the return. Please note, return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer and shipping labels are not provided. Returns are for store credit only and store credit will be available immediately after the items are received (Guaranteed to Love fee is not credited).

Shutters,custom graphic shades, commercial/dealer orders are not covered.