DIY Window Shutters
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DIY window shutters with repurposed wood from an old fence gate for the ugly basement windows.
Recently I shared the story of a window shutter that I built to cover our unsightly basement window.
We aren’t able to open this window so we wouldn’t lose anything by shuttering it in.
DIY Shutter Supplies
- scrap wood
- wood stain
- sheet metal
- wood screws
- black spray paint
- sliding lock
Tools
This is the first attempt.
A great big fail!
Here it is after our 2nd attempt.
Getting better, but there was room for improvement.
I wanted opinions so I posted and asked for your thoughts. Some were for and some were against but I still wasn’t sure. If you’ve been reading Chatfield Court for a while then you know that I don’t give up easily. So I worked on it a little bit more before taking it down and calling it quits.
The first thing I tried was a quick coat of walnut stain. Next, I tried some faux hinges to make it look more authentic, even though this window shutter doesn’t open and close.
I bought real hinges at Home Depot but they didn’t fit.
I really wanted hinges though, so I ended up making my own out of sheet metal. After a quick check for fit, I sprayed them, and some wood screws, with black paint.
All that was left to do was to screw the faux hinges on. I also attached a latch to give it a real window shutter feel.
What do you think of my DIY window shutters. Does it look like a shutter or am I fighting a losing battle?
Please excuse the mold on the fence and the bald grass, ripped up by neighborhood skunks, our yard is a huge work in progress. 😉 You can look at my beautifully large fern though. I can’t believe how much it’s grown this summer.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I finally got to that dirty, moldy fence. Check out how easy it was and how it looks all shiny and new.
What a great idea! I love it when you don’t have to spend any money and this project made the window look so much better!
The best projects are always the ones that you can do for free! 😉 Thanks so much, Susan! I was thrilled with the way it turned out.
Wow, what an improvement! I love the dark stain and the extra touches with latch and hinges. It’s really cutened it up a lot. I never noticed your grass or moldy fence.
Thanks so much Florence, I appreciate it! I guess we notice the flaws in our own homes more than others. Taking pictures of those flaws only reminds you of them. 😉
I really, really love the way that looks, and it would sure make a thief look elsewhere. now when can you come over and do mine? Tehehe
I’ll be there Patty! 😉 Thanks so much. I love how it looks, so much better than that ugly white plastic.
What a great and beautiful solution….just love it!
Thanks so much Shirley!:)
K.
I like it. I always heard “if you wanted to make something look intentional repeat it. Maybe you could create similar shutters to put alongside the window that is above it. As for nailing … my mom hot glued some shutters to a brick house several years ago. It wasn’t a permanent solution but it worked for quite a while.
Some good ideas Jeanne. We’ll have to see what next summer brings, my outside work consists of cleaning up the garden and getting ready for winter lately…ugh. I appreciate the input and your visit.
K.
Now THAT is the perfect way to cover up ugly basement windows…I have about (hold on I’m counting in my head) 6…..do you take orders to make more? LOL
So funny Christine. I have a few more myself, maybe 6?, but this is the one that is most visible. Once some bushes are removed, I may have to make some more. Thanks so much for stopping by today.
K.
I must have missed the first post on installing a shutter on the window. The finished product reminds me of the old cellar entrances on old homes. Personally, I think it’s charming and an interesting feature.
I would trim it out and stain it the same as the other wood though.
I remember those cellar doors. We had one on our house when I was growing up. Someone else also suggested trimming it out. It’s a great idea and I’m going to see if I can get it to work but there is no extra space to attach any more wood without drilling into the brick and I don’t want to do that. I will try though and let you all know what happens.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Shirlee. It’s so great to hear from you.
K.
I am thinking it looks so real someone someday will be surprised trying to open it!
Thanks so much Barbara!:)
K.
I knew that if you “stewed” on it for a bit you’d come up with something! Wondering if you were to frame it out if it would look more finished and intentional? Hard to tell in pictures…
It seems that all of my projects need a fair bit of “stewing” lately. 😉 I’ll have to try some wood around it to see how it looks. Thanks for the suggestion Susan!
K.
I like it! And isn’t it amazing what a plant can do.
Yay…thanks Dorothy! A beautiful green plant always makes everything look better. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting.
K.
I think it looks nice…reminds me of a barn window covering or something similar…rustic and different…makes a nice statement! 🙂
Thank you Deb! It is rustic…so not what I saw there when I had pictured a shutter on that window. Sometimes projects don’t turn out like we pictured them…well for me anyway. 😉 So glad you stopped by today.
K.
Oh much better. It now looks like a shutter.
Thanks Debbie…much appreciated. 🙂
K.