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Easy Way to Reuse Old Wooden Shutters

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An easy way to reuse old wooden shutters in a master bedroom.view of master bedroom with king size bed dressed with white linens and old wooden shutters hanging on wall next to window

I’m not sure what’s happening but it seems that I’m developing a theme windows lately. It started with a thrifted old screen, then it was custom curtain rods and sheers in the living room, and now it’s old wooden shutters.

small master bedroom with woven shades and white blanket on bed

Hey there and welcome to another Thrifty Style Team day, where a few of my talented blogging friends and I share how we style or makeover our favorite thrifted finds.

Today is all about a pair of old, rustic wood shutters that I found for a steal.

I actually bought these shutters for $10 from an estate sale when we lived in Illinois. I found them hidden in the back of a garage, all full of cobwebs and filthy dirty. They weren’t pretty but they were intact and without any rot so I knew that a little TLC would fix them right up.

We’d been searching garage sales for shutters for our dining area window for months. The shutters that we were able to find were either rotted beyond repair or way too expensive. These were just right so I knew they were winners.

Taking old wooden shutters and adding then to a master bedroom window.

I took my prize home and was trying to figure out how I was going to hang them when the hubs took the new job in NC. I wasn’t about to get rid of them after all of that time spent looking, so we packed them up and moved them with us.

Fast forward to decorating our current master bedroom. We have a small master bedroom, as in teeny tiny, and decorating it has been a challenge. Fortunately (or unfortunately) we have 2 large windows, which is great for light but makes decorating a bit tricky.

Most people would put curtains on the windows to soften the room but that’s just not my style (although I did make one exception here). Besides the fact that I don’t care for them, curtains would have closed in the room, which is already small. I felt that simple was best, so I hung my trusted woven wood shades and called it a day.

I added the typewriter table turned nightstand and lamp on the hubs’ side of the bed, but felt like something was missing on the window. Then I remembered my old wooden shutters hanging out in the basement. They would be the perfect touch.

Adding a small DIY nightstand to a small master bedroom.

All they needed was a good cleaning, a trim to cut them to size and a few screws to secure the sides. I like the idea of adding a touch of black in the room so I just kept them as is.

Trimming an old wood shutter to size to hang in a master bedroom.

We hung them in place, on either side of the window, and they fit perfectly. Just like they were meant to be in this space. I think the hubs even likes them. 😉

After old wooden shutters were hung on the master bedroom wall.

small master bedroom with white nightstand and old wooden shutter on wall next to window

Now I just need to finish the rest of the room.

Have you found any new ways to use a thrifty find?

Remember to stop back tomorrow. I’ll be sharing an update on the powder room addition.

The thrifty goodness has just begun. See what the rest of the team has done with they’re thrifty finds.

 

 


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Comments

  3. Florence @ Vintage Southern Picks

    I love your window shades. They just look restful, and I”m sure they work great keeping out the light when you need it to. Totally LOVE the black shutters and how you’re using them! They look like they fit the space just right and bring in the room somehow. Good choice! You did get a good deal on those!

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Thanks so much for your sweet comment Florence. The woven shades do work well at keeping the light out in the morning. We love them.

      I couldn’t believe how well the black shutters worked in our space, and without making a lot of adjustments. I’m glad that I held onto them and moved them to our new home from Illinois. 🙂

      Reply

  4. Donna Allgaier-Lamberti

    I do like the new shutter decor. But the shiny white typing table stopped me dead in my tracks! I have one of those in my studio and had considered chalk paint but the high gloss look you did definitely caught my eye. I am assuming use found a high gloss spray paint and used that? You fdefinitely have me thinking and the mental wheels are spinning now!

    Donna at

    The Small House Big Sky Homestead (Blog)
    White Oak Studio Design(Facebook page)

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Hi Donna! I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with that typing table but it’s turned out to be a useful piece. I just used Rustoleum in Gloss White and love how it turned out. 🙂

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Reply

  6. Carol ("Mimi")

    You really did get a steal at $10.00 for the two shutters. They look great in your bedroom. I like how they provide definition and an architectural statement in the space. Very nice addition to your decor!
    Carol (“Mimi”) from Home with Mimi

    Reply

  7. Julie

    This looks great! I love the black and the texture it adds. I saw that you painted the nightstand and that looks great too. In scrolling through the pictures I really like the lamps. They are similar but different. If you wanted to make them match a bit more you could always paint the chrome trim black to match the other. It really looks so nice. Love the shades too!

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Thanks so much Julie! I wasn’t sure I’d like the differences in the lamps but they’ve grown on me. 😉 It helps that they’re both white and have matching shades. All the other little differences kind of melt away (if that makes sense). Thanks for stopping in and I hope your foot is feeling better soon. I broke mine twice in 2 years so I know what it’s like to be laid up with a bum foot.

      Reply

  8. Pam

    Those shutters really make such a huge difference in the room. Such a GREAT idea! BTW, I want your glass doorknob. If it’s missing one day you’ll know where to find it 🙂

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Thanks Pamela! I’m glad I got to use them. The door knobs are a favorite thing in our house. Unfortunately they don’t all work, but they look good. 😉

      Reply

  15. Jane

    Kristi, I am loving those black shutters in your bedroom! They frame the windows beautifully. You’ve given me such a great idea for our guest bedroom!

    Reply

  16. Vanessa

    The shutters look so perfect!! They truly added so much charm and character to the room and just that right finishing touch. The whole room is just lovely!

    Reply

  17. Susan

    Hahaha I did the same a few years back with a set of black shutters around my bedroom window. I was not very smart with the chippiness, mine really needed a sealer to keep the awesome chippiness from getting all over the floor!

    Reply

    • Kristi

      I haven’t had any chippyness problems with these yet (thank goodness). They are mostly worn and not really chippy. Hope they stay that way. 🙂

      Reply

  18. Bliss

    Old shutters are some of my favorite things to pick up at garage sales. I think I have made something for each of my 2 oldest kids as well as myself, so I guess I have to replenish my supply. If yours go missing that’s why.

    Reply

    • Kristi

      It’s funny that I would see shutters everywhere we went before I wanted them. After I decided to try to pick some up…none to be found. 😉 I’m glad I finally found these though.

      Reply

  19. Vicki and Jennifer

    Your black shutters look beautiful – actually they look like they were custom made for your bedroom. So glad that you kept them for your move to NC. Your master bedroom decor is stunning!

    Reply

  20. JaneEllen

    Groan, when I think of all the shutters like yours we had to leave when we moved from KY. My son took them out of house when he remodeled it before we bought it. Had to leave old wood windows, old wood doors and those wonderful shutters.. It killed me, hubs kept insisting we didn’t have room in truck, but I think we could have piled all that stuff on top, make better use of truck. If there’s an inch I’ll find something to put in it. When I think of all that stuff could have used to make things and decorate our house want to thump the Mr. Your shutters make a wonderful statement in your room, which is very nice. Love how restful and serene your room looks.
    Know what you mean about a small room. Our room in KY house was half size of our room in MT house where we’ve moved from to KY. After little while I grew to enjoy it, was very cozy with our king size bed and an old waterfall chif-a-robe. Still miss our house in KY and our wonderful big front porch son built onto house for us. Had 1 1/2 acres of grass, old trees, lots off plants already there, out in country. Now we live in western CO few miles west of Grand Junction out in rural area. Expensive to live here tho but my health is much better than in KY. Hope you are happy in N/c. Have wonderful rest of week

    Reply

    • Kristi

      I hear you JaneEllen. We left a lot of great things behind when we moved too. I’m just glad I held onto the shutters.

      I’m still getting used to having such a small bedroom. I’ve never needed a large space but this is definitely tiny, and a decorating challenge. Sounds like you live in a great part of the country. It’s wonderful that your health has improved with your big move. My daughter lives in Denver and I love to go out and spend time.

      I do love NC. My only wish is that my girls were nearby. Hopefully someday. Thanks for stopping in and sharing. Hope you have a great day!

      Reply

  21. Jillian

    Those are great! Love the black! I am with you on the curtains. I only have them in one room of our house, the dining room and keep trying to get rid of them but the room looks unbalanced. It is a bay window. Always something, sigh. I have two old distressed shutters I found in a store years ago. They are a pretty blue and have them leaning against the wall on the lower level with baskets in front of. I should try hanging them, maybe. Good idea..:)

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Thanks Jillian! It’s nice to hear that I’m not the only one who isn’t a fan. 😉 I’m just glad that I could use the shutters and I didn’t have to hang curtains.

      Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you have a great day!

      Reply

  23. laura

    I swear I am not a stalker. I just read your “about page.” We live outside Denver too. My daughter just moved downtown where she works. laura (again)

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Glad to have you here Laura. 😉 My oldest moved to Denver about 5 years ago and loves it. I try to visit at least once a year, and just got back from a great visit. Love Colorado!

      Reply

  24. laura

    OMG! I literally just started following you when your blog popped up on “blogs you might like,” Then I see the shutters which we just removed dozens and I brought a few back in (from the garage) and saw your idea. Now i have to pop back to see the black window trim which I am obsessed with! laura

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Hi Laura! So glad you found me. 🙂 I’m just glad I was able to use these in our new house (after our months long search). Lucky for you that you don’t have to go searching for any. 😉

      Reply

  25. Nancie

    I’ve been looking for shutters for ages! I too want to hang them in one of my guest bedrooms. Just like you, I’m renovating my intire house, one room at a time of course! Lol! My style is coastal since I live in Florida, and the shutters would be perfect. Your master bedroom looks amazing! I too have woven woods. I think we llike the same things! Lol! Can’t wait to see the update on the powder room”

    Reply

    • Kristi

      I agree, shutters would be perfect with your coastal theme. Hang in there, you’ll find the perfect ones when you least expect it. 🙂 It took me months to find these.

      Thanks so much for stopping in Nancie, and for your comment. I enjoy hearing what my readers are doing in their own homes. Best of luck with your renovation. 🙂

      Reply

  29. Debbie H

    Wow what a great idea. I like to add a touch of black to each room as well. I read in a design magazine once that it anchors the room. Your shutters were the perfect addition to your bedroom. How do you get to the other blogs. I see link pictures for four of them but much more are listed as part of the team. Have a great day Kristie.

    Reply

    • Kristi

      Thanks Debbie! I’m just glad that I got to use them (and didn’t have to hang curtains). 😉

      You should be able to see the other blogger’s post today. I had to post a day early because I had a bathroom update scheduled.

      Hope you have a great day!

      Reply

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