My favorite, favorite window treatment has to be the plantation shutter. Don’t get me wrong, I love other types of window treatments, too. I love the way drapes soften a room and would love to one day add gorgeous silk taffeta drapes to my dining room. But I’d still want plantation shutters underneath those drapes.
Why do I love shutters so much? Well, there are a lot of reasons, one being their versatility. Take a look at the following series of pics…
When it’s very cold outside and you want a little extra insulation or privacy, you can close ‘em all up.
Now, let’s pretend your room is facing a nosey neighbor’s home or a busy street and you would like some light, as well as your privacy when you are dining. Open just the top…or, open the top and just slightly open the lower louvers for additional light while still maintaining your privacy. (Pic below shows the top open with the bottom closed.)
Perhaps, you only need a little privacy or you mainly use your shutters for sun control…you could open all the louvers. Shutters are perfect for allowing a great view of the outside (especially with the wider 3 1/2 inch louver) while preventing fading and the damaging effects of sunlight on fabrics and furnishings.
What about if it’s a beautiful sunny day and you really want to just enjoy the view? Throw those babies open and let the sun shine in! This is my favorite way to keep my shutters all spring, summer and fall. I usually just close mine at night during the winter to help further insulate the windows.
I bought shutters for my windows a few years after I moved in. Later, I found out they are THE one window treatment you can finance into the mortgage when you purchase a home. That’s because they remain with the home when you move and are popular with almost all buyers. Plus, they increase the value of any home in which they are installed. When interest rates dropped many years ago and I refinanced my home to an even lower rate. When the appraiser came to my home, he told me he could include my shutters in his appraisal. I think that says a lot about the value shutters bring to the home. Along with hardwood floors, they are one of the most sought after features when home buyers are shopping for a home. That’s why you will almost always see them mentioned in real estate ads if a home has them.
They never go out of style or fade like draperies…and they coordinate with any future decorating changes made in a room because they are normally painted to match the woodwork. They are about double the cost of wood blinds, but drastically less than custom draperies. And draperies, although beautiful, do not normally increase the value of a home and are not included in the appraisal of a home. Almost always draperies left behind by a previous home owner do not coordinate with the new home owner’s furnishings or taste.
When it comes to shopping for plantation shutters, do not compromise and buy the least expensive available…you could end up with sap bleed or louvers that won’t stay closed. The features you should look for are: quality wood (Basswood or Poplar, never pine), mortised hinges, tension adjustment screws to prevent loose louvers, side rails that are at least 1 1/4 inches in thickness to prevent warping, and shutters that are custom measured, custom built and custom painted to match your trim color, not purchased from some factory and “cut down” to fit your windows.
There’s more I could tell you about plantation shutters, but since I don’t know if this is a strong interest of most folks, I’ll stop here. Hope you found this to be helpful.
POST EXTENDED TO ANSWER SOME YOUR QUESTIONS:
Shutters in one room or all the rooms…how do you decide?
Terri had a good question regarding if you put shutters in one window, should you put them in every window on that level of the home. Let me back up a tiny bit and tell you how I shuttered my home and what most folks and designers preferred to do when I worked in that field.
After I fell in love with shutters and knew that’s what I wanted in my home, I called a local shutter company and I convinced them they needed to hire me as a sales person! I knew it would be the perfect job for me since my son was young and in elementary school. I could work the hours that fit his school schedule. They took me up on my offer and I LOVED what I did for the 5 years I worked for them.
Here’s the general idea on how to use plantation shutters within a home: if you use them in one window in a room, you need to use them in every window of THAT room. In other words, if a bedroom has 4 windows and you put shutters in that room, you need to shutter all four windows.
Now, on to Terri’s question…it isn’t necessary to do the entire level or floor of a home. Every homeowner or designer will have a different goal. A popular choice by most homeowners is installing plantation shutters on all the windows on the front of a home to give the home a nice uniform look for curb appeal.
Another option I’ve seen a lot folks do when they are trying to combine shutters and wood blinds is to use shutters in the rooms where you entertain (dining, formal living area, family room, kitchen) and use wood blinds in the bedrooms. OR, some folks just want plantation shutters in the more formal areas, like the dining room and formal living room. Then, to save a little expense, they will use wood blinds in the more casual areas like the family room, kitchen and bedrooms.
Think about what “look” you want in each room of your home and how you need the treatments to function. I would not have liked wood blinds in my breakfast area because I really wanted the versatility of function that a plantation shutter could offer. Plus, truth be told, I just love the look of the shutters in a breakfast room.
BTW, think twice about doing “half” shutters…where you shutter only the lower half of a window. That tends to be a popular choice for breakfast rooms and folks almost always regret that decision later when they realize they are not getting enough sun control.
If you don’t want to do all plantation shutters on the front of a home, I do recommend wood blinds for the other windows on the front…it just really gives a nice look for the front…lots of curb appeal. A popular combo is 2 1/2 inch louvered shutters in the areas where you want shutters…and then use 2 inch wood blinds in the other areas of the home. That look will even work well on the front of a home due to the similarity in louver size.
Louver size:
They also make shutters in 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 inch louver size. But now we are getting into another whole question…which size is best? I’ll spare you all that unless that is something someone wants to know.
Shutter all the windows at once or in stages:
When I shuttered my own home, I wanted them in every window. I had plans to go back and add a little fabric in just the rooms where I wanted that softer look…primarily bedrooms. Since shutters can be a bit expensive, I shuttered the whole front of my house first…that was Phase 1. About a year later, I did all the rest of the windows.
When I worked in that field, it was not uncommon for a designer to bring me into a home to shutter the entire house. Often those folks financed the entire purchase into their home, as I mentioned above. To shutter an entire home, if it was a huge home, could run around $9-$11,000 depending if the terrace level was shuttered, too. I often measured windows (openings) in homes under construction when there was nothing but studs and wiring. I would measure, take a deposit and get the order into the plant. That got the order “in line” which was good because there was normally an 8-10 week waiting period. Then, as soon as the windows and trim were in, I’d return to the home to take final measurements which would be submitted to the plant. Often a customer could move in one day and have their custom shutters installed that week.
What about windows with the tilt feature?
Pat, to answer your question about tilt windows. You can have them installed with tilt windows…we used to do shutters all the the time on those type windows, They just need to be installed to allow for that function.
When I first started working for the shutter company, tilt windows didn’t exist and we did a lot of inside measuring for inside mounts. Occasionally, if the homeowner didn’t like the side of the hinge of the shutter showing at all, we would do a frame mount which basically involved attaching an attractive custom made frame onto their existing molding and mounting the shutters to that frame, as opposed to mounting them down inside the window.
After tilt windows came into being, we started doing more and more of the exterior mounted shutters to ensure the homeowner could keep that tilt feature. I had some homeowners tell me they never planned to clean their own windows…always hired it out, so they wanted them mounted inside the window. But, if they are mounted inside, you do lose the tilt feature. A sales person who comes to your home should show you the look of both an interior and exterior mount and can discuss what’s best for your home/needs.
If the shutters are not truly custom made:
If a company doesn’t actually make their shutters, but instead buys standard sizes from some factory or company, they will usually offer only an exterior mount or framed shutters since they aren’t being custom built. Framing will hide if the shutters are a bit too big or too small. Often they will look just fine, but a true custom shutter is built from scratch to fit each individual window in your home.
Two-toned shutters…popular in rooms with stained trim:
Shutters can even be made “two-toned” which involves painting one color on one side and another (or stain) on the other side, although the price for those is usually a good bit more. I have two-toned shutters in my family room. In my family room, the shutters are painted the same color as all the other shutters on the part of the louver that faces outside when they are tilted or closed. I wanted this so I’d have a consistent look on the outside of my home. The louvers are stained on the side that faces into the family room, to go with the stained molding in that room.
I could do a whole post on deciding how you want your shutters to open…from the center or bi-fold (like mine in my bay window.) We could talk about the decision to have a divider rail (like mine) or not. There are so many choices to get exactly what you want and need for your home.
Hope that answers a few questions…let me know if there are any others. I get excited talking about plantation shutters because they are so practical and beautiful, all the same time.
I LOVE plantation shutters!!! I wanted to get them in the whole house when we moved into our new house 2 years ago but when I found out they were going to be $9000 we decided on an alternative! We got wide slatted blinds instead!!
I love plantation shutters! I wanted them in the living room & dining room, but Bailey is always in the window in the living room and would be death to a shutter… bummer…
From your mouth to my hubbies ears.I was just thinking about shutters today for my living room.Are you psychic?I told you we have a lot in common but now this is getting down right amazing.have a great time at the flea market tomorrow. I wish I could tag along. Hugs, kathysue
Very informative and educational post. I always wondered what was so special about plantation shutters, now I know.
ONe question I know your readers would like to know… if you buy plantation shutters for one window of the house, do you need to buy them for all over? I heard somewhere that if you put them in one room that you should have them in every room on that floor.
I’ve been thinking about adding plantation shutters in my country living room… now you’ve gone and put that bug back in my ear!
have a blissful weekend… Dixie
Great post. I’m thinking about using them in our guest bedroom redo, this has convinced me! Kathy
Now I’m going to wander around the house wondering what room to put them in! Thank for the post.
I would love to have plantation shutters. Especially in the dining room windows, but also all through our home. The problem, we have tilt windows. I have wondered if it’s possible to hang plantation shutters with these types of windows. Do you know?
I’m tossing around a tablescape for Tuesday. If all else fails, I did one at the condo, the other day. Might have to use that one.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Susan, plantation shutters are definitely on my “long list of stuff to buy for the new home.” I love the look and like you say, they are definitely an investment to the home! Thank you so much for this informative post…now, I’m off to try to figure out that twitter stuff!
I just cannot sing the praises of plantation shutters enough. I love them too!
Oooooooh, you have written about a subject dear to my heart! I have always loved the look of plantation shutters and actually had them years ago in a house I rented in Marietta, GA. The neatest bit of advice you provided us was bundling up the cost of shutters into a new mortgage – thank you so much for sharing that.
I Love my plantation shutters, especially here in the South when the summers get very hot. When we bought this house and had it moved to our little farm it had the shutters already in,,, I was thrilled since the owners told us it cost them about $10,000 to have them specially made. You have such a lovely home, thanks for sharing!
I am a huge fan of plantation shutters and wide wood blinds. All of your suggestions were spot on! I always enjoy how “educational” and “entertaining? your blog is! Guess that’s why I will give you an E FOR EXCELLECE! Have a great weekend.
hugs~ C
Great post. I love the clean look of plantation shutters. Thanks for all of the information, but you didn’t have to convince me. I had them in a previous house I owned and I want them again. Saving up my $$$$$
Happy Saturday
Kris
Susan, where were you when I remodeled my home. I wanted plantation shutters so badly, but our windows are all oversized and they were going to be SO expensive. If I had known I could have included them in the mortgage loan, and if I had known I could tell my husband it helps with resale, I would have had my shutters for sure! laurie
I had plantation shutters on every window in my last home and absolutely loved them. They do not detract from your art and decor. I hope to upgrade and put them in this home one day soon!
I love plantation shutters. Unfortunately they were out of my budget when I bought my 1906 home as I had to do an addition. I put in wood blinds that I bought from home depot and they are fine…but not my dream. I am so envious. Thanks for the tip about building them into the mortgage…I didn’t realize you could do that. I plan to do so the next time I buy a home.
Renee
I just recently found your blog over the Holidays, and I have fallen in love with it. Thanks for all your lovely posts. I love looking at Tablescape Tuesdays! I hope to participate sometimes.
I love plantation shutters. Wish I had them in this house!
We have plantation shutters across the front of our home and I love it!! In Oklahoma it’s HOT in the summer and being able to close them sometimes is a very welcome break from the heat. I like the look of all shutters across the front more than mixed. The cost is prohibitive sometimes though.
I love the plantation shutters, I have been think of getting the wood blinds. I may look into the shutters. I would love to have the on the new upstairs makeover. You have given wonderful information on the plantation shutters. I love the pictures, of half opened, closed and a little open for the light to come in. This was great!
It looks like you have the perfect setting for those shutters. My brother had them installed at all his windows, but they were stained. They’re beautiful.
Hugs,
chris
When we bought our home the owners had installed custom inside mount shutters in the back of the home. Guess what? I took them down and put in the street because I couldn’t open them up and see our back yard without looking through wood slats. I couldn’t open because of where the couch and furniture had to be placed. We bought our home because of the back yard so it was a total shame that these beautiful and expensive shutters were in the back and not the front! I felt like I was in jail. LOL We did buy and place shutters every where else though. I agree that they look so nice from the street.
Looking forward to signing in on Mr. Linky this Monday. Took photos just in time before hubby redid our weird pantry in the condo for metamorphis…
Thanks for you reply at my blog. Yes I am on track for the 19th not this Monday. Gives hubby time to finish the pantry since he’s only just now gone to the Home Depot to get the supplies :0)
Have a great rest of the weekend…
I have enjoyed all of this discussion on plantation shutters. I have always loved them and found them so functional. We have had them in 7 or 8 different houses over the years, but could never afford the retail prices. My handy husband has always installed them himself. In our current house, we have them in every window, all inside mounted. We have found e-bay to be a great source of shutters (both old & new)if you have the skills and equipment to refit them. We have saved a ton of money doing some windows for under $50 each. Just thought I would throw the bargain side into the discussion. However, I'm sure custom is the way to go if you have the $$$$. Sally
Hi Susan,
I love them too. They are the next big investment for our home. I have heard that they actually increase the value of your home. Right now we have the dreaded vertical blinds. Yuck!
Can’t wait to get rid of those! : )
~Liz
Totally feeling this post…
besides..shutters don’t mean you can’t combine with other window coverings (fabrics) that is selling point for me (has been for many years!)
excellent post!
I love Plantation Shutters and would love to have them on my windows. I have odd size windows and when I checked the cost years ago, it was out of my budget. Maybe some day.
Glenda
Hi Susan…I didn’t know you could put them into the financing of your home or I would have done them throughout! I love them. A very informative post. You made a good salesperson! …Debbie
I'm w/ so many others here~~~ I ADORE them~~~ DOOOO wish I had known we could have put them into our mortgage, tho~ the expense made me (make that "US"!) gasp, & we just did the areas (my study, a big bathroom & a few bedrooms)that sort of show on the front of the house (they're stained). They look FAB, IMHO, "anywhere", but we wouldn't dare put them in the areas where all of our huge windows/views to pool n' city are~ it just closes out those views, no matter what, & sometimes that's ALOT of what one is "PAYING FOR" in a home, huh??? Great, informative blog, SS!! Thanks, Linda
Thanks so much, Susan! You’ve been a big help!!
What a great education on shutters! I had them in my room as a girl and have loved them ever since! But I sure didn’t know they would increase home value…very glad to know that!
L~
Very nice! I love the look of them as well. Crisp and clean.
Hi Susan, What a fun post! If you can believe it, my husband made all of the plantation shutters in our house! I absolutely love them on our windows. Thanks for your post. Pam (pam25 on RMS)
Susan, I guess you just answered my question in our email earlier today. You are so detail oriented, and I am sure the shutter company cried when you left. You mentioned two things I wish I would have done first off in my remodeling. Friends, if you have the chance, please do not put off putting in wood floors and Plantation shutters if you want them. I wish for them almost every day and regret I didn’t spend the money right from the get go. Now that the economy has gone south, I must save, save, save, to do what I could have done right from the beginning when I replaced things, and tried to save a few dollars here and there. We had a young couple down the block who did them room by room as they could afford them. They counted their benefits when they sold! Thanks for a great post, as usual Susan, Jan
This is so interesting! I’ve always loved shutters but I’ve never seen a house up here in Ohio that has them. I was just contemplating replacing my mini blinds with shutters…and now you have convinced me that it’s a wonderful idea! I like them for all the reasons you listed…I totally agree!
Thhhhank you. I learned somehing today
I just love the plantation shutter, I like shutters on any window, just nopt blinds.
More nifty ideas to add the my wish list for when I get my new place. Ahh to decorate
Have a wonderful weekend and I will chewck in for Marvelous Mondays.
Great Post on Plantation Shutters, I have worked with many home builders, and usually you can include them into the mortgage! Hunter Douglas has a wide range of options available! It’s mind boggling!
Cathleen
I love plantation shutters, too. In addition to the great reasons you listed, I think they also give some architectural interest to otherwise lackluster windows.
Question: I have a ranch style house built in 1960. The windows are just openings with no wood molding around them – only a windowsill on the bottom (ugly, I know).
My dining room window is large approx. 6′ high and 9 feet wide. Since it faces south, I love to let the light pour in. The table is not that far from the windows, so the shutters could not be too wide or I wouldn’t be able to fold them back(would hit table when folding) which I would want to do much of the time.
Would I need to get several narrower shutters and put in a railing. The window is divided into 3 pieces of glass, which further complicates putting in a center style. I would want to be able to fold them to the sides.
Thanks, Connie
That is great advice about the “bleed” factor in plantation shutters. I have been considering them for our getaway, and I’m glad you posted this. It was very helpful.
Happy Sunday!
XO,
Sheila
Good Mornin’ Girlfriend…
I love your shutters!!! Is that beautiful room your breakfast nook? You are absolutely right about the versatility of shutters…you can get so many different moods/looks using them!!! I’m sure glad that you included all of the info. on what to look for when considering them! So interesting!!!
Hope that you’re having a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Love ya,
Chari
Hi Connie,
Susan
We used to occasionally shutter windows that didn’t have molding around them…you see a lot of those in FL. When they do not have molding, you really can’t “inside” mount because they are almost always a bit out of square. So shutters for those type windows were always “frame mounted.” We would build some molding/framing to go around your window and then mount the shutters to the molding. The molding actually enhanced the window so homeowners didn’t usually object…it looked great.
As to the best way for them to open/function, most companies are going to recommend six panels (2 panels per window) across that opening, following the design of the window…which is really 3 windows, as you’ve described. A piece of molding would have been added in between each “window”, running vertically and attaching to the framing/molding they would have mounted around the window. You would end up with 6, 18 inch wide panels as follows: 2, 18 inch panels on the left window; 2, 18 inch panels on the right window and 2, 18 inch panels for the center window. They would be awkward to open back (like I do in my bay window) because you could bi-fold the two on the left, to the left, and the two panels on the right, to the right…but the two center panels would need to open center. That means they would stick out into the room. Truthfully, 99% of most folks don’t actually end up opening their panels…mostly they just open the louvers. If view is a top priority, you could go with the larger 3 1/2 inch louvers, which give you a lot more view.
A second option: If you only did 4 panels across that opening, each panel would be 27 inches wide. The widest we would make a panel was 28 inches. But there are several reasons I wouldn’t design your window that way. The panels would be HUGE and I would worry about all that weight on the hinges AND they would not follow the natural breaks/design of the 3 windows that you have, so I just don’t think it would look right. The space really needs to be treated as 3 separate windows, IMHO. You will most likely need a true custom shutter company to shutter your window…someone who makes their own shutters from scratch. Those are the best companies, anyway. Companies always give estimates for free so you could call several companies and have them come out to discuss your options. Hope you find this reply…if you do, leave a comment so I know you got it.
Just wanted to share this link – you might want to share it on an upcoming Tablescape Tuesdays. http://lestablesdecorativesdestef.over-blog.com/
oh I love shutters, shame I can’t afford them at the moment, I enjoyed this post, thanks Susan
Sarah
Susan – I had these at our last home in the bedroom and not only loved the way they looked but also loved their versatility just like you said. We debated in this home, but only the deer can see in. LOL
BTW, you have been TAGGED! Tag You’re It! over at my site.
I completely agree that plantation shutters are one of the most beautiful and practical of all window treatments. I have been tossing around for the past several years what to do with my upstairs windows….they have the cellular blinds from the previous owned and I have been “getting by” with them until we remodel that floor…Eventually I’m going to have to decide between them and wide wooden blinds [which I have had and loved]. My concern is how to handle the single window lights I love to use at Christmas…the shutters would not be able to be closed, but maybe they could be closely approximated without entirely closing them. I’m sure this has probably come up during your time in the shutter “field”. What do you think? I really appreciate all the time you took to give all the wonderful details about shutters….your posts are not only beautiful, but useful. Best, Deb
Thank you so much Susan for your posting on plantation shutters. I love them! Now I have a great idea what to do to dress the place up some. We have faux wood blinds for now. But I like the versatility of the shutters. It is so much better than blinds. There is so much I want to do, so one thing at a time. At least I know who to come to with questions on them when we get to the windows.
Thanks, Susan. I did finally get back to this post and your answer was very helpful and informative. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
Connie
We'll be buying a house in a few months and I LOVE plantation shutters and this post was very educational. I will definitely be using this to convince my husband we NEED those shutters!!
Susan I have my own window treatments store in Herndon as I am the only low price plantation shutters manufacturer in Virginia, Maryland and DC. You can visit my website for more details about Interior Plantation Shutters.
Looking forward to see you soon.
Great post, gave me some great info as I'm ordering plantation shutters for the first time. My question is, what do you call the kind of shutters that you have where you can open the top and not the bottom, and vice versa? I'm having trouble locating the ones with the solid piece in the middle that lets you do this. Also, your opinion on the best slat size for dining room/living room – 2.5 or 3.5?
Hi Laura,
The shop that made mine called that a "divider rail." It's pretty common so any place that custom makes their shutter should offer that style. The kind where the shutter are actually split in two and you can physically open the panels them selves back against the wall at the top while leaving the panels on bottom closed is called, "double hung." But the kind if have that allow separate operation of the louvers (but the panels are all one piece) is called having them build with a "divider rail." Hope this helps!
I came across this article about shutters that you did in 2009. I purchased my home about 2 years ago and we have been working on the landscaping (5 acres) and now I am moving inside to make changes. Every single room in the home has plantation shutters including the detached garage windows. We have terrible echos sounds because of tile floors (hardwood in the master bedroom and my husband's office) and I am so desperately missing the softness of some color in each room. I have horizontal plate holders above the dining room windows so I took scarf sheers and ran them thru the plate holders and let them drape on each side and then puddle on the floor staying away from the doors so they can still be opened. I will send you a photo so you know what I am talking about but I am just not happy with this and I have many more windows and painting to do in each room. What do you think? Pamie G.
Your article on plantation shutters was very informative. I have seen them in other houses and would love to incorporate them into the family room of our split level home when we remodel. The room is on the lower level, half above and half below grade. We have 2 double sets of windows (36″ wide each x 2) on either end of the street facing wall. I do have tilt-in windows, but unlike the comment above about having someone clean windows for them, I do them myself and want to maintain that function. My question is whether or not to put a post in the middle of the 2 windows when installing them. I have deep window sills and rather than have the post in the middle, I would prefer the openness of the windowsill if I open the shutters fully (not just the slats). I wonder how the shutters would behave when closed; would they wobble or “wave” in the space when closed? Also, I am not sure what type of molding would work for outside mount. Thank you for your assistance and expertise?
Usually you don’t need a post because the installer attaches strong magnets at the top and bottom that the shutters attach to when they close. My center window of my bay is 60 inches wide and it didn’t require a post down the center. You would end up with 4 18 inches panels that all bifold together and meet in the center…kind of like the center window of my bay. They’ll just attach to magnets when they close together. I have a set (2 windows) that are 32 inches wide in my upstairs family room and they bifold back, too. Again…no center post was needed. When they close and meet, they attach to magnets.
To keep the tilt feature, I’m 99.9 % sure you’ll have to go for a frame install where they will mount framing/molding on top of your molding. The shutters will be mounted to the framing and not inside the window. If you are ordering your shutters from a custom shutter company, they can design/build shutters to fit any window…and can usually design them to look however you wish. So I’m sure if you dealing with a good custom company, you’ll have no problem getting the “look” and function that you want. Estimates are always free so the best thing to do is call a few companies and have them come out and measure. They will be able to discuss all your options. There usually several ways to install shutters so you should be able to get them the way you want them. Get several estimates because all companies are different and you learn a lot with each estimate.
Installed 3.5-inch plantation shutters in our living room bay window and adjoining dining. Now getting ready to install them in the hallway — 4 floor-to-ceiling windows. Trying to decide between 2.5- and 3.5-inch shutters. Had planned on 2.5 so they wouldn’t stick out so far (it is a hallway). Divider will be about 2/3 from the floor — so the plan is to keep the top 1/3 open to let in light; bottom 2/3 shut for privacy. So … maybe I should stick w/ the 3.5? How do you decide? What should I consider before making a decision?
If you have tall ceilings and the hallway feels large enough to handle it, you could go with 3.5. The 3.5 louver is pretty big, as you know. Typically folks do the same size louver throughout their home so if 3.5 worked in your living room and dining room, it may work fine in your hall. Is the hallway pretty spacious/open feeling? Do you have 9 ft ceilings? The biggest factor to me would be how big the hallway feels and if it’s pretty close to the other shutters, it would probably look a little strange to change louver size in the hall. Hope this helps.