Home Home Remodeling How Painting Shutters Can Boost Curb Appeal By Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin A former magazine editor. Freelance writer. Content creator. Obsessive reader. And wannabe baker. Elizabeth is a Southern lifestyle writer with more than fifteen years of experience. Her work covering Southern food, arts and culture, travel, and interiors has appeared in the pages of national publications, including Southern Living, Coastal Living, Garden & Gun, and The New York Times, among others. See her work at www.hutchcreativeco.com. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on October 6, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Jenny O'Connor A fresh coat of paint is the quickest way to boost your home's curb appeal, but if your budget doesn't include painting the entire exterior, which often comes with a dizzying price tag attached, consider a simpler—but often just as impactful—fix, and give your shutters a little love. Before you put brush to wood, though, make sure your existing shutters work with your home. "Having an accurate ratio of shutter to window is pretty critical," says Greenville, South Carolina-based interior designer Taylor Hill. "You want to make sure your shutters are architecturally correct, meaning if they were to close, they would actually cover the window." Once you've got the structural basics covered, remember prep work and the proper materials matter, especially when it comes to future maintenance. "Spend a little more time (and money) here," advises Nashville interior designer Chelsea Robinson. If you're DIYing the project, that means an extra dose of elbow grease to remove any old and peeling paint. Finally, choose your paint color. Don't know where to begin? We're rounded up a few ideas for inspiration: 01 of 05 Play with Color…Correctly Laurey W. Glenn "I love color, but you don't want to paint your Foursquare Colonial in Key West pastels," Hill says. "Remember there are areas where you can take a risk and play around with color, but you should always consider the context of your home." In other words, your shutters should stay true to your home's character—in both style and shade. 02 of 05 Consider a More Modern Monochromatic Look Laurey W. Glenn If you're working with a very traditional house with traditional shutters, Robinson suggests painting your shutters the same hue as your home for a slightly more contemporary feel. "It delivers a very chic look without being trendy," she says. 03 of 05 Take a Tone-on-Tone Approach "If I'm starting with a neutral-colored house, I'll often look at the undertones present in the exterior paint color to help us determine a shutter color," Hills says. This approach provides contrast and balance. 04 of 05 Embrace Classic Contrasts Laurey W. Glenn "I love a glossy black pop against a pretty red brick house," Robinson says. "Painted white brick might be really trendy right now, but you don't have to fall into a trend to make a big impact." 05 of 05 Keep it Natural Dane Tashima; Styling: Page Mullins A natural wood shutter, especially at the beach, adds instant character with minimal maintenance. Exposure to the elements actually improves their patina, but these beauties come with a price tag, so make sure you build that extra expense into your budget. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit