White shutters fitted to a living room window and adjacent bay

Custom Shutters

Architectural, durable, and carefully planned for everyday windows, doors, arches, and difficult openings.

Understand shutters

A framed architectural treatment built around the opening.

Shutters become part of the architecture of a room. A strong result depends on much more than color: frame style, panel layout, louver size, material, clearances, and how the panels will operate all affect the finished installation.

Choose shutters when a substantial architectural treatment, adjustable louvers, and long-term fit matter more than the softer visual character of a fabric shade.

Frame, panel, louver, and control choices change both appearance and operation. Professional measurement turns those choices into a buildable design with usable clearances.

Product benefits

Why choose shutters?

Compare the light control, durability, architectural character, and material choices that distinguish shutters from a fabric shade or blind.

Architectural, not fabric-based

A framed panel becomes part of the opening, creating a more permanent, built-in appearance than a shade or blind.

Daylight and privacy can share a window

Adjustable louvers let you redirect daylight and views; split-tilt configurations can keep the lower section private while opening upper louvers.

Straightforward daily care

Hard louvers can be dusted or wiped according to the selected manufacturer’s care guidance instead of removing or laundering fabric.

Material choices match different rooms

Hardwood emphasizes grain and lighter panel weight; composite, hybrid, and polyresin paths prioritize consistency, durability, or moisture tolerance.

Useful for difficult openings

Current Norman and Alta programs include paths for doors, wide openings, arches, angles, and other specialty shapes, with application-specific limits.

Thermal benefit where documented

A fitted shutter adds a layer at the glass. Alta specifically documents insulating air pockets in Eclipse polyresin; performance varies by product, glass, fit, and installation.

Long manufacturer coverage

Norman publishes a lifetime defect warranty for the original purchaser with stated exceptions; Alta’s current warranty table lists shutters at 25 years.

Long-lived design appeal

A well-proportioned shutter can support the architectural character buyers value, but NBWC does not promise a specific resale-value increase or return on investment.

Choose your shutter

Eight decisions shape the finished installation.

Begin with manufacturer and material, then compare the frame, louver, tilt, louver-section, application, and finish choices available for that product line.

Manufacturer / product line

Start with material, finish character, warranty, and the exact option family. Norman and Alta choices remain separate throughout this page.

Frame / mount

The frame finishes the opening and creates the clearance louvers and panels need. Inside and outside mounts are not available on every frame.

Louver size

Smaller louvers create more horizontal lines; larger louvers open the sightline and change the architectural scale.

Tilt type

Choose a visible centered or offset control, a clean concealed system, or compatible motorized tilt where the selected line offers it.

Louver sections

Choose one treatment: a continuous bank, Split Tilt, or a structural divider rail. Alta Eclipse identifies Standard and Deluxe divider-rail profiles.

Panel / opening configuration

Hinged, multi-panel, bi-fold, and bypass layouts change stack, access, panel weight, and the clear opening.

Application

Windows, doors, arches, corners, and wide openings each impose different clearance and geometry requirements.

Color / finish

Paint, stain, and material finish are selected inside the chosen product line and confirmed with a current physical sample.

Norman

Woodlore

Engineered wood composite with a polypropylene finish

Louvers: 1 7/8", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2", 4 1/2"
Tilt systems: Standard Tilt, Offset Tilt, InvisibleTilt
Frames: 10 frame styles available

Norman

Woodlore Plus

Wood-composite structure with lightweight ABS louvers

Louvers: 1 7/8", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2", 4 1/2"
Tilt systems: Standard Tilt, Offset Tilt, InvisibleTilt, PerfectTilt G4 Motorization
Frames: 10 frame styles available

Norman

Normandy Painted

Premium Paulownia hardwood with painted finishes

Louvers: 1 7/8", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2", 4 1/2"
Tilt systems: Standard Tilt, Offset Tilt, InvisibleTilt
Frames: 10 frame styles available

Norman

Normandy Stained

Premium Paulownia hardwood with stained finishes

Louvers: 1 7/8", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2", 4 1/2"
Tilt systems: Standard Tilt, Offset Tilt, InvisibleTilt
Frames: 10 frame styles available

Alta

Polyresin Shutters

Polyresin construction with UltraSatin finish

Louvers: 2 1/2", 3 1/2", 4 1/2"
Tilt systems: Traditional Tilt Bar, Off-Set Tilt Bar, Rear Tilt, Gear System
Frames: 7 frame styles available

Alta

Composite Shutters

Wood composite co-extruded with a polypropylene coating

Louvers: 2 1/2", 3 1/2", 4 1/2"
Tilt systems: Front Tilt, Gear Tilt
Frames: 4 frame styles available

Alta

Wood Shutters

Genuine hardwood in painted or stained finishes

Louvers: 2 1/2", 3 1/2", 4 1/2"
Tilt systems: Front Tilt, Gear Tilt
Frames: 4 frame styles available

Tilt and section control

The control detail changes the shutter’s face.

Norman’s Standard, Offset, and InvisibleTilt examples are shown below. Alta names and mechanisms remain product-specific: Eclipse lists Traditional, Off-Set, Rear, and Gear; Alta Wood and Composite list Front and Gear Tilt.

Shutter panel with a traditional centered front tilt bar — **Traditional front tilt**A visible centered bar gives the shutter a familiar, detailed face and makes louver control immediately understandable.

Shutter panel with the visible tilt bar offset toward the side — **Offset tilt**Moving the visible control toward the stile opens the center sightline while retaining a traditional tilt-bar mechanism.

Shutter panel with a clean front and concealed tilt control — **Concealed control**A clean front removes the visible bar. Rear, hidden-linkage, and gear-assisted designs vary by product line.

Split tilt

Upper and lower louver banks operate independently without adding a structural rail. The visualizer treats this as one section choice.

Divider rail

A divider rail is a solid horizontal rail that divides the panel into independently operated sections. The visualizer offers it instead of Split Tilt; Alta Eclipse includes Standard and Deluxe rail choices.

Louver size

More horizontal lines or a broader view-through.

The product preview shows how louver count, spacing, and openness change. Norman offers five sizes across the collections shown; Alta offers three.

1 7/8"

Norman lines shown on this page

2 1/2"

Norman and Alta

3"

Norman lines shown on this page

3 1/2"

Norman and Alta

4 1/2"

Norman and Alta

Shutter design visualizer

Explore compatible choices.

Selections update to match the chosen brand and collection. Changing collections refreshes every related choice.

Manufacturer / brandProduct / collectionLouver sizeTilt typeLouver sectionsFrame styleColor / finish

Options for this product

Choices update for the configuration you are editing. Final selections are confirmed after we measure your opening and review current physical samples.

Your selection

Configuration A

Norman · WoodloreEngineered wood composite with a polypropylene finish

Pure White manufacturer product sample — **Selected manufacturer sample**Pure White · WL001

Manufacturer: Norman
Product / collection: Woodlore
Louver size: 3 1/2"
Tilt type: Standard Tilt
Louver sections: One continuous louver bank
Frame style: 2" Bel Air Z Frame
Color / finish: Pure White

Optional comparison

See two choices side by side.

Compare colors, louver sizes, tilt styles, or another shutter collection without changing Configuration A.

Visualizer is for design reference only. Colors, proportions, hardware and product details are representative and may differ from the finished product. Final selections and availability are confirmed using current manufacturer samples and specifications. Final buildability is confirmed after NBWC measures the opening.

Applications

Plan the opening—not just the panel.

Every application changes clearance, weight, geometry, or stack. Manufacturer approval follows measurement and the exact selected product.

Standard rectangular windows

Frame depth, sill shape, trim, and sash operation determine the cleanest mount and panel count.

Paired and multi-panel windows

Panel stiles should relate to the window divisions so the finished grid feels intentional and glass access remains practical.

Arches

A shaped panel preserves the curve; louver movement and rail geometry change as the arch narrows.

Circles and specialty shapes

Operability may be partial or fixed. Templates and manufacturer review are often required before a shape is approved.

Angles and top shapes

The panel follows the geometry, while louver banks step or narrow toward the angled edge.

Bay windows

Frame projection and hinge direction must be coordinated so neighboring panels can open without colliding.

Corner windows

The frame intersection, light gaps, and which panel opens first become part of the design.

French doors

Handle depth and movement drive cut-out or build-out decisions; the shutter must not interfere with daily door operation.

Standard doors

Panel weight, hinge support, glass clearance, and hold-down details matter more than on a stationary window.

Sliding doors

A track system must preserve the traffic path and place the stack where it does not block the opening.

Wide openings

Panel width and weight may require more panels, a track, or a different material to keep operation dependable.

Bi-fold and bypass systems

Bi-fold panels stack to one or both sides; bypass panels overlap on tracks. Each trades clear opening against stack depth and wall space.

Dark bi-fold shutters spanning a wide living-room opening — **Bi-fold wide-opening application**Panels fold and stack to clear a broad opening; wall space, panel proportions, and the path of travel must be planned before ordering.

White shutters fitted neatly in a warm bedroom

Measured for the real opening

Professional planning protects the finished result.

Professional measurement is essential because trim, depth, handles, locks, tilt-in sashes, corners, and out-of-square openings can change the frame and mounting plan.

Long-term architectural finish
Adjustable light and privacy
Specialty shapes and difficult openings
Homeowners who value durable construction

Colors, fabrics & finishes

Choose a brand, product line, and finish.

Screen color and texture vary by device. Compare the physical sample in your room before making a final selection.

Brand

Norman

81 available selections from this brand for this product.

Shutter product

Woodlore6 selections

Solid

6 selections

Finish color

Pure White

WL001

Finish color

Silk White

WL003

Finish color

Pearl

WL006

Finish color

Extra White

WP002

Finish color

Decorator’s White

WP063

Finish color