Basswood is the ideal material for the majority of wood house shutters.  Not only is it resilient and able to withstand temperatures from the freezing cold to the tropical heat, but it is also reasonably priced and looks appealing both inside and outside the house.  Although there are many different hardwoods used in shutters, basswood is the number one choice when purchasing wooden shutters. Another alternative is vinyl house shutters.

Interior shutters are normally very straight and have a shiny texture. Unlike other woods that have very obvious graining, basswood is much smoother, making it a perfect choice for outside and inside shutters, especially for people who are not fond of grainy wood but do not want to paint the wood opaque. 

Basswood is lightweight enough to handle and install easily, yet resilient enough to endure the extreme heat or cold. Should you buy interior window shutters, they are most likely made of basswood.  There are several different woods used in shutters, and they are described below: 

Oak

Oak is a very elegant wood and is very heavy.  Oak also shows an obvious grain. For the reason that oak is so heavy, it is not the perfect choice for interior wooden shutters because it can expect too much from the window jambs.  Many people also are not fond of the grainy texture of oak, yet oak does not paint very well.  Oak continues to be a widespread choice for house shutters, just not the ideal choice. 

Maple

Maple is similar to oak in that it is a golden colored, heavy wood that works great for tables but can be difficult to work with when it is used for shutters.  Because maple is particularly difficult to work with, the jambs have to be drilled before you can install the shutters, a job which can be difficult.  Maple interior shutters weigh a bit, like oak, and can damage the window jambs. Another good choice is vinyl house shutters.

Cedar

Cedar is a good strong hardwood that is easy to stain.  Cedar wood is not very heavy which means it is easy to work with when fashioned into interior wooden shutters. Because it is lighter than oak or maple, cedar shutters will not wear down the window jamb.  However, cedar tends to scratch and bruise easier than heavier woods and could need replacement. 

Poplar

Because poplar contains so many minerals and has  a greenish color, it looks more pleasant when painted instead of stained.  For many people, the attraction of wooden shutters is the look of real wood. Most people don’t care for poplar because they do not want to have to paint the wood.  Painting generally requires touching up much more routinely than staining. Because of this, poplar, although cheaper than the other woods, is not the best choice for use as vinyl house shutters.