Board and Batten Shutter Designs

Arch Top

• A common board and batten shutter style has an arched top. This style is created by cutting a rounded edge along the top of each board. Vertical battens are secured across the horizontal planks. Arch-top board and batten shutters have a cottage appeal that harmonizes with a country or rustic home motif.

Open Style

• One of the most primitive board and batten shutter designs is the open style. The open style has two, three or four horizontal boards that have a small amount of space between them. The boards are secured together with vertical battens. This style is easiest to construct and has an open design that allows you to see part of your house through the space between the horizontal boards.

Joined Style

• Joined board and batten shutters have two to five horizontal boards that are fastened together without any space between them. Some joined styles have decorative designs like flowers or hearts carved into the wood. Battens are fastened across the horizontal boards. This style is available at most home improvement stores and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Select this style if you want a traditional board and batten design for a Tudor or Victorian home.

Z-Style

• Some board and batten shutters have battens that are attached to their horizontal boards in a Z-shape. The Z-style is used most frequently on joined board and batten shutters. This shutter style is common on barn doors and works best on window openings that are tall and wide. Avoid using Z-style board and batten shutters if you don't have much space between your exterior windows.