How To Install Interior Wood Shutters As An Inside Mount
In this short tutorial, we’ll talk about installing interior wood shutters.
If you want to know how to do it, and you want to know it before you order, or before they arrive, this step-by-step guide will help you do it with ease.
If you want to know how to do it, and you want to know it before you order, or before they arrive, this step-by-step guide will help you do it with ease.
The shutters usually arrive well packed and protected against shipping. Always inspect the package (s) for any outside damage to the cardboard before you accept it.
Next, carefully unpack the shutters. Be cautious not to cut into the shutters by going too deep into the cardboard wrapper with a pair of scissors or a knife.
Got the shutters unwrapped? Great.
Now, inspect the shutter panels for any damages, missed or sloppy finishing, or broken louvers at the hinges.
Looks good?
Proceed to the next step.
Proceed to the next step.
Lay out the hardware like so …
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| A Layout Of Installation Parts For Wood Shutters |
Included in the package, you should find:
- Hinges attached to the shutter panels
- Hinge screws to attach the panels to a windowsill
- Magnets (with screws) to hold the panels closed in the window
- Magnet plates with screws (in our case – they attach to the bottom of the side stiles that meet in the middle of the window)
- Finishing paint (sometimes a small bottle for touch ups comes with the package)
- A few pieces of cut up 2” slats from wood or faux wood blinds – as shims
The window we’re going to install the shutters into is right here …
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| That's The Window Where The Shutters Will Go |
It’s a fairly tall window over a soaker tub in a master bathroom.
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| A Stamped Center Stile On A Panel |
To identify which panel is which, most manufacturers stamp the bottom of stiles (the vertical pieces of wood on the shutter sides) with this symbol. “B” stands for “bottom” x “L” stands for left. Now you know you are holding the bottom-side up panel that goes on the left side of the window.
Next, test-fit both panels in order to see what the light gaps are like along the bottom rails.
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| 2" Wood Shims Help In Setting The Clearance Gap Between The Bottom Rails And The Bottomsill |
To create an even clearance gap alongside the bottom rails, the included shims serve you for that purpose. Usually, only one shim is all that’s needed on both sides. Rarely, but depending on how straight and square the window is, up to two shims do the trick.
With some “out-of-square or uneven bottom sill” windows, a single shim’s enough on one side, while the other one needs a couple of shims to get an adequate bottom-gap clearance to smoothly close and open the panels.
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| A Hinge Detail – Wood Shutters |
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| A Single Panel Installed As An Inside Mount – Real Wood Shutters |
Once you know how many shims you need, let the first panel stand on it (or them – if you have a couple shims) within the window frame. Have a second person hold the panel fully open and screw the hinge flaps (upper & lower) to the window jamb.
You may need to pre-drill the holes with an appropriate size of drill bit (a tad smaller than your installation screws).
The shims must stay right below the stiles (just like you see in the picture) during the attachment phase.
The shims must stay right below the stiles (just like you see in the picture) during the attachment phase.
Once you are done with attaching the hinges to the window, remove the shims and open and close the shutter panel. While opening and closing the panel over the bottom sill, there should be no friction, no contact between the panel and the sill. That’s what the shims help you prevent.
If everything is “frictionless” and looks good, repeat the same steps with the panel on the other side.
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| A Magnet Plate Attached To The Bottom Of The Shutters Center Stiles |
A couple of magnets at the bottom, center, hold the panels in a closed position.
A magnet plate goes at the bottom of each of the center stiles (just like you see in the picture above).
Again, you may need to pre-drill the screw holes.
Again, you may need to pre-drill the screw holes.
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| Two Magnets Hold Panels In Closed Position |
Now, attach the two magnets to the window sill. Find their position by letting the magnets freely join with the plates. Next, close the panel flush with the window edge.
Look from the side, move the magnets if necessary, and finally mark the spot where they will go on the bottom sill. Next, do the same for the other side.
Pre-drill the screw holes for the magnets and fasten the two magnets to the sill using the magnet screws.
Take care not over tighten the screws through the plastic magnet jackets.
Since the panels in our example are café-style, and there’s no wood to hold any magnets at the top of the center stiles, the bottom ones are it.
If the panels were full-size all the way from top to bottom of the window, a couple of magnets would go up to hold the tops of the panels in place.
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| Cafe-Style Wood Shutters Installed As An Inside Mount In A Tall Window – Master Bathroom |
Two panels, café-style wood shutters fit in the window like a glove while matching the bathroom décor … and you’ve done it.
Congratulations! 
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