to see in; whereas, if they are positioned
upward, you will probably not be able
to see out, while someone walking by
outside will be able to see inside.
The louvers on interior shutters can
vary as to how tightly they close. The
looser they are, the higher the chances
of visibility and light through them
will be. The vantage point from which
you look through shutters also affects
visibility. When the louvers are set with
the outside pointing downward, seeing
out but not in is easiest when they are
located below or at eye level. However,
when the louvers are set to turn upward,
seeing in rather than out is easiest if they
are located overhead.
A legitimate reason to leave the
louvers aiming upward is when there
is a need to keep unwanted exterior
lights or morning sun from shining into
a bedroom or other area. Shutters can
always be readjusted to coordinate with
others in the area when the offending
lights are no longer a problem.
There can be other reasons to
permanently aim shutters’ louvers.
Notice the ones on the doors of some
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 141
The louvers of the
left-hand shutters are
angled down, making
seeing out difficult,
while the louvers of the
right-hand shutters
are angled up, making
it possible to see out
through them.
Which is the correct
way to angle movable
interior shutters?
While exterior shutters normally have
fixed louvers, which angle downward,
there is really no right or wrong way to
position interior shutters. Most people
just automatically go with whatever they
are used to seeing or experiencing, which
is usually the downward angle. Although
there is nothing wrong with that, there
can often be reasons for other positioning
choices.
If a shuttered window is one of several
in the same room, building or complex,
it is usually more attractive when they
are positioned in the same manner as the
others for continuity. The same people,
including me, who straighten pictures on
the wall are inclined to reposition shutters
in order to make them match. Besides
aesthetics, function also can come into
play here. If the interior blades are set
to face downward, you will usually be
able to see out without others being able
stores’ dressing rooms. Most of these are
aimed downward so that the little areas
will seem larger and the customers will
be able to see out. However, occasionally
the louvers are permanently aimed
upward to allow the sales personnel to
see into the dressing rooms. This is not
a “Peeping Tom” scenario. The louver
settings subtly allow sales people to
promptly see if assistance is needed, to
see if the space is occupied, or even to
consider if they should contact security
to check on the customers’ health or
activities.
Louvers on cabinet or cupboard
doors, which can allow air circulation,
are normally permanently fixed into
position. Consider the louver angles and
the cabinet upper or lower placement if
you will be concerned whether or not
the interior contents will be able to be
glimpsed through them.
While interior louvered shutters are
normally horizontal, they can also be
vertical. If so, the same theories apply,
simply at different angles.
Now you know why I did not answer
these questions earlier. 9