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White Polywood shutters on five bedroom windows

What Are Faux Wood Shutters?

September 08, 2025

One hundred years ago, plantation shutters were manufactured from wood. Today, we have innovative, modern materials that may look like wood but provide enhanced durability and longevity. Often referred to as “faux wood,” these materials make exceptional interior shutters for your Destin windows. If you’re not familiar with faux wood shutters, read more about these sought-after, multi-faceted window treatments!

Why Install Faux Wood Shutters In Your Destin Home?

Interior shutters are a fantastic but sometimes underappreciated window treatment because quite a few residents aren’t familiar with them. To begin with, interior shutters have a hinged panel that is positioned inside a frame secured around your window. This well-built panel shields the window unless you swing it open. Inside the panel you’ll discover a row of movable louvers. These narrow but sturdy louvers lie flush with each other when shut. Shift them up, and they let light through.

Interior shutters historically are known for being made from solid wood, but faux wood shutters are found in a range of engineered wood substitutes. These longer-lasting materials are less vulnerable to moisture, mold, scrapes, and insects that can deteriorate wood shutters. They also do as good a job, if not better, of halting light and outdoor air as wood shutters.

Are There Different Options For Faux Wood Shutters?

White Polywood shutters on a kitchen window

If you are trying to figure out which non-wood shutter is the best for your home, it can be difficult to recognize the differences. Faux wood may have superior characteristics over wood, but not all faux-wood shutters are identical. 

Vinyl shutters aren’t an actual faux wood, but they might be offered as an alternative to wood shutters. Vinyl shutters are budget-friendly, but you’ll sacrifice quality. They look like plastic and can crack, warp, or even melt in hot sunlight. Once that occurs, they won’t give you sufficient light control, privacy, or energy efficiency.

Synthetic-wrapped shutters are constructed from wood chip materials, glued MDF, or pressed wood, and then wrapped with a vinyl, synthetic, or plastic coating. They’re sturdier than vinyl shutters, but their components are sensitive to humidity and moisture. Also, wrapped shutters cannot be custom-fitted for specialty-shaped windows like circles and arches.

Solid extruded shutters are made from heavy-duty compounds and finished with a protective coating. They can be designed to have a wood-grain or smooth texture. Their engineered fibers prevent them from distorting or cracking like wood can. Top-quality, solid extruded louvered shutters like Polywood® shutters last for decades in any room, providing the greatest value for your money. Yet, low-quality extruded shutters are often more brittle or fail to have the UV inhibitor that stops discoloration.

What To Ask For In A Superior Faux Wood Shutter

White Polywood shutters on tall living room windows

Not all faux wood shutters in Destin offer the same quality. When looking for interior shutters, you require a product that enhances your home and life for years on end. Your best option is Polywood shutters. They offer the following benefits:

  • High-end appearance
  • Harmonize with all interior designs
  • Withstand daily use for decades
  • Resists damage from temperature extremes, moisture, scratching, and sunlight
  • Clean up easily
  • Fit any window shape
  • Stop most light and outdoor temperature transfer

Bring Your Interior Shutter Questions To The Specialists

No company knows more about interior shutters than the pros at Sunburst Shutters Destin! We’ll answer all your questions about faux wood shutters and other window treatments when you request a free in-home consultation. Contact us at 850-203-0419 or submit the form below to make an appointment. We'll present our high-quality products and help you customize the ideal shutter for your home.