The Interior Shutters Glossary

Interior Shutters are very simple to design and buy from our online shutter shop. Your shutters can be ordered with many different design details and we’ve tried to make the shutter shop and general website information as clear and helpful as possible to help your decision making process.

Many customers comment how they really like our plain, no nonsense approach to shutters. No complex language, no confusing instructions. Where possible we make all information as easy to follow as 1-2-3. However to help you further, this page shows you exactly which part of your shutters are called what.

Shutter Frame – Your shutters are comprised of shutter panels (see below) which are installed within a shutter frame. The frame is mounted onto the window and gives the panel a ‘perfect shape’ for the shutter panels to be mounted within.

Shutter Panels – The shutter panel or panels are the large main section of the shutter. The panel refers to the entire door like structure. The panels are hinged within the frame, to open back off the window.

Shutter Slats – The slats are the horizontal pieces of wood that move. They rotate between the shutter stiles. The slats can be tilted through an angle of almost 360°. They close flat to make the room dark, at an angle for privacy or can be tilted open to 90° for a clear view. Slats (which are sometimes called louvers) can be ordered with 47mm, 64mm, 89mm and 114mm slats.

Bottom Rail and Top Rails  - This refers to the solid parts of the shutter at the top and bottom of the shutter panels. They are made in proportion to the size of the panel, ensuring the strength of the panel is not compromised.

Mid Rail – The mid rail is a piece of wood that runs horizontally within the structure of the shutter panel. It is required on panels over a certain height for strength, but is often advisable on shutters where you want separate control of the slats on the top and bottom sections.

Shutter Stile
The stile is the vertical upright part of the shutter panel. The slats are perpendicular to the stile.

Shutter Push Rod – The shutter push rod is sometimes called the shutter tilt bar. This is the horizontal piece of wood that runs down the centre of each panel, linking the shutter slats. You hold this rod to tilt and adjust the slats.

Shutter Open Sky Concealed Rod – This is an option where the shutter panel has a bar at the rear of the panel, offset at the side. This links the slats together at the rear and when you move one slat, this adjusts all the slats in unison. This system is just an aesthetic alternative to the regular front facing push rod.

Mouse Hole – Panels with a regular push rod have a little indentation on the top, bottom and mid rails, where the push rod sits when the slats are closed flat.

Feeling inspired? Choose your shutters now..