Do we just leave the front picture window without shutters?

I have a long brick ranch house I would like to add exterior shutters to. My question is, do we just leave the front picture window without shutters? It is 96” wide and only about 2 feet off the ground. Suggestions are appreciated.

  8 answers
  • Honestly I think you could go either way, my vote would be to add them just to pull it all together.

  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Mar 28, 2019

    That's personal preference, some do, some dont.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Mar 28, 2019

    Historically shutter widths were the same total width of the windows (for function) but that's not the case any more. For conformity and visual balance I would shutter all of your windows. In a contrasting color for more impact.

    • See 1 previous
    • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Mar 29, 2019

      Buy me size shutters for all. With stucco your house will be stunning.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Mar 28, 2019

    all the windows

  • Virginia S. Virginia S. on Mar 28, 2019

    I would paint the window frames black in addition to adding shutters on all the windows.

    • Heather Terlecki Rutter Heather Terlecki Rutter on Mar 28, 2019

      We just spent a ton of money putting all those windows in. lol. We are actually going to stucco the top of the gables and paint them to match the windows with dark brown trim and shutters. Brick is tough because it’s very limiting but it’s maintinace free:-)

  • Jeanette Jeanette on Mar 28, 2019

    You could also just put a matching window box on your picture window the same shade as your shutters. Low-light plants like hostas and begonias would do well in the lower light.

  • Kelly Denoyer Russell Kelly Denoyer Russell on Mar 29, 2019

    You can go both ways. FYI window color is great so ignore painting advice. Most people these days, to be safe, make everything the same color. That is a huge decor mistake. You want at least 2 different colors on exterior. Preferable 3. The only thing you want to blend in are gutters. You want features to pop. That said looking at the three I would also shutter the picture window but I’m a visual girl so these pics may help. I know the width won’t be a functional width but you can still add it as bling. Considering it’s a ranch I would suggest the ones that are more plank in decor. Like barn doors. Much more trendy. Don’t use shutters like top right (tan house) but that shows you a larger window and it looks fine.

    • Heather Terlecki Rutter Heather Terlecki Rutter on Apr 03, 2019

      Thank you I appreciate that. I don’t want to paint the brick bc right now it’s maintenance free. We are going to do the facia in a chocolate brown and then the peaks in a tan that actually matches the windows. I am planning the doors and shutters in the same chocolate color. Thanks again :-)

  • Tere Tere on Mar 29, 2019

    That's a matter of personal preference. My vote is, Go for the shutters! :)