Chances are, you have probably never taken the time to think about or read the history of shutters. However, this does not mean that shutters do not have a very interesting history. From ancient Greece to Medieval Europe and beyond, shutters have gone through many different transitions and changes. Even though shutters have gone through some changes over the course of time, one thing has remained consistent: they have always been one of the most effective home improvements. Whether you want to change your home's exterior, interior or both, shutters have always been able to provide homes with a fresh breath of air. So, with that being said, let's take a look at what has allowed shutters to remain popular for so long...

So, what is the purpose of having shutters?
Before we look at the actual history of shutters, it's important to understand why people purchase shutters in the first place. As we all know, shutters play a major role in the visual design of any home. However, shutters are more than just a pretty window decoration. In addition to appealing to the eye, shutters serve three major functions. The first (and most obvious) function is controlling the amount of light that enters a room. Whether you want to give your home a very open feel by allowing lots of natural light to enter, or prefer to minimize the amount of sunlight that enters your home, shutters give you the power to choose how much or little light makes its way through your windows and into the rooms of your house. When it comes to window shades, there is truly no other option that can provide the same level of comfort and flexibility as high-quality window shutters.

The second function of shutters is to provide ventilation. Louvered (lamellen) shutters allow you to not only let air circulate into your home, but also give you the ability to block out extremely hot sunlight. By utilizing the shutters to repel the heat of the sun, you can significantly lower the amount of your energy bill each month. As an added bonus, if it starts raining, you can point the louvers downwards and all of the rain will find its way straight to the ground (and away from your home's interior).

The last function of shutters is privacy. Regardless of how safe your neighborhood is, chances are that you don't want strangers peering into your home during the night. By purchasing a quality set of shutters, you can ensure that you and your family is safely out of view from the rest of the world. If you don't already have shutters for your home, you will be amazed at the added sense of security that they can give you.

Now that you are familiar with the three main functions of shutters, let's take a look at the role shutters have played during different periods in history...

Greece: Ancient Greece is believed to be the place where shutters were conceived and introduced. According to experts, the people of ancient Greece used shutters as a means of dealing with the harsh sunlight and temperatures that resulted from the tropical environment. Unlike today's modern wooden shutters, the window shutters in ancient Greece had fixed louvers and were actually made from marble.

Mediterranean: When the concept of shutters spread from ancient Greece to the Mediterranean, shutters underwent their first major transformation. Although marble was the original material used for producing shutters, it didn't take long for people to figure out that wood was a much better material for making shutters. Thanks to this major reduction in weight, it was also possible to create movable louver shutters.

Lady Godiva: Although Lady Godiva actually lived in England during approximately 1040-1080, her involvement with the history of shutters is actually a legend. However, because it is such a popular legend (and amusing one), it seems appropriate to discuss it here. As the story goes, Lady Godiva's husband had enacted an oppressive toll on his tenants. In order to get the toll lifted, Lady Godiva rode nude through the streets on a white horse.

The part of this story that involves window shutters is an unlucky character named Tom. Although the entire town stayed indoors and shielded their eyes as Lady Godiva rode through the streets, Tom could not resist the temptation and peeked through his window shutters (hence the term "Peeping Tom"). According to the legend, Tom was struck blind shortly after laying his eyes on Lady Godiva.

Continue to A Glimpse into the History of Shutters, Part 2 of 2.