Shutter Doors: Features, Classification, Applications and Selection Notes

Shutter doors are a type of door with a special design, consisting of many bars, arranged in parallel and linked together, which can rotate around an axis to open or close. Many homeowners choose louvered doors because this piece of furniture helps save space, has high aesthetics, and is diverse in design and material. Moreover, the ventilation and light adjustment features are also rated well compared to many types of doors currently on the market.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association (VIFOREST), the demand for louvered doors has grown by an average of 15% per year in the period 2015-2020.

However, shutter doors also have some limitations. This door material has poor insulation, is difficult to clean, is prone to warping and is susceptible to termites.

Shutter doors have 3 main types including wooden shutter doors, metal shutter doors and glass shutter doors. They are commonly used as interior doors, space partitions, main doors, windows for houses or commercial buildings.

If you need to buy shutter doors, you should choose a product that suits your needs and purposes. Pay attention to factors such as size, style, color, material and brand to ensure the durability, beauty and harmony of the interior.

To understand more about shutter doors, please refer to the following article!

What is a Shutter Door?

A louvered door (shutter door) is a special type of door, made of many panels of wood or other materials, stacked on top of each other and connected by hinges, allowing it to fold when opened and closed.

The door has a structure consisting of many horizontal bars (louvers) attached to the door frame. These bars can rotate around the axis, making it easy to adjust the opening angle to control light and wind entering the room. Shutter doors have the ability to adjust light and ventilation, protect privacy, and create an aesthetic space for the house.

Shutter Door Features

Shutter doors have provided an optimal solution for spaces with limited area, creating a unique and modern beauty for the house. With a variety of designs, colors, good ventilation and light adjustment, shutter doors are the priority choice of many homeowners. However, shutter doors are poorly insulated, difficult to clean and susceptible to warping and termites.

Advantages of louvre doors:

Space saving: Shutter doors can be folded when opened, helping to optimize the usable area. According to research by the Vietnam National Institute of Architecture, using shutter doors can save 15-20% of area compared to traditional doors.

• High aesthetics: With a variety of materials and designs, shutter doors bring unique and modern beauty to the space. Survey results of the Association Vietnamese architects show that 85% of homeowners are satisfied with the aesthetics of louvre doors in their homes.
• Diverse in designs and colors: Shutter doors have many choices of styles, from classic to modern, and rich colors, easy to coordinate with the interior. According to data from manufacturers, there are more than 100 different shutter door models for customers to choose from.
• Good ventilation: Shutter doors help air circulate easily, bringing a cool and fresh feeling to the house, especially on hot summer days.
• Adjust lighting: You can easily adjust the amount of light entering the room by opening and closing the shutters.

Disadvantages of louvre doors:

Poor insulation: Compared to glass or plastic doors, louvered doors have poorer insulation.

• Difficult to clean: The design of many horizontal bars makes it difficult to clean dirt.
• Prone to warping and termites (for wooden doors):If not properly preserved, wooden shutters are susceptible to warping and termites.

Shutter Door Classification

Based on material, shutter doors are divided into 3 basic types: wooden shutter doors, metal shutter doors and glass shutter doors.

Wooden shutters

Wooden shutter doors are the most popular type on the market, with two main product lines being natural wooden shutter doors and industrial wooden shutter doors.

Natural wood shutters

Natural wooden shutter doors have natural beauty, luxury, and durability over time. However, this type of door is expensive and easily affected by weather and insects.

Popular natural wood types for producing louvre doors:

• Oak: High hardness, beautiful wood grain, withstands harsh weather.
• Teak: Beautiful color, high durability, termite resistant.
• Rosewood: Hard, heavy, water resistant, less warping.
• Red wood: Beautiful color, high durability, effective termite resistance.

Industrial wood shutter doors

Industrial wood shutter doors are reasonably priced, have a variety of designs, and are easy to install and maintain. However, their durability and aesthetic value are not as good as natural wood.

Common types of industrial wood used to produce shutter doors:

• MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard): Medium density fiberboard, durable, stable, easy to process.
• HDF (High Density Fiberboard): High density fiberboard, harder and heavier than MDF, good moisture resistance.
• MFC (Melamine Faced Chipboard): Melamine-coated chipboard, durable, scratch-resistant, easy to clean.

Metal louvre doors

Metal shutter doors bring modernity, strength and safety to the space, divided into two main types: aluminum shutter doors and iron shutter doors.

Aluminum shutter door

Aluminum shutter doors are light, durable, weather resistant, easy to install and maintain. Aluminum doors are less soundproof and heat-insulating than wood.

Classification of aluminum shutter doors:

• Single aluminum shutter door.
• Aluminum shutter door combined with glass.

Iron shutter door

Iron shutter doors include solid iron shutter doors and iron shutter doors combined with glass. Iron doors are durable, safe, and suitable for projects with security requirements. The disadvantage of the product is that it is heavy and prone to rust if not treated with anti-corrosion.

Glass shutters

Glass shutter doors bring luxury, modernity and create a more spacious feeling. This door line has many types:

• Tempered glass: High resistance, safe when broken.
• Laminated safety glass: Consists of multiple layers of glass combined with PVB film, limiting breakage.
• Frosted glass: Creates privacy, limits direct light.
• Stained glass: Creates accents and increases the aesthetics of the space.

Glass shutters are highly appreciated for their aesthetics, light transmission and hygiene. The product's disadvantages are poor sound insulation, fragility and need to be carefully preserved.

Applications of Shutter Doors in Interior Design

Louver doors are commonly used in home interiors and commercial spaces as connecting doors, space partitions, main doors, and windows.

• Room door: Shutter doors help divide space while still ensuring ventilation and light circulation.
• Partition walls: With flexible folding and opening capabilities, louvre doors can create separate spaces or expand space when needed. In modern offices, louvre doors are used as mobile partitions for 45% of meeting rooms and common working areas.
• Main door: Shutter doors bring unique and impressive beauty to the entrance of the house.
• Windows: Shutter windows can be easily adjusted to control the amount of light and wind entering the room, creating a cozy or airy space.

What to Note When Choosing Shutter Doors?

To choose the right shutter door that meets your needs, you need to consider some important factors such as: needs/purpose of use, material, size, style, color, pattern, quality and brand.

Determine needs and purposes of use

Clearly identify which space the shutter door will be used for (living room, bedroom, office, etc.) and the main purpose of the door: room divider, decoration, main door, partition, etc. Choose shutter doors that match the overall design style of the space (classic, modern, minimalist, etc.), ensuring harmony and aesthetics.

Choose the right material

Choose materials that are suitable for the climate and environment of use. For example, in humid spaces, priority should be given to aluminum shutters or moisture-resistant industrial wood.

Consider quality and price, choose the material that fits your budget. Natural wood shutters are often more expensive than industrial wood and aluminum.

Door size and style

Choose the size and style of shutter doors that are suitable for the area and architectural style of the space. For example, for small spaces, you should choose shutter doors with moderate size and simple design. In addition, the door must also meet the usage function and bring aesthetic beauty to the space.

For example, 4-panel louvre doors are often used for medium-sized rooms, both convenient to use and creating a unique highlight.

Colors and patterns

Choose the color and pattern of the shutter door to match and harmonize with the color and material of the surrounding interior. At the same time, prioritize door designs that can express the homeowner's personality and style, creating a unique highlight for the space.

Quality and brand

Prioritize choosing shutter doors from reputable brands and manufacturers with a good reputation in the market to ensure quality. Before deciding to buy, you need to carefully check the product quality, from raw materials to production and finishing processes.

Questions About Shutter Doors

Are shutter doors suitable for small spaces such as apartments?

Yes. With the ability to fold when opened, shutter doors help save 15-20% of space compared to traditional doors, creating a more spacious and airy feeling for apartments and condominiums.

Can shutters be used in toilets and bathrooms?

Shutter doors can be used for toilets and bathrooms. However, it is necessary to choose moisture-proof and termite-proof materials such as aluminum and plastic. Composite, industrial wood to ensure durability and aesthetics in humid environments.

Do louvre doors take up space when opened?

Shutter doors do not take up space when opened. With a neat folding mechanism, shutter doors only take up a small space when opened, usually 10-15cm depending on the number of wooden panels. This helps to optimize the usable area, especially for rooms with limited space.

Are shutters susceptible to damage or falling?

With a sturdy structure and proper installation, shutter doors are not easily damaged or dropped. The hinges and slide rails are specially designed, have good load-bearing capacity, ensuring smooth and safe operation. However, regular maintenance is required to maintain the life and performance of the door.

Is the cost of installing louvered doors more expensive than regular doors?

The cost of installing louvered doors is often higher than that of conventional doors, due to their complex structure and professional installation requirements. However, in the long run, louvered doors bring many added values ​​such as space saving, high aesthetics, good ventilation and light adjustment, helping to save costs and improve the quality of life.

Are shutters safe for children and the elderly?

Shutter doors are safe for children and the elderly if installed and used properly. It is necessary to choose doors with a sturdy structure, no sharp corners or edges, and install anti-jamming devices to protect users. In addition, it is necessary to instruct and supervise children and the elderly to use the door properly to avoid unfortunate accidents.

Can shutters be easily replaced or repaired?

Louver doors can be easily replaced and repaired if damaged. Parts such as wood panels, hinges, and slides can be replaced individually without having to replace the entire door. This saves money and time compared to a complete replacement.

Should curtains be installed on louvered doors?

Yes. Curtains help increase privacy, control light and temperature, and effectively soundproof the house. In addition, curtains also increase the beauty and aesthetic value of the space. You may consider the beautiful curtain models after: fabric curtains, roller blinds, blinds.

Where to buy quality shutter doors at good prices?

Smart Decor specializes in providing convenient interior decoration solutions, including shutter doors. In addition, you can also hire us Design and manufacture custom shutter doors to fit your space.

Some pictures Louver door products at Smart Decor:

Advantages of Smart Decor:

• Having our own factory, we are proactive in quality, completion time and product cost.
• Competitive prices, no intermediary costs.
• Using quality materials, ensuring durability and high aesthetics.
• The finished product is beautiful, sturdy, and meets customer requirements.
• Support repair until it meets customer's wishes.

Contact Smart Decor for more specific advice on shutter doors and other furniture.