The One Time HGTV's Erin Napier Says You Should Ditch The Shutters
If there's a person to pay attention to concerning tips to make a house look chic and fashionable, it has to be HGTV's Erin Napier. Erin often partners with her woodworker husband, Ben, a history graduate with a talent for jaw-dropping renovations. Since the couple's show "Home Town" appeared eight years ago, it has racked up thousands of views and emerged as one of HGTV's most popular programs. Even if you do not always agree with her choice of style (many of Erin's fans recently protested her design choice for a fabric scalloped awning instead of an arched porch) — you'll agree Erin often gets it right.
Most Americans have a soft spot for shutters – no prizes for guessing why. With shutters, you only need to fiddle with the louvers a bit to control the amount of natural light that gets in. However, Napier says the one time to avoid shutters is when working with big windows (via YouTube). If you've watched her shows, you know Erin is not entirely enthusiastic about shutters, especially when dealing with this type of design scheme. Here's why.
Why HGTV's Erin Napier avoids shutters when working with big windows
In HGTV Home Town Season 7 Episode 12 (via YouTube), Erin says, "If you cannot conceivably imagine those shutters closing and covering the window, you don't need them." Therefore, we can infer from the Home Town co-host that shutters may be suitable for some modest window sizes. It all depends on what you're aiming for, provided they do the job they're supposed to do: cover the windows. However, it's a different story altogether: "When you've got a really big window, you don't need them" (via Realtor.com). In that case, she typically suggests no shutters. So, why should you avoid shutters that don't cover your window? Erin doesn't lay it out in black and white, but it seems she prioritizes practical functionality over excessive or unnecessary flashiness.
Still, that doesn't mean Erin completely ignores the argument of aesthetic appeal. For a house with little in the way of personality, she concedes shutters can give a house character. But she labels this as an exception, not the rule. So generally, when dealing with extremely large window styles, including modern picture windows, the star of one of the best real estate shows to watch in 2023 says you should ditch the shutters. Of course, it's your house, and you'll eventually have to go with what works for you.