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Hidden tilt shutters in a kitchen

Benefits of Hidden Tilt Rods For Your Plantation Shutters in Dover

November 18, 2019

 Before you pick your plantation shutters, you’ll have a few choices to make. Do I need real wood shutters or faux wood shutters? What size louver should I get? What color of window treatments will work best with my home?

One choice you may not be familiar with is the choice between a standard front-mount tilt rod and a hidden or rear-mount tilt rod. We've outlined some pros and cons of hidden tilt rods, and if you should pick a hidden tilt for your shutters in Dover.

What Are Hidden and Rear-Mounted Tilt Rods?

You’re probably familiar with traditional plantation shutters that use a center tilt rod on the front. When you wish to adjust the shutters to bring in more or less light, you just move the tilt rod and slide it vertically to shift the louvers.

A rear-mount tilt rod is a slender metal strip attached behind the louver that is hardly noticeable from the front. When you tilt one louver, all the louvers move as one unit.

Some shutters have a hidden tilt rod that’s in the side of the treatment to control how the louver’s tilt. Unfortunately, these hidden tilt rods are more fragile and tough to fix, which is why our shutters use hidden tilt rods as rear-mount only.

Plantation shutters with hidden tilt rods in DoverPlantation shutters with hidden tilt rods in Dover 

What Are the Benefits of Rear-Mount and Hidden Tilt Rods?

Hidden or rear-mount tilt rods offer a few advantages over traditional front-mounted tilt rods.

  1. Modern look - Shutters with hidden tilt rods look great with homes that have a modern or contemporary design due to their streamlined shape.

  2. Works well with thin or tiny windows - Your thin and tiny windows may benefit from hidden tilt rods due to their minimalistic look.

What Are Some Drawbacks of Hidden Tilt Rods?

Hidden or rear-mounted tilt rods may not work for you. Here are some drawbacks to hidden tilt rods.

  1. Plantation shutters with hidden tilt rods might appear too modern for some homeowners - Some people in Dover want the traditional plantation shutter style and design with the tilt rod in the front. The front tilt rod provides more definition and prominence to your plantation shutters, versus shutters with a hidden tilt rod where the design is more plain.

  2. Some people find front-facing tilt rods less of a hassle - Front-facing tilt rods may be easier for some homeowners to work with. You just grab a hold of the tilt rod and adjust the louvers as needed, instead of having to move the louvers themselves.

What Homeowners Should Think About Hidden Tilt Rods on Their Shutters?

Hidden Tilt Rod Plantation Shutters

What style of tilt rod you pick is often due to your personal taste and your room’s decor. When you live in a home with traditional decor, we recommend front-mounted tilt rods. If your rooms are more contemporary, you may consider rear-mounted tilt rods.

You may also want to consider lifestyle needs, like kids or pets. Many teachers in Dover who own home-based daycares request hidden or rear-mount tilt rods so that there’s less chance of a child damaging a front-mounted tilt rod.

Need More Help Selecting the Perfect Window Treatment For Your Home?

If you’re looking to buy interior shutters in Dover but need some expert advice, call us at 301-835-1611 or send us the form below to arrange a free in-home consultation. When we come, we’ll walk you through a variety of shutter options - and both front and rear tilt rod options - so you can be confident in your choice.