French Door Shutters

Shutters for French doors

French doors open inwards or outwards, so any shutter needs to move with them. Door-mounted shutters are fixed to the door frame itself, so they open and close as part of the door and never get in the way.

Things to consider

• Handles: we plan the shutters around your door handles, so you can still open the doors easily.
• Door swing: we'll check that the shutter doesn't stop the door opening fully.

Which French doors suit shutters?

French door shutters work best where there's a flat area of door frame around the glass, because that's where the shutter frame is fixed. They suit kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms that open onto the garden, and bedroom doors onto a balcony, where you want privacy in the evening without heavy curtains. If your doors open outwards, the shutters stay on the inside face as the door swings out. If they open inwards, the shutters travel with the door, so we'll check they clear radiators, furniture and the walls either side.

Things to check before you choose

• Handles: the panels need to close neatly around the door handle. Depending on how far your handle sticks out, we may suggest a cut-out in the panel or a slightly deeper frame. We'll measure this carefully.
• Depth: door-mounted shutters add a little thickness to the door, so we'll check the doors can still fold back as far as they do now, and that any stays or catches still work.
• Locks and keys: we'll make sure you can still reach the lock and turn the key comfortably.
• Light: the louvres (the tilting slats) let you angle daylight in while blocking the view in. When they're closed, a little light will show around the edges, which is normal for any shutter on a door.

Choosing louvre size, colour and material

For French doors we'd usually suggest a smaller louvre, 63mm or 76mm, because the panels are fairly narrow and smaller slats keep them in proportion. The larger 89mm louvre gives a more open view and tends to suit wider openings. On kitchen and garden doors, water-resistant faux wood (PVC) is a practical choice, as it copes with condensation and wipes clean; hardwood and MDF look lovely in living and dining rooms. Most people choose white or a soft neutral to match the door, and we'll bring samples so you can see them against your own paintwork. There's also a choice of hidden or front tilt rods (the bar used to tilt the louvres), and we'll show you the options. Our faux wood shutters page and shutters buying guide have more detail.

Looking after French door shutters

Dust the louvres with a soft cloth now and then, and wipe faux wood with a damp cloth if it gets marked. Wooden shutters shouldn't be soaked; a lightly damp cloth followed by a dry one is plenty. Once you've placed your order, French door shutters are typically fitted in around two weeks. There are more tips in our care and maintenance guide.

Measuring and fitting

We measure and fit French door shutters ourselves, so you can leave the tricky parts to us. Book a free home appointment and we'll take a look at your doors.