• Plantation shutters are an adjustable, interior style of shutter.shutter image by jeancliclac from Fotolia.com
  
  Plantation shutters are a type of interior window treatment that feature a series of horizontal slats known as louvers. People use plantation shutters to cover windows and doors, and many like them both for their aesthetic appeal and for their functionality. The many different components that comprise plantation shutters allow people to adjust the orientation of the louvers, which means that they can let in as little or as much air and sunlight as they like.
  
  

Louvers

• Louvers are adjustable, horizontal slats that rotate on nylon pins. On each plantation shutter unit, the louvers are in a parallel orientation, forming a column that stretches from the shutter’s bottom up to its top. According to Ennovage, the louvers come in a number of different widths, and manufacturers commonly produce them from poplar and basswood.
  
  

Stiles

• According to Buy Plantation Shutters, stiles are long, structural beams that form the left and right sides of plantation shutters. They are fixed in their positions, providing a framework for the louvers and nylon pins moving between them. In some models, the stiles also house small nylon linings, which help the louvers rotate more easily.
  
  

Rails

• Each plantation shutter unit has an upper and lower horizontal rail, which comprise the top and bottom of the shutter’s framework. The fixed rails meet with the stiles at the corners of the plantation shutter, giving it a sturdy, rectangular design.
  
  

Divider Rails

• Divider rails are a specific type of rail that manufacturers do not necessarily include on all plantation shutter models. According to Ennovage, the rail runs horizontally across the center of the plantation shutter unit, dividing the louvers in half. In addition to providing extra structural support to the shutter, the divider rail allows the top and bottom louvers to move freely from one another, meaning that you can keep the top half of the shutter closed and the bottom half open or vice versa. This can be an important feature if you want to create privacy while still enjoying the fresh air and sunlight from outside.
  
  

Shutter Rods

• Also known as tilt bars, shutter rods are vertical rods that attach to the louvers on plantation shutters. Buy pushing and pulling these rods, you can open and close the louvers. While with some models the shutter rods attach to the centers of the louvers, with other models the manufacturers mount the rods on their sides.
  
  

Tension System

• An optional feature on plantations shutters, a tension system allows you to adjust the tension of the louvers, so that they can rotate more or less freely. Manufacturers typically incorporate the systems into the stiles.