• Shutters can also be used inside the home.yellow shutters image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
  
  Shutters add color and style to a home's facade. But there are many creative uses for these panels inside the home, as well. The most common shutter is the louvered style, with horizontal slats. The raised panel shutter has two, three or four raised areas evenly spaced along the facade. The board-and-batten style, with two, three or four vertical boards and two or three short horizontal spans, has a cottage look.
  
  

Window Treatment

• Using exterior shutters as an interior window treatment blurs the line between indoors and out. For a rustic country look, use vintage shutters purchased from a yard sale or antique store. Mount them on either side of the window. For an Old World look, apply an antique faux finish. Shutters used as dining-room window treatments give guests the feeling they're lunching at a sidewalk cafe.
  
  

Folding Screen

• Any type of shutter lends itself to a do-it-yourself folding screen. Use hinges to attach three or four tall shutters. The folding screen can be used in the corner of the room as a decorative element. It can also be used to conceal an unsightly radiator or other eyesore. A folding screen propped in the corner of a bedroom makes an excellent dressing area.
  
  

Unique Table

• Raised-panel shutters or board-and-batten shutters make a unique coffee table or console table. Attach the shutter to an old table base or table legs. If the table will be heavily used, a coat of polyurethane provides protection from water stains and other damage. If a louvered shutter is used, tempered glass attached to the top provides a smooth and level surface.
  
  

Mail Sorter

• An old louvered shutter propped against the wall of an office space provides slots for incoming or outgoing mail. It also adds color and character to a room that typically has little style. The shutter could be screwed into the wall for more stability. For a multipurpose shutter, apply cork board to half for use as a bulletin board.