Window shutters have been a staple on many homes for hundreds of years but do they still serve the same purpose after all these years? There is no short answer to this question because it all depends on which kind of shutters you're looking at.
A lot of newer tract homes have exterior window shutters that serve no other purpose than for decoration, but why? Shutters used to serve as a type of security in 17th century homes, but now it is no longer needed so it has grown increasingly popular to have non-functional shutters. They are often too small for the actual window, as you can see to the right these are attached outside of the frame of the windows and are far too small. They are usually glued or nailed to the side of the home without the proper hardware to make them functional. These may make you "shutter" with horror but they give a home curb appeal.
Not all shutters belong in the gutters, interior window shutters still have a function in today's homes. They're used in the same way as blinds or curtains. Before glass windows were invented, interior window shutters were used to keep out bugs, light, noise etc. and they continued to be used for privacy after glass windows became mainstream. They also provide extra insulation during the hottest and coolest months of the year. There are different types of interior shutters. There's a solid panel shutter, where the whole shutter is one piece with no slits for light to pass through. There's louvered shutters that have horizontal blades allowing for light to pass through when closed. They can be traditional or plantation style (in the West, sometimes called California style) with wider blades than the traditional shutters. On the right you can see these are plantation style shutters because they have wider blades as opposed to the smaller blades shown in the picture on the left. Tier-on-tier shutters are split horizontally allowing for two separate panels stacked on top of each other that open separately, shown below from perfectshutters.co.uk. Cafe shutters only cover the bottom portion of the window allowing for light to pass through the top of the window while closed.
Exterior storm shutters are more popular for homes in the mid-west and southern areas of the United States where hurricanes 
and tornadoes are a common occurrence, you probably won't see very many functional shutters like these in California. These shutters protect the windows of homes from the elements during especially bad weather. They are typically made from hardy material like aluminum while tract home shutters are usually made from plastic. These shutters can come in panels or accordion style. The storm panels attach to the wall of the home, overlapping each other to cover the window. The overlapping gives extra strength and durability. The panels are removable so they are only on your home when they are in use. Shown on the right are panel storm shutters with the addition of the faux exterior shutters. Accordion shutters have vertical blades that allow them to roll shut when not in use. They are permanently attached to your home but are much easier to use than the panels.
Window puns are terribly transparent so I'll sign off here and don't forget, if you are looking to upgrade your home or even build a new one give us a call at 209-772-9200 or toll free at 800-498-1833.
Sources:
https://www.remodelista.com/posts/remodeling-101-interior-window-shutters/#:~:text=shutters%20were%20used%20on,glass%20(it%20was%20expensive)
https://www.armoreddade.com/pros-cons-storm-panels-accordion-shutters-bradenton-windows/
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