The Best Custom Shutters, Blinds & Shades!
Proudly Serving Serving NYC Metro area and all of SE New York
Hidden tilt shutters in a kitchen

Benefits of Hidden Tilt Rods With Your Plantation Shutters in New York

November 18, 2019

 Before you pick your shutters, you’ll have some decisions to make. Should I choose real wood shutters or faux wood shutters? What louver size should I pick? What paint or stain on my shutters will fit best with my home?

One option you may not know about is the option between a standard front-mount tilt rod and a hidden or rear-mount tilt rod. Here are some advantages and weaknesses of hidden tilt rods, and if you should pick a hidden tilt rod for your shutters in New York.

What Are Hidden and Rear-Mounted Tilt Rods?

Most people are familiar with traditional plantation shutters where the louvers move with a center tilt rod. When you wish to adjust the shutters to allow more or less light, you simply hold the tilt rod and glide it up or down to shift the louvers.

A rear-mount tilt rod is a thin metal strip attached behind the louver that is hard to see from the front. When you tilt one louver, every louver tilts as one unit.

Some companies offer a hidden tilt rod that places a mechanism in the side of the unit to control the louvers. These kinds of hidden tilt rods are more finicky and tough to fix, which is why we recommend hidden tilt rods as rear-mount only.

Polywood shutters with hidden tilt rods in New YorkPolywood shutters with hidden tilt rods in New York 

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

Hidden or rear-mount tilt rods have a couple of benefits over traditional front-mounted tilt rods.

  1. Contemporary look - Shutters with hidden tilt rods look great with windows that have a modern or contemporary style because of their clean lines.

  2. Works well with thin or tiny windows - Your thin and tiny windows may want shutters with hidden tilt rods due to their unfussy look.

What Are Some Problems of Hidden Tilt Rods?

Hidden or rear-mounted tilt rods aren’t for everyone. Here’s a list of a couple cons to hidden tilt rods.

  1. Plantation shutters with hidden tilt rods may look too minimalistic for some homeowners - Some people in New York want the classic plantation shutter style and design with the tilt rod front and center. The front tilt rod gives more shape and substance to your plantation shutters, versus shutters with a hidden tilt rod where the look is more modern.

  2. Some people find front-facing tilt rods less of a hassle - Front-facing tilt rods can be more user-friendly for some people to operate. You just hold onto the tilt rod and slant the louvers as needed, versus having to tilt the louvers themselves.

Who Should Consider Hidden Tilt Rods on Their Plantation Shutters?

Hidden Tilt Rod Plantation Shutters

What placing of tilt rod you pick is often due to your personal taste and your window’s characteristics. When you have a conventionally designed home, we advise front-mounted tilt rods. If your home is more sleek, you may consider rear-mounted tilt rods.

Family traffic like kids and pets could also be a concern regarding the rear-mount choice. Many people in New York who run in-home daycares request hidden or rear-mount tilt rods so that there’s less chance of a child breaking a front-mounted tilt rod.

Want Help Picking the Best Window Treatment For Your Family?

If you’re looking to buy interior shutters in New York but need some guidance, call us at 631-246-3930 or fill out the form below to schedule a free in-home consultation. During the consultation, we’ll show you all of your options - including rear tilt rod options - so you can try them before you buy.