🪟❄️🔥 Once believed to ward off evil spirits, block icy winds, and stop curious neighbors from peeking in, wooden shutters were once essential in every home! So why have they disappeared from modern houses? The answer isn’t as simple as “we have glass now.” From folklore to function, we break down what made shutters magical—and why they’ve mostly faded away 🧙♀️🏠🌬️ Full story in the article 👇
In the past, almost every wooden house had shutters on the windows. But today, you hardly ever see them. We looked into why shutters were once so common and why they’ve mostly disappeared in modern times.
No one knows exactly where shutters were first invented. They were definitely used in Russia, but people in other parts of Europe also had them. So why were shutters needed? It turns out they had several important uses.
First of all, they helped protect the house from the weather. During colder months, shutters kept out wind and snow. In summer, they blocked the hot sun and helped keep the inside cool.
Second, shutters worked like curtains. In the evenings, people would close them so no one could look through the windows and see what was happening inside the home.
Third, shutters helped keep homes safe from thieves. They made it harder for someone to break in, especially in small towns and villages where people didn’t always have strong doors or locks.
Fourth, some believed that shutters kept away evil spirits. This may sound strange today, but in the past, many people in Russia truly believed that dark forces existed and that shutters could stop them from entering their homes.
Here’s something interesting! Shutters also made homes look nice from the outside. People often decorated them with detailed wood carvings and colorful paint.
Before glass became common, shutters also had another important role: they replaced windows. Glass was very rare and expensive until the 20th century, so most families couldn’t afford it. That changed with the industrial revolution, when glass became easier to make and more affordable.
So why don’t we see shutters much today? The answer is simple: now we use glass in window frames, so there’s no need to close shutters for protection. Still, some houses do have them—usually for decoration. But even now, shutters can help block sunlight like blinds do, and they can still protect windows during strong storms.
Did you ever see one? Share your thoughts in the comments.
