What a difference shutters can make!  They add warmth and a "pop" of color to any home.  And they are inexpensive and easy for ANYONE to make.  I just suggested that the owners of a home that I recently listed add shutters.   When I drove by the home after the shutters were added, I was in awe!  

Here are the simple instructions on how to make your own custom shutters from HOME STAGING by Barbara Schwarz.  A set of 6 shutters will cost around $175.

"Count the number of windows that need shutters, including windows on the back of the house, and even sliding glass doors.  For each shutter, you will need one-by- four for the verticals and one-by-twos for the horizontal crossbars.  For most windows, three one-by-four vertical and three one-by-two horizontals make a good sized shutter.  For a very wide window, use five vertical boards and three horizontals for each shutter.  Have the lumberyard cut the one by fours to the height of your windows, measured top to bottom including trim.  Each one-by-two crossbar should be long enough to span the shutter side by side.

Lay the one-by-fours vertically on a piece of cardboard on the garage floor, spray them with primer, and then spray them black or white (sometimes I use slate blue or forest green; it depends on the color of your home).  Hold the shutters together by nailing on three horizontal one-by-two crossbars. Attach the shutters to the house either by nailing them onto the house if it has wooden siding or with screws and molly bolts if you have a brick or stucco house.  This is so easy and you don't even have to have a saw because home improvement stores will cut them for you.  Then all you have to do at your home is prime them, paint them, nail them together and put them on our home."  And even you will say "WOW!"