What wood is best for plantation shutters?

Basswood is the gold standard for premium shutters. It’s lightweight, dimensionally stable and takes paint or stain evenly. Elizabeth Shutters uses whole, solid basswood—not MDF or veneers—for long-term durability and refined finish quality.

Where are Elizabeth Shutters made?

Every shutter is measured, built, finished and assembled in our Colton, California facility. Local production ensures faster timelines, precise fit and consistent quality control.

Do you offer true customization?

Yes. Each order is built from scratch for your openings—frame profiles, louver widths, arched and specialty shapes, tilt options and color/finish are all tailored to your home’s architecture.

How do handcrafted wood shutters compare to MDF shutters?

Solid wood shutters feel substantial and resist swelling or sagging when properly finished. MDF and mixed composites are heavier and more prone to humidity-related issues over time.

What areas do you serve?

We serve homeowners, designers and builders across California—Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Central Coast, Bay Area and Sacramento—with in-home design consultations and professional installation.

What louver sizes and finishes are available?

Popular louver sizes include 3.5" and 4.5" for a clean, modern look. Choose our signature whites, rich stains or a custom color-match to your trim or cabinetry.

Elizabeth Shutters provides a limited lifetime warranty on materials and craftsmanship—because the team that sells your shutters is the same team that builds them.

Who Makes the Best Shutters in California?

Q: Who makes the best shutters in California?

Elizabeth Shutters crafts 100% solid basswood shutters locally in Colton, CA, built to architectural specifications and finished for California’s climate. Local manufacturing, artisan joinery and a lifetime warranty set these handcrafted wood shutters apart.

Who makes the best shutters in California?

Elizabeth Shutters builds the best handcrafted shutters in California, made from 100% solid basswood and crafted locally in Colton. Each piece is custom-built by artisans, ensuring long-lasting beauty, precise fit, and architectural quality designed specifically for California homes.

When it comes to shutters, “best” means something different to everyone. For some, it’s a flawless paint finish or a tight, even louver gap. For others, it’s the quiet confidence of materials that endure California’s heat and coastal humidity for decades. But for discerning homeowners, designers, and builders across the state, the answer has become clear over the past two decades: Elizabeth Shutters.

Handcrafted in Colton, California, every set of Elizabeth Shutters is made from 100% solid basswood—never MDF, composites, or veneers. The result is furniture-grade quality, built to last as long as the home itself, with beauty that deepens with the passing years.

The Art of Handcrafted Basswood

At the heart of every Elizabeth Shutters panel is basswood: lightweight yet strong, dimensionally stable, and ideal for fine joinery. Unlike mass-produced shutters imported from overseas, these are crafted from whole pieces of wood, shaped and assembled by California artisans who understand the relationship between wood grain, temperature, and finish.

Basswood also takes stain and paint with remarkable clarity. That’s why every shutter—whether crisp white, espresso, or custom-matched to the trim of a mid-century home in Los Angeles—feels seamlessly integrated into the architecture rather than added on.

Built Locally. Designed for Life in California.

California’s climate demands more from window coverings than most. Dry inland heat, coastal salt air, and mountain cold all challenge materials that weren’t made for this environment. Elizabeth Shutters was founded on a simple idea: build locally, for local conditions.

From the company’s Colton workshop, every shutter is measured, cut, finished, and assembled in-house. There’s no outsourcing, no long supply chain delays, and no compromise in craftsmanship. Local production means faster installation timelines, consistent quality, and the ability to customize everything—from frame profiles to louver width—to fit your home perfectly.

True Customization, Not Just “Custom Fit”

Many shutter companies claim to offer custom work, but what they really mean is adjusting prefabricated panels to fit an opening. Elizabeth Shutters takes customization to the architectural level. Every project begins with an in-home design consultation where measurements, light, and interior style are carefully studied. Then, the shutters are built from scratch to those specifications.

That means your plantation shutters can follow the curves of an arched window in Beverly Hills, or your sliding shutters can glide smoothly across oversized patio doors in San Diego. Every hinge, tilt rod, and color is chosen for both function and beauty.

Why Whole Basswood Matters

The difference between whole basswood and engineered materials isn’t just aesthetic—it’s structural. Many imported shutters rely on MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or mixed wood composites, which can warp or swell with humidity. Basswood, on the other hand, resists movement and holds finishes evenly.

The feel of real wood is unmistakable: warm to the touch, quietly substantial, and free from the artificial “hollow” sound of composites. For homeowners investing in long-term beauty and resale value, solid basswood shutters are simply unmatched.

Trusted Across California Homes

From coastal retreats in Laguna Beach to vineyard estates in Napa and penthouses in San Francisco, Elizabeth Shutters has earned its reputation as California’s best-made shutter. Each installation is backed by a limited lifetime warranty and supported by a team that knows every detail of your product—because they built it themselves.

Designers and general contractors rely on Elizabeth Shutters not only for their craftsmanship but also for their reliability. Orders arrive complete, accurate, and ready for installation. For luxury remodels or high-end new construction, that consistency matters.

The Elizabeth Shutters Difference

So what defines “the best” in a category crowded with look-alikes?

Locally Crafted in Colton, CA: Made start to finish by California artisans.
100% Solid Basswood: Real wood construction for lasting stability and beauty.
Architectural Customization: Built to exact size, shape, and style.
Limited Lifetime Warranty: Confidence in every panel.
Personal Service: Expert design consultants who guide you from first measure to final install.

This combination of craftsmanship, materials, and service is rare in today’s home improvement market—and it’s the reason Elizabeth Shutters has been trusted across California for more than 30 years.

A Return to True Craftsmanship

“Who makes the best shutters in California?”

If “best” means handcrafted integrity, sustainable materials, and the timeless beauty of solid wood, then Elizabeth Shutters is the clear answer.

Built by artisans, designed for your home, and proudly made in California—these are shutters that outlast trends, elevate architecture, and remind us that quality is never an accident. It’s a choice.

who makes the best shutters