Amanda Seyfried's Window Shutters Add Warmth and Character

Living room with white window shutters / Amanda Seyfried

(Image credit: Future / Photo by Maya Dehlin Spach/Variety via Getty Images)

I've always thought window shutters were so stylish but, living in a cozy, period property, which struggles for natural light, makes me worry that they would simply darken an already dimly lit room. However, seeing Amanda Seyfried's floor-to-ceiling oak shutters in her Manhattan home has completely changed my mind.

Not only do they add bags of character to an otherwise plain white wall, but the unpainted wood of Amanda Seyfried's shutters anchors the whole room in a calming and light-filled space, proving that shutter ideas really are the ultimate window treatments for period homes.

While Amanda's shutters are likely custom-built – and to get the best fit for your windows, we'd advise doing the same – I've included some buys below to help you get the living room look of The Housemaid actor, and some advice below on how to choose window shutters to suit your space.

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Stylish Buys Inspired by Amanda Seyfried's Living Room

Get the look

Modern Farmhouse Full Length Mirror

You can replicate the look of Amanda Seyfried's window shutters with a light wood finish rustic mirror like this one, which echoes the curved silhouette of the windows in her Manhattan house.

Solid wood

Caya Round Wood Coffee Table

The sculptural silhouette of this coffee table resembles the one in Amanda Seyfried's living room and shows that you can successfully mix different wood tones for an elevated look.

Luxe fabric

Modern Sectional Sofa

Channel the luxe textures from Amanda Seyfried's living room with a velvet sofa or armchair. This L-shaped piece says 'comfort' without forgoing style and the velvet will catch the light for a multi-tonal effect.

Geometric shape

Ceramic Vase

A multi-faceted vase like Amanda Seyfried's adds interest to an otherwise unremarkable decor piece. Even though this one is plain white, the different angles reflect the light creating a beautiful variation in tone.

Design collab

Hollyhock Printed Tapestry Rug

Bringing in the hints of brown and blue from Amanda Seyfried's living room rug, this design by Lone Fox x Joon Loloi has such a beautiful print of a tree-framed landscape – it's like a work of art for your floor.

Fresh look

Artificial dogwood stem

For a little freshness that works beautifully with natural wood features, like Amanda Seyfried's window shutters, trim some beautiful branches from the garden, or opt for some faux alternatives like these.

The sheer scale of Amanda Seyfried's window shutters might this look feel inaccessible if you don't have a huge Manhattan pad. Naturally, not everyone will have the space to pull this floor-to-ceiling look off – allow your room dimensions to dictate the style and size of the shutters you pick, so they won't dominate or become a design mistake that makes the room feel smaller.

One way to avoid this though is by copying Amanda Seyfried's clever trick of using matching wood panels under the windows, which bleed into the baseboards and the wood flooring, to create a streamlined effect. This draws the eye up and down the room, as opposed to focusing on one dominant aspect – the shutters.

Another way to achieve this is by painting shutters to blend in with your decor, as Hebe suggested. In the room shown below, the white shutters, window frames and woodwork create a coherent look that can help make a small living room look bigger.

We love the oak finish of Amanda Seyfried's shutters as it feels not only light, but brings a rustic farmhouse look, while the shutters themselves have been beautifully designed to match the existing curves on the window. This proves that shutters can be the ultimate window treatment ideas when it comes to enhancing your property's natural character.

While the window shutters are of course the main focus in Amanda Seyfried's living room, she has cleverly brought in natural colors and materials that complement the beautiful painted oak, from mixed woods, blossom branches (try these dogwood stems from Target for an instant lift), and earthy hues in the rug and furniture. The whole space is giving farmhouse luxe, and if you were in any doubt as to whether window shutters are out of style, Amanda Seyfried's living room shows that they are unequivocally timeless.

You may still be wondering: should you add shutters to your house?, but this stunning example from Amanda Seyfried's home has convinced me that they can not only be practical but also enhance the existing features of your property without sacrificing that all-important natural light.

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Katrina is Head of Living at Homes & Gardens, covering hosting and entertaining, seasonal styling ideas, sleep and wellbeing, along with a highly experienced team of writers and reviewers. With more than 15 years' experience in lifestyle content, Katrina was previously an editor at luxury lifestyle platform, Muddy Stilettos, has been a features writer at Sainsbury's magazine and has also written for a wealth of other food and lifestyle titles including Ideal Home, Waitrose Food, John Lewis' Edition and The Home Page. Katrina is passionate about heritage style and lives in a 100-year old cottage in rural Hertfordshire, where she enjoys finding creative ways to live and host stylishly.