Are shutters just for decoration or do they serve a purpose? Should they actually cover the windows and be able to open up (I'm not sure why they do this) or should they just go next to the windows on the siding?

Would you suggest shutters on a plain vinyl siding house with 2 front windows? If so, with a light gray house what color would you go with? The outside lights are brushed nickle.

Back in the day, shutters did serve a purpose - they were used before there was glass in windows and they were closed for security and to protect from wind, rain and snow. According to this site, they were a dark color to make it appear that it was the window opening that you were seeing and not the shutters themselves.

Today, shutters are pretty much just for decorative purposes (unless you live in hurricane areas, it would make sense for you to be able to close them to protect the windows if you close and secure them).

I think shutters look nice on most homes. If I were to put shutters on a light gray house, I'd likely go with a steel gray or black. I've seen light gray houses with a burgundy shutter as well, but I don't like it as well. I guess the color of the shutter would really be a personal preference.

~Lyds

They are still pretty much universally found in Europe. They serve a practical purpose. Few homes in Europe, even now, are air-conditioned and our ancestors' answer was to have full length shutters.In the North these are just solid, but to the South they are often louvred.Double shutters, the inner ones louvred and inside the windows and the outside ones solid are also seen. The shutters could be shut either fully or just on one side, and they kept the suns rays out but allowed cool air to run through the rooms, the glazed French doors or windows being closed or opened as demanded. At night they served the cooling purpose as well as cutting out light from the street. Whilst you do see colourful shutters to contrast or decorate a plain wall, the great majority, throughout bourgeois France anyway, seem to be a boring grey or a colour which looks as though it may have been white once

Those are all full length. There has been something of a fashion in London to install half- shutters, that come only half way up, or less, of the window. These are fitted inside. The idea seems to be to allow the residents to look out when standing,but to shield much of the room from the prying eyes of passers by, so giving a sense of privacy .