Window Design: Here Are Some Tips to Help You Choose!

If you want to build a house from scratch, or are thinking of carrying out a full remodel, window design is a very important thing to be thinking about.

The point of windows (and this is why we say they’re one of the most important parts of a home), is to protect your house from the weather and outside noise. Plus, they must be easy to open so you can let in fresh air when you wish. Based on those two things, we’re going to give you some tips on how to choose the right window design for your home.

Window design tips

Locate windows based on light and weather

If you’re building your house yourself you can put the windows wherever you want. The important thing here is to put them in places that get lots of light. Having natural light is much better than relying on artificial light, which is bad for your eyes.

Put windows on both sides of a room if you can. That means more ventilation and light, which is always good!

Besides light itself, you also need to think about where the sun comes in. If the room is south-facing, you should have bigger windows. This will make sure they let in as much sunlight as possible throughout the day.

Having bigger windows in a south-facing room will keep the room warm, so you won’t need to turn on your heating as much in cold weather. However, if you live in a hot region this can be a big problem in the summer. So, you should make the windows in any north-facing rooms smaller if you can.

The size, and type of window

Size is another big thing to keep in mind when it comes to window design. They need to balance with the room itself, and the outer walls of your house or apartment. 

With big rooms, the best option is to install large windows. This will give you more light and a great view to look at when you are relaxing.

As far as the type of window goes, vertically oriented is usually best because it gives you the most natural light and makes the view feel endless and wide. 

Opening mechanism

Once you’ve decided where to put the windows you should consider how easy they are to open.

That might sound simple, but it’s more complicated than you might think. The opening mechanism determines how easy your window is to open and close.

So, we’re going to give you a short list of some of the more common opening mechanisms and let you decide which seems best for you:

• Sliding: these are perfect for big rooms.
• Casement: these are great for smaller spaces. You’ll just need to decide whether you want them to open to the left or right.
• Pivot: these are perfect for lofts and roofs, because the window pivots around a central axis.
• Awning or hopper: these are types of casement windows that either open from the top (awning) or bottom (hopper).
• Fixed: for climatized rooms, interior room dividers, and rooms that don’t need ventilation.

Window materials

There are three major materials used in window design: wood, aluminum, and PVC.

• Aluminum is the most common because it’s more versatile and much easier to maintain. It also has the advantage of being fire-resistant.
• Wooden window frames are great for preventing noise and keeping a room warm. They also have a comfortable, natural look and are easy to maintain.
• Window frames made of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, have one major advantage: they’re great natural isolators.

Take all these points into consideration when choosing windows  to help you choose the most suitable for your home.