Without the presence of well-placed windows, a home is never considered complete. Aside from providing an aesthetic appeal to the exteriors of the house, a window serves a variety of functions. Natural light and ventilation through strategically placed windows is undoubtedly the most essential part of designing a house.
Windows also provide views of the outdoors, locality or neighbourhood to the occupants, adding a dramatic effect to everyday life. Furthermore, they help in maintaining a light and fresh indoor atmosphere. As a result, you'll notice that homes with plenty of windows in the right places rarely feel claustrophobic or stuffy.
Here we will discuss the top things that you need to consider while designing windows for your dream home.
Top Factors influencing the Interior Design of Windows:
1. Let Natural Light Get In
Filling your rooms with natural light is a major advantage of good window placement. A brightly lit room exudes openness and a sense of connection to the natural world, creating a relaxing atmosphere. It also has the practical benefit of lowering your reliance on electrical lighting, which is good for both your wallet and the environment.
Consider the orientation of your home before placing your windows. What effect will this have on the amount of light that enters the room, and how will it change throughout the day? If you want the room to be naturally lit all day, consider placing windows on multiple walls to allow for the sun's movement.
2. Choose the Style that Compliments your Room
A variety of window styles are available for use in homes and apartments. Slider, Casement, End-Vent, Jalousie, Clearstory, Arched, and Bay windows are some of the most common types. Consider the space where the window will be placed when working with an architect or contractor.
Clearstory windows high above the ground or multistory windows, which are common in atriums and multistory foyers, could benefit tall ceilings and large rooms. Smaller rooms, on the other hand, are better suited with windows having a low sill height, perhaps to the floor providing natural light and views. In a nutshell, select a window style that complements the features of your room.
3. Experiment with Different Shapes and Sizes
After you've determined which way your windows or doors will face, you can start designing the shapes and sizes you want. Don't be afraid to mix them up to add visual interest; you can be as artistic and creative as you like.
Need to know some expert opinions? Play around with voids and solid spaces in your walls to see what looks best. Rectilinear, curvilinear, and custom-shaped can all work well as long as they complement your home aesthetics and enhance the view.
4. Consider Comfort and Privacy
You want your window placement to look good on the outside of your house, but you also want to make sure it works well on the inside. For example, a window that’s attractive on the outside could be invading a spatial or social locus inside the room, thereby becoming a source of discomfort.
The use of the room, as well as the orientation to the sun and wind, should all be considered when choosing windows. Even if you have blackout curtains, you may not want to sleep facing the blinding sun in the morning or work in a home office with the sun glaring on your computer. When the windows are open, they also help with ventilation and airflow throughout the room and house.
5. Save Big Windows for Good Views
Do large picture windows make an appeal to you? Perhaps you've always wanted a large bay window with a reading nook? A big window can be a wonderful feature in a room if it is placed correctly.
Aside from specific room requirements or guidelines, one of the most important considerations when placing large windows is to ensure that they frame a good view. You want to be able to let in a lot of light when you need it, but you also want to enjoy what the window has to show, right?
6. Try Solar Glazings
It's easy to become overwhelmed when it comes to selecting windows or doors. With so many products on the market and a wide range of prices, it's difficult to know which will work best in your home, but solar glazing is usually a winner.
Its beauty, after all, lies in what it can do for you, and its benefits are twofold: first, it can help control both heat gain and loss, and second, it can protect your room furniture and finishes from harmful UV rays. Is there anything not to like about that?
7. Budget
Your budget will determine the scope of your home improvement project. Thus, decide firsthand how much money you want to spend on windows and doors. Keep in mind that the cost of various treatments varies, and there always lies an optimum trade-off that lends you the right fit.
Depending on your budget, you can choose between simple and fancy curtains. However, it is preferable to invest in a high-quality, long-lasting material over the ornamentation that can be facilitated and changed easily.
8. Using Skylights to Open Up your Ceiling View
Skylights are another great way to take advantage of natural light. When it comes to interior design, your ceiling, or the "5th wall," has always been a surface that many homeowners overlook.
Skylights provide privacy and natural light to rooms that would otherwise be devoid of it due to a lack of exterior wall space for windows. Skylights can be fixed or operable, and you can cover them with window treatments to control the amount of light that comes in.
Looking for the Best Experienced Custom Interior Designers?
Working with an experienced custom interior designer, especially one with an in-house design/build process, is one of the best ways to plan window placement in your home. They'll be able to take your ideas and what you want, present the best options, help you narrow it down to what works, and ensure that your windows are installed correctly in your home.
These are just a few ideas for window placement in your custom home to get you started. Your builder will be a valuable asset in assisting you in determining the best location for your custom home and window placement for the style and design you desire.
If you are ready to start bringing your dream home to life, contact Hipcouch today!!