One of the more difficult aspects of home design and planning is making decisions about the windows of your home. Windows are way more than just structured openings on the wall. They affect a house’s design, functionality, thermal control, lighting, ventilation, insulation, and energy usage. Deciding where they should be in your home is a big deal.
Should 2 windows be put alongside each other?
How many windows should be on the same wall?
What is the appropriate size for a window?
You don’t just have to worry about where, but you also have to think about the height, width, and a number of windows on the wall. In order to be sure of your decisions, you have to look at 2 main aspects: Functionality and Aesthetics.
The placement of windows around your home can affect how energy, in the form of light and heat, enter your abode. Windows act as entryways for air and sunlight. With the right windows, you can give your home a brighter appeal with more natural light while maintaining good temperature control.
Windows facing directly towards the east will give you extremely hot mornings, while those to the west can heat up your afternoons. This is especially true in the summer. One way to maintain a better home temperature is for windows to face either south or north. This way, no direct sunlight enters your home. You also avoid having bright glares from your window, especially early in the morning as you are just waking up.
The placement of windows also affects the exterior of the home. With too many windows on just one side causing some imbalance of design. This, however, can depend on the house’s overall architectural style. With well-planned positioning, you can also lessen the cost of your windows.
Picking the right windows also depends on the room they will open to. Since each room is dedicated to specific activities, the type of lighting, view, and exposure also varies. Areas that are most commonly used in the day can benefit from large open windows that can give it a good natural light. Whereas, rooms that are mostly used in the evening, such as the dining room, will rely on indoor lights more. Privacy is also a factor to consider. Large windows would probably fit better in the living room than in the bathroom.
The type of window you decide on will also affect how it should be placed in your home. Awning windows fit well in hard to reach places where a quick push can get it open. Large casement windows should also be strategically placed as they may be possible entry points for intruders. Picture windows serve as good skylights, for either a kitchen or living room area, where a lot of natural light can really brighten up the place.
One good technique is to have a stroll around your area and it can help you identify areas where you would get better views, more privacy, better light, and proper ventilation. Aside from that, you also have to think about how weather changes would affect certain parts of your home. Having windows in certain parts of your house can put more exposure to that area.
Windows are not just there to let you see the outside, they are also a good source of ventilation for your home. With the right placement, windows can allow a cool breeze to sweep through and give it a cooler feel. On the other hand, poor placement could leave you with a humid home.
When you start to think about how you want the windows to be positioned around your home, you have to take into consideration all those different factors. Aside from that, you also have to think about the types of windows, the materials, and styles.
To simplify the process, you can get an expert opinion on what the best window placement for your home is. But, at the end of the day, you have the final say on where your windows will be.