The pandemic has forced most people to stay at home, limiting their access to the outside world. Through the benefits it offered, certain window designs provide homeowners a sense of happiness and comfort.
Windows are one of the essential parts of a home. The structure allows the homeowner to have access to natural light and ventilation while setting the look of the facade. Some of the key factors required in selecting the right window type are functionality, style, and practicality. This is important to know since the perfect window for your home can enhance the character of the architectural design, make rooms brighter and inviting, control noise, and maximize energy efficiency.
By providing a better style, insulation, and privacy to room areas, adding window treatments can further enhance the appearance and functions of your window. You may consider installing window treatments, like blinds, shutters, or shades that are among the top trends in window treatment in 2020.
In this article, you’ll know more about the window designs that are worth installing this year.
1. Awning Windows
Awning windows are operated by opening outward with a hinge on top. These designs allow greater ventilation when fully open while preventing rain or leaves from entering the room. Due to its unique and minimalist style, these windows are a popular choice in modern homes. Awning windows are also energy and cost-efficient, making it desirable in the market. Lastly, it’s unique layout and placement in the home’s exterior adds appeal to the style of the home.
Nevertheless, these windows aren’t recommended to be adjacent to walkways or other traffic areas because they open out and open windows obstruct the pathway. They’re usually installed above doors or in basement areas because it’s smaller in size compared to other window types. Mostly, for a better view and the fact that it’ll provide ventilation, awning windows are placed along sides, top, or bottom of the picture window.
2. Casement Windows
Casement windows open out sidewards and work like awning windows, but the hinges are on the sides. Some casements will come with large glass panes to provide sufficient light and offer wider ventilation areas than other window designs. When locked, these windows are an effective seal for heat flow, leading to improved energy performance.
However, casement windows shouldn’t be open out near walkways and into traffic lanes since it’ll block walkways. These windows are commonly placed above kitchen sinks and, sometimes, they’re installed in stunning combinations, bringing out modern and sophisticated appearance.
Furthermore, casement windows in kitchen areas are more enhanced with window treatments that provide privacy, light control, and gorgeous style, giving balance among hard surfaces in the kitchen as it adds pattern and color.
Finding the right kitchen blinds allows you to protect the window and treatments from moisture and other mess in the kitchen. Hence, it’s also important to know how to choose kitchen blinds.
3. Double Hung and Single Hung Windows
These window designs are the most common and popular styles. The one thing that differentiates them is that single-hung has a fixed upper sash and a movable lower sash, while a double-hung window has upper and lower movable sashes that can be slid up and down.
Due to its flexible sashes, double-hung windows offer better ventilation than single-hung. When both sashes are open, air naturally flows in-and-out through the lower and upper vents. Another advantage of double-hung windows is that it can be cleaned from the inside and out without a ladder.
Both single and double-hung windows fit in most locations and provide a classic decorative look. In spite of their advantage, these window types offer less area than slider windows and are prone to air leakage than casement windows.
4. Picture Windows
Picture windows are great in locations where airflow isn’t relevant since these windows don’t open at all. They’re usually a large glass occupying the center part of a wall to give wide views and enough sunlight. These windows work best for high windows like in two-story foyers.
Since they don’t open, another advantage of the picture window is that they’re less prone to water and air leakage. Nevertheless, the wide, closed glass windows can gain or lose heat during the day. In order to manage energy, some picture windows are enhanced with window treatments like shades and blinds to provide insulation, privacy, and style.
For homes near a majestic view of nature, setting the picture window in the bedroom allows ample natural light to enter, and showing the outside view seems like an oversize work of art. A sliding window may be placed next to the adjacent wall to provide a flow of fresh air.
5. Slider Windows
Slider windows are opened by sliding sideways. These windows provide clear views and enough ventilation but can’t be sealed tightly as casements do. They’re often used for egress windows in the basement since they have wide openings and easy operation. Some of the utility windows at the upper part of basement walls are designed to be sliders.
Sliders have no mechanical parts except the lock, which is very basic in terms of operation. The simplicity of the window makes them the inexpensive and affordable type of window.
6. Bay Windows
Bay windows are known for their unique angles and projections on a building structure. These windows bring light at multiple angles. Also, this type of window design have side windows that can be open out for ventilation. They’re usually installed in kitchens and family rooms, and the wide sill of the window can be used as a window seat for kids and/or a place for some indoor plants.
Furthermore, curved bay windows are referred to as bow windows. Bow windows are built to create space by extending beyond the exterior wall of the building, providing a clearer view of the garden or lawn outside. It’s often paired with four or more casement windows that can be grouped to form an arch.
Final Thought:
Considering the tips mentioned above may help homeowners find the best window design that’ll work for them. To get the most of your purchase, it’s best to consider the functionality, style, and practicality the window design provides. Do your research and try to balance the pros and cons of window styles.