Windows are a crucial part of both your home’s exterior and interior appearance. The specific placement of these glass openings can change the way you interact with each room and the building as a whole. So if you’re designing your house or room layout what window and door needs should you consider before you start work?
1. Let the natural light in
A central benefit to good window placement is filling your rooms with natural light. A well lit room creates an open feel and a connection with the natural surroundings. It also has the practical benefit of reducing the need for electrical light – something which benefits your wallet and the environment.
Before placing your windows consider the orientation of your house. How will that affect the light entering the room and will it change throughout the day? If you want the room to have light all day it’s worth considering placing windows on several different walls to allow for the sun’s movement.
Making the most of natural light connects your home with its surroundings and creates an open, relaxing atmosphere.
The orientation of your house may also impact the size of window you are looking for. North facing rooms may be better suited to larger windows to make the most of the more limited light, whereas south facing rooms can have smaller openings for better thermal performance. Consider putting in clerestory windows on the north side of the room or house to let more light into the rooms orientated to the south.
Be careful to balance the need for light with your desire for appropriate privacy. It may look wonderful in the plans to have a well lit bathroom, but the reality of large revealing windows in the smallest room may be more uncomfortable. However opaque or stippolite glass will provide privacy but still allow natural light in.
2. How will it impact your room temperature?
As with all openings to your house, windows have a significant effect on the temperature of the room and the house as a whole. They influence the thermal mass of the building in several ways:
- The glass panes magnify strong sunlight causing rooms and the house to heat up.
- Large open panes of glass also leak heat during the colder months.
- Well placed open windows can provide welcome ventilation to refresh and cool your home.
Before placing your windows consider how it may impact the rooms temperature throughout the year. North facing rooms with large windows for example, are likely to cause heat gain in the summer but be cooler in the winter. Consider having sufficient eave cover, screens or louvres for shading. Also the right glass selection can make a massive difference. For example double glazed, tinted low-e glass can significantly increase a rooms comfort levels. Plus don’t forget curtains as they can really help control room temperature.
3. What about the view?
Windows are a natural focal point in any room. As openings to the outside world the eye is naturally drawn to the view on display – so it’s worth considering what it is you want to see. Particularly lovely scenery is well worth orientating your room towards as it adds both character to your house design and pleasant viewing.
But window placement is not just about incorporating views that you want to see. Good layout will also work around views you would prefer not to be in direct eyeline, such as large roads or neighbouring houses. Remember that where there is no view, you can still take advantage of the natural light and fresh air that windows provide with higher set openings.
4. What is the building’s aesthetic?
Windows play an important role in your home’s appearance. Next to building shape, it is the most significant aspect determining the aesthetic of the house and completes your overall house design.
Matching your window positioning and type to the architectural style of the building can help to deliver a sense of balance and consistency to your home. For example more traditional designs may favour a symmetrical approach, particularly on the street or front facing side, whereas more modern homes may want to try something more experimental.
Even for traditional type homes, bear in mind that just because the front follows a particular window pattern, this does not have to mandate the window placement for the rest of the building. Feel free to take advantage of the views or more innovative room design on the remaining sides
5. Match your windows to room function
The desired function of each room is a big consideration when planning which windows to use and where. Different rooms require windows that correspond to distinct needs and failing to allow for these needs will make life difficult. Let’s consider the main room types and how correct window placement can compliment each:
Kitchen: A busy room with a lot of demand for space, light and ventilation – try to make the best use of your interior walls for cabinets and storage cupboards so as to provide enough space for good sized window openings in the exterior walls. Also remember that once in place the windows will likely be opened regularly, so try to use a window type which is easy to open and positioned well within reach. Over kitchen benches sliding windows are ideal as they are easy to access to open and close.
Bathroom/bedrooms: For private spaces in your house it’s worth considering how to arrange windows to accommodate the potential of two-way viewing. Smaller and higher set windows can help to preserve the intimacy of these rooms while still making the most of natural light. Also take care to consider what is viewable from the outside. If you are set on having large windows in the bedroom consider putting in exterior aluminium louvres at just the right angle to let in light with views out, but also privacy from those outside.
Public rooms: Dining rooms, living rooms and family rooms can accommodate more windows and doors, as well as larger ones to create a pleasant and well lit atmosphere. With little need for privacy you can focus on getting the most from the surrounding scenery and natural light.
Carefully consider how your windows will compliment your floor plan.
6. How will they impact the floor plan?
Your floor plan is closely connected to room function and should reflect what needs to be fitted where. A well laid floor plan will best utilise the available space and provide room for furnishings, movement and wall space for windows.
It is important to make sure that the window layout works with the room and doesn’t prevent it from functioning. For example it may seem like a good idea to put in large windows or doors on every exterior wall to fully appreciate a stunning vista, but without any remaining walls this could leave you crowding the remaining floor space with furnishings.
7. Matching height to space
Each window’s height should try where possible to fit the rooms elevation. Too much wall space above windows can make a room feel shorter, while too little space can make it feel ill proportioned. Taller than average rooms should take advantage of the available wall space by having longer windows.
You should allow enough room for blinds or curtains or least consider they fit into your design. It is also important to note that aligning window and door heads at the same height gives an aesthetic consistency to the room and should be emulated where possible.
Diamond Builders provides an excellent selection of windows and doors to suit all building designs and layout needs. Get in touch with our team to discuss how we can help you get the most out of windows and doors in your design layout.