Our windows are our portals to the outside world. You might not pay much attention to these spaces that bring the outside world into your home, but if you’ve ever spent a significant amount of time indoors, you know that the right windows make all the difference.
With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us were forced to stay indoors for an extended period of time. Just imagine what that time spent in quarantine would’ve been like in a windowless home, or a home with hardly any means of bringing in natural lighting.
Windows are also a highly stylistic choice. Not only do you want to choose a style of window that speaks to your sense of style, but you also want to ensure that they’re the best choice to accent your home.
Here, we’ll explore a few useful tips for choosing windows for your home.
Choose Your Window Functionality
A lot can go into choosing a style of window for your home. While room lighting is a critical factor, much of this has to do with your own personal taste. However, you’ll want to take into consideration several elements before choosing to replace or install new windows. A few questions to consider are as follows:
- What function will your windows serve?
- Will they be used just to bring in light, or serve as a doorway?
- Does the surrounding scenery play a role in the placement of the window?
- Are you trying to lighten a room or darken it?
- Is security a concern of yours?
- Is energy efficiency a concern?
Often, when homeowners choose to get their windows installed or replaced, these are questions that usually get overlooked. But, they are critical questions to answer for any window installation process, and other factors are also involved.
For example, if you live in Chicago, you’re vulnerable to high winds and extreme heat in the summer. In fact, sometimes winds are so fierce that windows become damaged and need to be replaced.
If you consult a company that specializes in Chicago window replacement, they’re likely to ask you several of the above questions just to get a sense of what purpose you want your windows to serve.
Considering Ventilation
The movement of air is critical to comfort and health within a home. Stagnant air can be irritating and make it hard to breathe, especially for those with respiratory issues.
Window placement is directly related to adequate ventilation. During times when your central heat and air unit is turned off, such as in spring or fall, having windows placed in the perfect position to bring in fresh air is an attractive quality of any home.
In order to devise a strategy to place windows for proper ventilation, you’ll have to monitor how the winds in your region flow. Larger windows placed on the eastern and western sides of the home will typically allow for maximum ventilation, whereas front-facing windows (if your home faces away from the direction of prevailing winds) might not bring in any ventilation at all.
Keep the Sun In Mind
While we all love our natural source of heat and Vitamin D, the sun can be a brutal force to contend with, especially if you’re sleeping in a room with an eastern-facing window.
You have to take into consideration the angle of the sun as it lands on your home. If you have a living room window, the sunlight that enters might reduce the ambiance of your living area, or make it difficult for you to watch TV during certain times of the day.
If natural lighting is what you’re after, consider roof lighting in the form of skylights or portals. These can be tinted as well to suit your tastes, or you can apply a cover for them when not in use.
Your windows bring the natural world into your home. As a rule of thumb, you want to place your windows where they’ll create the most airflow at certain times of the year while allowing you the aesthetically appealing style that you desire.