One of the easiest ways to completely transform the style of your home is to change your windows. Not only will you enhance the look of the exterior, but your interior will benefit too. Whether you are looking to create a traditional look for your home or are going for a more minimal style, here are five ways the design of your windows can influence your interior.
View
If you are replacing your windows, and if your budget allows you might like to go one step further and consider adding a window to a dark or under-lit space. A great example of this is breaking through the wall at the end of a hallway or corridor to create a view of the garden. What once was a dark space relying on artificial light will be transformed into a space filled with natural light. This will not only open up a whole host of new colour choices for the space, but it will completely transform the atmosphere and your experience of using the space too.
Style
The style of window you select will impact on your decor choices for the rooms in your home. For example, slimline aluminium windows lend themselves to a more minimal contemporary style of decor. In contrast, timber or timber effect windows give greater flexibility by lending themselves to either a contemporary or traditional scheme. Introducing glazing bars to the design of the windows will add a more decorative look and make them feel more traditional in appearance. Sash windows are an excellent example of this.
Connecting with the outdoors
A visual connection with the outdoors has a significant impact on the atmosphere of your room. The design of your windows is critical to maximising this connection. The more unobstructed the view, the better so it’s essential that you carefully consider the number of glazing bars and the thickness of the frame when choosing your design. The more minimal the frame and the fewer glazing bars there are, the more invisible the window will become. Your colour choice for the frames is also really important. White or black are both excellent choices as the frames will disappear, allowing you to focus on the view, whereas timber and stronger colours tend to stand out, which will distract from the view. You can also have dual colour options, meaning you can have one colour outside and a different (more neutral) colour inside.
Don’t forget the practicalities
Now for the practical bit. Even if your room is all about the view, there will be times when you’ll need to pull a blind or draw the curtains. Whether it’s to manage glare from the sun or to create a cosy atmosphere on a winters evening, you’ll want to have some kind of window treatment on your windows. Therefore, it’s essential when considering your choice of window design that you plan how the windows are going to be dressed. Unusual shapes or windows that are very high can all be tricky to deal with, so make sure you’ve considered all of your options before you commit. Remember that fabric will act as a great sound dampener in open-plan spaces, so the ability to add curtains and or blinds to your windows is especially important where noise is a concern.
Furniture layout
Replacing your windows with doors to improve access to your outdoor spaces can completely transform how you use a room as well as how the room looks. Repositioning your furniture to make the most of the views through your beautiful new windows will enhance your experience of the room. Make sure that you leave adequate space to move freely around any furniture to provide good access to the doors. Make sure that you plan how the doors will open so that they work with your furniture layout and that your use of the room is optimised.
Speak to your local Senator expert about your window and door options today or browse our range of products here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Managing Director Optimise Design, B.Arch. RIAI RIBA
& Senator’s Expert Design Consultant
This blog post is sponsored, but the views expressed by the author are her own.
