Choosing a window style at home is not simple at all: the process requires plenty of time, and there are plenty of factors that need to be considered.

Your windows are your home’s gates to the outer world-they reflect style and architecture, and let sunlight and fresh air to complement your interior.

There are many house window designs, and you have to be really aware of ‘the soul’ of your home in order to choose the right one.

Here comes an interesting list composed of different styles’ descriptions. We invite you to go through it and to choose a suitable and modern home windows design.

Modern window design examples

Fixed windows

Image source: JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

Fixed windows (known also as picture windows) are those cannot glide, swing or tilt because they are entirely fixed to a frame. Therefore, they are not the best choice for a room where fresh air is necessary.

Instead, they are usually flanked with double-hung casements, positioned below or above hoppers and awnings.

In case you need them, it’s good to know that they come in all sizes and shapes (square, trapezoid, round, half-round, etc). Their greatest advantage is affordable price, packed with reliable energy-efficiency and beautiful looks. You can order such kinds of windows at www.canglow.ca.

Awning windows

Image source: Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

Awning windows are constructed to let water slide away from the window opening (they hinge from the top and are opened outwards from the frame’s bottom).

Their usual position is above fixed windows, and they are mostly applied in garages, cabins, or any other place where ventilation and privacy matter more than aesthetics. Still, awning windows are very typical for southern design styles.

Casement windows

Image source: PHX Architecture

You’d recognize a casement window by the fact that it is hinged on the sides, and it opens outwards, the same way a door does. It doesn’t have a rail, which is exactly why it resembles a picture widow.

It can be pushed or opened with a hard crank, and has the screens displayed on the internal part in order to be protected. That’s why these windows are usually installed over sinks, appliances, and countertops.

Double-hung and single-hung windows

Image source: A. Perry Homes

A double-hung window is the one that you open vertically, and it has two fully operable panes (the lower one is moved in parallel with the upper one, the same way the later is moved to rest on it).

Double-hung windows are a common choice for more ventilation, having in mind that you can let air enter both from the bottom and the top. Besides, they look very homey and traditional.

We wouldn’t exactly list them among the most popular windowing styles, but they are certainly what a person would describe as unique.

There is no protruding when you’re moving them, which makes them good enough for spaces directly exposed to a terrace or a patio. Small rooms can also benefit from this solution.

Single-hung windows are a cheaper version of their double-hung counterparts, and they have an operable lower pane that moves in parallel with the upper one.

Image source: Shannon Malone

The later, however, is fixed. The same as the previous ones, single-hung windows have central handles and locks, while some of them also come with additional security mechanisms.

An interesting solution you could consider is tilt-wash double-hung windows, because they’ll never require you to go outside and to clean them. You could perfectly do that from the comfort of your interior.

Tilt-wash windows are among the most space-efficient solutions, which makes them very popular in some regions of the world. The same as double-hung windows, they look their best when facing a terrace, patio, or any similar space.

Horizontal sliders

Image source: Pella Windows and Doors

They represent single glass panes that slide either to the left or right side. They are very popular and modern windowing solutions, mostly because they don’t occupy space, and they’re easy to operate.

There are also the so called double sliders, which maximize air circulation within your space.

Bay and bow windows

Image source: LDa Architecture & Interiors

A bay window consists of three parts: a large, fixed pane in the centre, and casement/double-hung panes positioned on both sides, at 30 to 45 degree angles. They can be both opened and fixed.

Bow windows, on the other hand, consist of at least four equal-size panes, most of the time casements organized in gradual arching projections.

Both bay and bow windows are smart choices for good scenery, or to be applied in rooms where there is a serious need of natural light.

Garden windows

Image source: Ply Gem

Garden windows are a type of indoor-extension, meaning that they look like glass boxes with internal shelves for plants and herbs.

Due to their size, they’re supposed to be in places different than the patios, sidewalks, or the seating settings on your porch. A big pro in their case are multiple side vents.

Accent windows

Image source: Jon R. Sayler, Architect AIA PS

Accent windows are most of the time fixed, meaning that ventilation is not among their qualities. As an advantage, we could mention the numerous shapes they can have, especially rare ones that are not available for other window types.

Hopper windows

Image source: WETSTYLE

They are the same as awning windows, just in the opposite direction: they’re hinged straight on the bottom, and swung inwards. While they’re not the smartest choice for a living area, they work quite well in basements and garages.

Transom windows

Image source: Marvin Windows and Doors

The term transom window is used for combinations between few windowing styles, as for example vent and fixed ones. They usually stand atop or below larger windows/doors, in order to ensure there is more vet and sunlight in a room.

Having in mind that their purpose is to complement an already installed windowing, they’re available in many shapes: rectangular, square, rounded, elliptical, etc.

Radius windows

Their more common name is arch windows, meaning that they have a unique shape. The bottom part is rectangular, while the top resembles an arch, or it is simply half-rounded.

According to WCMA Window & Door, their strongest quality is looks, since they can give royal appearances even to the simplest room. They are available both in a fixed and operable version.

Skylights

Image source: Sullivan Building & Design Group

Skylights are the best solution from an aesthetical aspect: they are horizontal glass panes installed on your ceiling, not just because of natural light, but also because they offer an amazing view on the sky.

These windows are pitch-perfect for private space (bathrooms, for instance), or an amazing addition to rooms that don’t have outdoor walls.

Sliding windows

Image source: Adam Dettrick Architects

Sliding windows are always a preferred choice in terms of operability and configuration, having in mind that there are two panes of glass (half of the window’s width each), where one of them is fixed, and the other one is movable and it slides horizontally towards the other in order to let air inside.

Larger windows (8 feet wide or more) happen to have even three panes: a fixed one in the middle, and two flexible on the sides.

Sliding windows are a good solution, because you don’t need to swing them, and they don’t occupy space when opened. Besides, they are a smart security choice: they come with separate handles and locks on each pane (you can open it about an inch, and lock it in such position).

Jalousie windows

Image source: Brett Mickan Interior Design

Jalousie windows (or louvered windows) are constructed from multiple glass layers, and are usually applied in reception spaces facing sunny porches or beautiful gardens.

They are very practical and have an efficient closure mechanism which keeps warmth inside, but ‘pull’ enough fresh air in when necessary.

Window walls

Image source: Studio MM, pllc

Exactly as the name explains, window walls stand for a full replacement of walls with fixed glass, edge to edge, floor to ceiling. They can serve as internal separators of space, or external ‘covers’ in different sizes and shapes that offer a magnificent outdoor view.

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