How To Choose the Right Window Style for Your Home

Style. When most people hear this word, they think of fashion or clothes. You notice people’s style. For some, it’s casual and free-flowing. Then, for others, it is all business suits or dresses. Some people base their style around a color or a color palette. But for all of them, it is a way of expressing themselves. You may not think about it like that, but do you wear clothes you don’t like unless it’s absolutely necessary? No, no, you don’t. Style extends beyond fashion. It includes your home and even your vehicle.  

Just as you express yourself with your clothes, your indoor decor, and your accessories, you can do the same with your home’s exterior, like your windows. We, as your local window artists, are here to help you find the right windows for you and your home.

Do: Consider Your Home’s Architecture

Is your home modern? Is it a cabin? Is it a Victorian? Is it plantation-style? Knowing your home’s history is important. You wouldn’t pair flip-flops with a suit. You wouldn’t pair a vintage fedora with joggers. Just as you wouldn’t put ultra modern windows in an older home.

Examples:

• Modern Homes

  • Casement or Picture windows work best with this kind of home because they match the minimalist style with clean lines and no extra little details. 

• Victorian Homes

  • Double-hung or casement windows are excellent matches for this architectural style because you can add fine details, which Victorians are known for their extra little flairs. Also, consider bay or bow windows. Victorians like rounder features, and these windows help achieve that.

Don’t: Forget About the Functionality

Imagine buying the best pair of running shoes and never taking them out for a run. Imagine buying a ball gown and never wearing it to a fancy party. We’ve all done it, maybe not at that caliber, but we’ve bought something, and it doesn’t ever get to show off its full potential. You don’t want this to happen to your windows. You want them to balance their aesthetic with their purpose. 

When you are deciding which windows to use, be sure to consider things like ventilation, natural light, and energy efficiency. If you are in an older home that doesn’t have the best HVAC system, airflow would be vital. If your home is darker, not much installed lighting, consider flooding your home with natural light from larger windows. Lastly, if you’re energy conscious or looking to save some money in the long run, there are multiple different energy-saving options to help you maintain your home’s indoor environment. 

Faux Pas: Mismatched Windows

If you are wearing patterns, you don’t wear multiple patterns. For example, if you’ve got polkadots on your shirt, you don’t wear plaid pants. The same goes for your windows. If you’ve got too many styles going on, it looks mismatched, chaotic, and disjointed. Be sure to choose windows that match or coordinate.

Tips:

• Stick to a Theme

  • If you’re aesthetic is a cute country home, pick windows that compliment such as double-hung or bay windows. If you’re aesthetic is minimalistic modern, then you’ll want to look for windows that are big and simple without extra detailing.

• Uniformity Matters

  • For the majority, you will want the same style window. And you definitely want, in every case, to stick to a single color or finish. This will make sure your home looks like it was constructed with the big picture in mind, not a hodge podge. 

Do: Think About Your Lifestyle

Your clothing choices also reflect your lifestyle. If you’re an athlete, you wear loose comfortable clothes. If you’re a business person, you wear professional styles such as suits or a nice blouse and skirt. Windows should do the same. It’s all about the balance.

Examples:

• Busy Families:

  • The last thing you want to worry about is your windows. Keeping them clean and maintained. Sliding windows will work really well for you. They are super easy to keep clean, and the locks are high enough that you don’t have to worry about little ones or pets getting them open. 

• Entertainers: 

  • For you, we would suggest large bay or bow windows. They create a focal point in your living and dining rooms that get people talking. Also, consider a sunroom. Sunrooms are an excellent entertaining space, especially when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Don’t: Ignore the View

Say you’re going out to a nice restaurant with your partner. You both got all dressed up, but rather than complimenting your partner, you act like it’s nothing. That’s not what you’d do. If something looks stunning, you stop and admire and compliment, maybe even send up a little gratitude. The same goes if you have a view. Don’t hide that beauty behind small or obstructed windows. Compliment it with windows that are large and clear, so you can admire it every time you pass by.

Options:

• Casement Windows

  • These are perfect if you want a completely clear view outside. It could be your garden, the mountains, a rushing river, or a cityscape.

• Bay or Bow Windows

  • These windows provide an almost rounded view. This is excellent for creating a view from multiple angles, giving you a large panorama of the view.

• Sliding Glass Doors

  • We know, we know. Not windows, but sliding glass doors offer large views. They are perfect for a view into a backyard, patio, or pool area. 

Faux Pas: Overlooking Security

Now you’re probably wondering how on earth are you going to tie clothes, windows, and security together. It’s actually kind of funny. We’ve all owned that pair of pants where the zipper is worn out. So it doesn’t lock the way it’s supposed to at the top, and either slowly or quickly depending on the zipper it slides down. You’re favorite coworker will tell you discreetly, but you feel uncomfortable, maybe alarmed, or in other words insecure. 

When replacing your windows, do not overlook the security of your home. The “zipper” of the window is its locks. No matter which style of window you choose, all of our windows come with cam-action locks. They also come with interlocking meeting rails, which produce a tight seal between your sashes and frame. This was originally for energy efficiency, but it also makes the windows harder to pry open. 

Tips:

• Use Your Locks

  • We know. We know. But you’d be surprised by how many break-ins happen just because a lock wasn’t secured. Just as you double-check your door locks before you go to bed or leave, do the same with the locks on your windows.

• Security System

  • Make sure your security system includes window alarms. This can help deter potential intruders or if you’re a parent of a rebellious child, keep them from sneaking out. 

• Impact-Resistant Glass

  • Intruders aren’t the only threat to security. If you live in an area with particularly nasty storms, you might consider impact-resistant windows. These windows don’t shatter upon impact. Which in the very least means you won’t have to walk through glass, but at the most means that these windows will deter the brunt of flying debris without breaking. 

Do: Factor in Maintenance

Everyone likes nice things. For some people that means suits. Others’ it’s satin blouses. Then there are those who loves their Jordans. We all love having a closet full of beautiful clothes and shoes. The pain is if all your clothes are dry clean only, or none of your shoes are good to be out in any type of weather. No one wants to deal with that hassle. 

The same is true with windows. You can have the most beautiful windows, but if you have to constantly clean them, and make sure they get their regular regrind, repaint, and reseal. You get annoyed just thinking about it. 

Suggestions:

• Vinyl Windows:

  • We love our vinyl windows. They are so easy to maintain. There’s no regrind, repaint, reseal jobs, and they’re super easy to clean; just a quick wipe down. 

• Tilt-In Features:

  • This feature is super convenient. It allows you to take your sashes out to clean them. They tilt and lift out, so you can reach those hard to reach spots, then tilt right back in and lock into place.

Don’t: Overlook Energy Efficiency

You don’t want to wear a sundress if it’s snowing. You don’t want to wear black jeans and a sweatshirt if it’s boiling. You definitely don’t want to show up to work in only your underwear on the day of your presentation. A nightmare that we’ve all had. Just as you wouldn’t leave the air-conditioning on with your windows open. Or turn the thermostat up to 90. New replacement windows help your energy efficiency significantly, saving you money in the long run and keeping your home at an ideal temperature.

Benefits:

• Lower Energy Bills and Comfort

  • Our energy-efficient windows are designed to resist air leakage and temperature transference. This in the most basic terms, makes it so your HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home the temperature you want it. If your HVAC isn’t constantly running, playing catch-up, then your energy bill lowers. 

• Environmental Impact

  • When you choose energy efficient windows, you reduce your carbon footprint. Which you might be thinking, I’m just one person how does it make a difference. To that we’d say, we can all do our little part and that’ll add up to the whole. 

Faux Pas: Forgetting to Budget

We can all get carried away with the most stylish options. Most of the time, clothes and shoes are attached to a brand: Prada, Louis Vuitton, Nike, or a Celebrity: Jordan, Chanel, Kardashian. These are expensive, and most people have to make concessions in their budget for those purchases. 

Windows, just like some of those fashion items, are an investment. When you are looking to replace your windows, always make a budget. Plan carefully, just as you would for any home improvement project. 

Advice:

• Get Quotes

  • Yes plural. Have a few different companies come out and give you an estimate. This ensures you get the best value. Keep in mind the companies’ reputation, location, and expertise. 

• Prioritize

  • Sometimes it just isn’t feasible to replace all your windows at the same time. Though that is what we’d suggest, you can always prioritize the windows that are in the worst condition or the most visible. 

The Last Look

We know that this is quite the balancing act. You’ve got to take into consideration not only your style and vision, but what fits your home functionally and practically. That’s why we, as Atlanta’s best window replacement specialists, are here to help you wade through the options. The right windows for you are just a phone call away. Contact us today, and let’s transform your home together.