Choosing windows for a house can always feel a little daunting – not surprising given the enormous effect they have on its exterior appearance. Be honest, how many times have you driven past a house and thought: 'nice house, shame about the windows'?
It isn't just the outside of a house that can be ruined by the wrong types of windows though – inside, spaces can be left feeling gloomy, suffering from overheating or, in a huge number of cases, missing out on the views available.
All too often, homeowners will select standard-sized windows, or assume that large expanses of sliding or bifold doors are the best way to pull in light and achieve garden views. However, there are, in fact, better ways to use glazing to maximise both. Here, architects and designers reveal the techniques they use for a more considered approach.
Start by deciding what you want your view to be
Before choosing windows or deciding their position, it is so important think beyond pulling in light – you need to consider what you will be looking out at once they are in place too.
Rhys Owen, director at Pensaer, explains how he starts the process. "The question of glazing begins with the spatial character of a room and its relationship to the landscape beyond – it’s not about the size of an opening, but how it shapes the experience of the space.
"Architecture has the ability to focus attention on things that might otherwise go unnoticed," continues Rhys. "A picture window looking onto a hedge, a glimpse of a tree canopy, a planted courtyard or a patch of sky can all become meaningful if they're carefully framed and positioned within the room."
Rhys goes on to explain how the practice recently adopted this approach on one of their projects (below). "At Ashbourne, the client had a banana tree that she'd looked after for many years, so we aligned the view from her desk towards it. It wasn't about creating a grand vista; it was about strengthening a connection to something that already mattered to her."
Before setting up Pensaer, Rhys managed teams for large established practices in London, and he now enjoys the freedom and creativity of running his own practice and working closely with clients. Rhys founded Pensaer to be able to focus on architecture that delivers on craftsmanship as well as on meaningful social and environmental values. He has worked on many urban masterplans and cultural projects, both internationally and in the UK, and he is a visiting lecturer at several schools of architecture.
Don't feel that all windows have to open
While it is nice to be able to fling open the windows in order to bring the fresh air in, not all your glazing has to open in order for it to have a huge effect on your experience of living in your home.
Dan Todd, sales director at Klöeber , explains the benefits of using fixed glazing. "When people think about making the most of a garden view, they often go straight to full-width bifold or sliding doors. Those can work beautifully, but they are not always the most practical or interesting answer.
"Sometimes, fixed glazing can create a stronger result," continues Dan. "A fixed pane, often called a picture window, gives you more glass and less frame because it doesn't need opening sections. That means less interruption to the view, often better thermal performance and, in many cases, a more cost-effective solution.
"Fixed glazing works particularly well in kitchens, double-height spaces and landings," continues Dan. "In kitchens, it can frame the garden without sacrificing storage or worktop space. In a double-height space, it can add scale and drama without unnecessary moving parts."
Edward Stobart, technical sales manager at IDSystems, is also a fan of the picture window, but emphasises the importance of choosing the right type of glass for this use.
"For large picture windows, when it comes to specifying the glass it is important to consider two things. If your window is south-facing, then you may wish to opt for glass with a solar control coating – this reduces the amount of heat from direct sunlight that the window lets in. If your window isn’t south-facing, then a low-iron glass is worth considering because its extra transparency will provide a better view out."
Dan Todd is Sales Director and co-owner at Klöeber, one of the UK’s most respected glazing specialists. Now in his 17th year with the company, Dan has helped shape Klöeber’s growth from a small, hands-on team into a trusted name for high-quality windows and doors. With extensive experience across residential glazing, customer specification, project support and sales leadership, Dan has overseen thousands of window and door projects, from individual front door replacements to large-scale homes. His expertise spans aluminium and timber systems, including bifold doors, sliding doors, French doors, windows and entrance doors.
A long serving member of the IDSystems team, for the past 20 years Edward has advised and supported self-builders and renovators to identify the most suitable glazing options for their project. He has recently finished a complete renovation and remodel of his own home, transforming a tired 1960s house into a stylish modern family home. His expertise ensures that each project is equipped with cutting-edge, bespoke glazing designs that enhance both functionality and aesthetics.
Bigger isn't always better
It is easy to assume that the bigger the window, the better – particularly in the case of kitchen extensions, and side return extensions, where a strong connection to the garden is called for. However, this is not always the case.
"It's easy to focus on the size of an opening, but the more interesting question is what that opening is doing to the experience of the room," picks up Rhys Owen. "Sometimes a carefully framed glimpse can be more engaging than a fully open panoramic view because it creates focus, depth and a stronger awareness of the landscape around you."
Dan Todd agrees that it is far better to think about what in the garden you are framing, rather than how much of it you can see. "The best schemes start by asking what each piece of glazing needs to do. Some elements need to open. Some need to bring in light. Others simply need to frame a view beautifully. When you combine those elements carefully, glazing can create a much richer connection to the garden than one large opening alone."
Use high-level glazing to make the sky your view
In cases where there isn't necessarily much of a view to work with, or where natural light is limited, as is often the case with urban properties, it can be better to look upwards rather than out.
"High-level clerestory windows tend to draw the eye upwards towards the sky rather than straight out at fence lines or neighbouring properties," explains Edward Stobart. "They're also particularly effective in urban gardens where privacy is important but natural light is also required.
"Additionally, they can be perfect for framing the views up – whether that's moving clouds or changing daylight conditions – turning them into a feature in their own right," he adds.
Pick and choose your views with slot windows
It is really important to remember that you don't have to have expansive views out over the countryside, or be able to gaze out to sea in order to enjoy a view. Sometimes, just picking one feature, be that a glossy, dense hedge, your modern fence ideas, or a highly textured brick wall, is all that is needed to create interest.
This is where narrow, vertical slot windows work really well – plus they are ideal at the front of properties where light is required, but so too is privacy.
"These are an increasingly popular feature in architectural glazing," reveals Edward Stobart. "By creating a slim vertical slot window, focus can be brought to a particularly desired area of the garden – ideal for where one element of the garden is more appealing than others. A carefully designed slot can provide sufficient interest in what would otherwise be a mediocre view."
Don't be afraid to combine window styles
Unless you are dealing with a period or listed property, where the type of windows need to match its architectural roots, or have been specified by the planners, there is nothing in the rulebook to say all your windows have to match.
In fact, as Edward Stobart explains, combining different styles can add bags of charm. "For a more artistic effect, modern trends such as asymmetrical window arrangements can add character to a contemporary home."
Rhys Owen highlights how mixing and matching different types of opening often makes far more sense than feeling restricted to just one style. "One of the first things we ask is what the space should feel like, and how connected it should be with to the outside. A room with a single aspect can often feel surprisingly tunnel-like, even if the opening itself is very large. We generally therefore try to create as many aspects as possible, whether that's through a corner window, rooflights, glazing in two directions, or a more carefully positioned secondary view."
Tailor roof glazing to your home
There are so many different types of ceiling glazing and rooflights and, in the absence of a traditional view, this can be the ideal way to create one.
"Large glass roofs are not just ideal for drawing light deeper into a room, they can also be perfect for framing the views above," explains Edward Stobart.
Do consider how you can tailor your ceiling glazing to your home rather than just opting for a bank of standard rooflights. Dan Pyzer-Knapp, associate at OB Architecture Ltd, explains how this was done in the case of one of the practice's projects (above). "We used rooflights with timber fins to create dynamic shadows that change the space throughout the day. This helps bring soft natural light into otherwise shady corners of a large open plan space, and adds a point of interest through the cast shadows across the wall and floor."
Dan is an associate at OB Architecture where he brings a range of experience in technical delivery of residential projects across London and the South of England, from small developments to high-end residential homes in the centre of London. Dan places great importance on cultivating strong collaborations with clients, aiming to truly understand their priorities and maximise the potential of every distinct site. He excels in navigating challenges, complexities, and tight project timelines, demonstrating his strategic acumen and unwavering optimism.
Frame choice matters just as much as window style
The frames you choose can have just as much of an effect on how well a view is framed as the window itself, as Edward Stobart explains. "I recommend opting for slim, minimalist frames that allow for large panes of uninterrupted glass, maximising the visibility of the outside. Aluminium windows tend to be ideal because they are able to combine big panes of glass with minimal visible frames.
“Beyond that, square-edged window profiles in a colour that contrasts with the internal decor are ideal because they provide a clear border to the view out, focusing your eyes on the view through the window, not at the window itself."
The depth of the window reveal can also play a part here, almost turning the view into a work of art. "Deep reveals around picture windows create cosy nooks that frame the view beautifully," says Edward. "Window seats have become hugely popular and are ideal for making the view out seem more artistic. Being closer to the glass allows you to take more of the view in because you see less of the room itself."
Don't shy away from walls of glass entirely
While people seem to be getting more creative with their window choices, looking at alternatives to the swathes of sliding and bifold doors that at one time seemed to be dominating the market, this 'glass wall' approach can still be the right one in some cases.
"Sometimes, the view is so good that the whole wall needs to be glazed," points out Dan Pyzer-Knapp, who goes on to explain that overheating needs to be considered when taking this approach. "In the beach house project (above), to avoid overheating issues, we designed an overhanging canopy that shades occupants from the strongest sun, and gives a wide panoramic view across the sea."
Edward Stobart likes to use corner windows where a more panoramic view is the order of the day. "With no visible frame, glass-to-glass corner windows can be cleverly fitted to the corners of rooms to extend the width of the view. This can draw attention to certain features within the garden and reveal areas that would otherwise be out of sight through a normal window. For example, a beautiful corner bed filled with mature plants could be on show instead of a plain wall, a stunning tree in a neighbour’s garden could be viewed instead of a dull fence or even reveal an even more interesting view from a completely different angle."
Consider orientation and shading to give a clear outlook
The direction your windows are facing needs to be taken into consideration if you want to make the most of a view, particularly with regards to issues with solar gain, glare or reflections.
"If your window is south-facing then direct sunlight may interfere with your view," explains Edward Stobart. "If you are building an extension or a new-build home then there may be the opportunity to install louvres or a brise-soleil, or design an overhang above your large picture window. This will reduce the reflections on the glass and better frame the view out."
Be sure to consider the orientation of your windows with regards to seeking out the very best view too. Rhys Owen explains how this was done on the project above. "We rotated the extension by 45 degrees rather than projecting it straight out from the rear of the house. That immediately created more aspects and more ways of looking into the garden. The footprint didn't change, but the room felt much more connected to its surroundings because your eye is constantly finding different points of reference. That's often more important than whether there is a spectacular view to begin with."
FAQs
Does a window seat always need a view?
Toying with the idea of incorporating some window seat ideas into your home? They are a brilliant way to create a cosy spot to relax but is a view a prerequisite of this feature?
According to Edward Stobart, even if the view isn't particularly striking, incorporating a window seat can help you see a vista you hadn't before noticed. "Sitting in a window seat allows you to get closer to the view rather than simply looking at it from across the room. Being closer to the glass also changes the perspective, allowing for a wider field of view."
"Creating a reading nook in a small window next to a hedge can link you into the outside landscape whilst sitting inside," adds Dan Pyzer-Knapp. "A view might not be incredible on its own, but when paired with a unique bit of design, it helps create a special and intimate space."
Alongside shape, size, position and style, don't forget to choose the right window colours for your home – they can totally transform the way it looks both inside and out. And, if you're keen to bring more light inside your home, take a look at these internal window ideas as well to help open up your interior.
