When installing windows, you want them to complement and enhance the look of your home; you also want them to contribute to your home’s comfort and overall vibe. A pretty window that makes your room uncomfortable is just as bad a choice as a functional window that is an eyesore.
Sliding Windows & Architectural Style
Sliding windows work very well with homes made with the contemporary aesthetic in mind; the utilitarian “here and now” feel of contemporary homes is a great way to showcase your sliding windows. Contemporary homes also tend to make use of a lot of natural lighting, one of the main reasons they usually incorporate a lot of skylights in their designs. Sliding windows, with their ability to let in large amounts of light, are greatly preferred in such houses.
Sliding windows also work well in houses with more of a horizontal, sprawling layout, such as ranch homes. Because sliding windows are able to span large horizontal areas, as well as open by sliding sideways, they are able to complement the wide horizontal spaces of such buildings. In particular, the bungalow-style design of ranch houses works well when paired with wide sliding windows; they can cover the same horizontal space as multiple windows in a more conventional style.
Other Design Considerations
A window’s method of operation will help dictate where and how to install them. For sliding windows, the last thing you want is to detract from your windows’ ease of operation by making them hard to reach. Ideally, sliding windows should be placed conveniently for easy operation, right around the height of your typical kitchen counter or just above the back of a living room sofa.
Another factor that favors sliding windows is that they do not require any clearance to properly operate. This means that there is no need to allocate space around the windows for when you need to open them. This allows you to put your furniture right up against the window opening without having to worry about how that might impede the proper operation of the window.
Sliding windows look great and are easy to operate, but how do you keep them in good working order? More on this in Part 3.
