Whether you’re building a new home or looking to make some updates to your current one, choosing the right windows is an important decision. There are a few common signs to look for if you think it’s time to replace your windows. Peeling paint, drafty rooms, and difficulty opening and closing windows all point to faulty windows that should be replaced. Choosing the right window style will affect your home’s design if you’re replacing the windows or starting from scratch in a new home. Some common window styles could make sense in your house, depending on how much natural light you want and how much fresh air you’d like. These five common window styles are a great starting point for your home:

• Single-Hung and Double-Hung Windows
• Casement Windows
• Bay Windows
• Picture Windows
• Slider Windows

COMMON HOME WINDOW STYLES

The following five window styles have all been made popular in residential settings. Most of them are practical, providing the best solution for bedrooms and bathrooms alike. Others can be more appearance-driven and allow for excellent access to outside views and natural light. Many of these common window types have been used for hundreds of years. After analyzing your space and consulting with a window professional, you’ll be able to choose the best windows for your home.

1. SINGLE-HUNG AND DOUBLE-HUNG WINDOWS

Single and double-hung windows are probably what you think of first when looking at residential home windows. It is traditionally used in homes in the bedroom, bathroom, and even other areas like hallways or staircases. This kind of window has two sashes, one on the top and one on the bottom. In single-hung windows, just the bottom sash slides up and down in the window frame. In double-hung, both the top and bottom sash slide. Double-hung windows can also open into the home for cleaning purposes, which makes seasonal window maintenance easy.

2. CASEMENT WINDOWS

Casement windows have been around for a long time and used to be tough to operate. Thankfully newer versions have improved mechanisms that are easier to open. Casement windows are the type you can crank open; they extend from a hinge on the window’s left or right side. These are commonly placed above the kitchen sink but can be used elsewhere in the home, too. Casement windows are a visually appealing option that lets in a reasonable amount of natural light and increases ventilation in your home. They’re especially great for a spot you like fresh air to enter the home because they’re easy to open and let in a beautiful breeze.

3. BAY WINDOWS

Bay windows are an architectural choice, so they have to be decided when the home is being constructed or during a renovation. Bay windows, also known as bow windows, protrude out from the house to give you a little more interior space. Sometimes this space is filled in with a window seat or a book nook. Bay windows are often made of a series of double-hung windows or custom arched-glass windows. In older, traditional homes, bay windows might even incorporate stain glass in the top pane as a decorative touch. Bay windows can also be an excellent option in small rooms, like a half bathroom, because they add a little more space to the interior.

4. PICTURE WINDOWS

Like bay windows, picture windows are a more expansive window option that can really bring the outdoors in. Unlike other residential window styles, picture windows are stationary windows that don’t open or close. They are typically pretty large windows, sometimes even extending from floor to ceiling. Picture windows don’t have to be that big, though. Sometimes designers will place them in rooms where homeowners desire a lot of natural light and views to the outdoors but may not care about opening them and getting a fresh breeze. They can be placed in living rooms, dining rooms, and even bedrooms.

5. SLIDER WINDOWS

Slider windows are another typical window style for homes. It is any window that opens by sliding to the right or left on a track, similar to a sliding door. One of the double windows opens by sliding behind the other. Slider windows come in many different sizes and are most common in contemporary and modern homes. They lend themselves well to longer spaces, so walls in living rooms or dining rooms where you want views to the outside and a fresh breeze when the weather is nice. Slider windows could even be used in bedrooms if you have the space. Unlike some of the other window types, they are typically longer than they are taller, so you have to look at your home’s architecture to decide if they would fit well.’