Living in less square footage has many benefits. You have less space to clean. You spend less to heat and cool your home. You can foster communal living. You leave a smaller carbon footprint. What’s not to love? Well, unfortunately a small space can also get a little claustrophobic. As humans, we crave the air and light. That is why it is important to strategically design and place your windows in small homes. The right plan can create a feeling of spaciousness, making your small home in Deerfield, IL feel larger and more comfortable. Here are just a few tips to get the space you crave in the area you have available:
Site Orientation
If you are building from the ground up, one of the most important aspects can be site orientation. South facing walls get the most year-round sunlight. This is where you will want to place most of your windows to capitalize on light and natural heat. You will want the rooms that are typically the most occupied, like kitchens and living rooms, to be south-facing. That will eliminate the need for more artificial light. Conversely less occupied rooms, like bedrooms and bathrooms, don’t need as much light and would be better placed with north-facing walls.
Air Flow
Nothing makes a space feel small quite like stale air. For this reason, you will want to make sure you place operable windows on opposite sides of your home. This helps create a natural path for airflow and you can capitalize on natural ventilation in the spring and summer. Single-hung, double-hung, casement, awning, and horizontal sliding windows are all good options. They allow you to control the airflow so you can choose between a small breeze or a noticeable current of fresh air.
Light From Above
Basements have windows high on the walls because it is the only place where they fit and function. Why not carry out this concept out above ground? There are so many places in small homes where high windows can enrich the space. For example, what about above the bed or shower? These windows still let in light and air while still giving you privacy. You can also get a glimpse of heaven with clerestory windows like skylights and sun tubes. These do not take up valuable space on the wall and capitalize on unused space in the ceiling.
Indoor/Outdoor Living Space
One thing windows and doors can do is blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors. Expansive sliding or folding windows and doors can completely change the atmosphere in your home. You can access the outdoors with ease and capitalize on your indoor-outdoor living space.
Window Orientation
Did you know you can make a short, wide room feel taller by installing a thin, vertical window? These floor to ceiling windows create a vertical break in the width of a room. The focal point catches the eye and creates the illusion of height. The same thing can work in a tall, slender room. If you place a long, horizontal window along the wall, it can create the illusion of width, almost like magic.
Call Scientific Home Services Today!
Whether you have a small home, or just a small bedroom or living room, smart design for your new windows in Deerfield, IL will help make the space feel larger. For a free design consultation and quote, call (847) 752-0370. Or bring your questions to 7240 Saint Louis Ave., Skokie, IL 60076 where you can speak with one of our window experts in person.
