How Window Placement Can Make Or Break Your Home Design

Window placement is one of the most critical and nuanced aspects of home design. It might not top the average homeowner’s to-do list, but architects and designers will tell you that the arrangement of windows (and doors) influences your experience within the home more than almost any other factor. It creates ripple effects that shape design considerations ranging from the exterior architectural style and curb appeal to the floor plan and functionality of your home’s interior spaces.

Nailing that delicate exterior–interior balance requires the careful weighing of several interdependent factors. To get it just right, the pros suggest taking these steps. 

Consider Aesthetics and Architectural Style

If something feels off about a home’s exterior, it’s often because one of four key window elements was overlooked: size, symmetry, architectural style, or scale. “Window sizing and placement is something that we address at the very beginning of schematic design,” says Leigh Misso, Owner and Designer at River Brook in Homewood, Alabama. “In my opinion, when you notice homes that are tastefully done, you’ll see consistency across each of these fronts.” 

To create a visually pleasing exterior façade and a balanced solid-void relationship, Misso relies on a few key tricks: choosing windows that are taller than they are wide to draw the eye upward, grouping windows in odd numbers for visual interest, and incorporating an unexpected shape—like an oval or circle—to break up designs that feel too predictable or safe.

Balance External and Internal Form and Function

It doesn’t matter how beautiful you imagine a certain window pattern will appear from the street; a particular scheme only works if it also translates to a functional floor plan that accounts for a family’s lifestyle needs as well as the desires for natural light, privacy, and general aesthetic appeal. “For instance, if you like washing your dishes and looking out the window where you can see who is coming to the front door, then we need to incorporate that window placement and room location into the floor plan,” says Kirsten Schoettelkotte, Studio Director at MHK Architecture in Charleston, South Carolina.

But remember, any windows added to the kitchen affect your cabinet space and should therefore be thoughtfully considered. For every action, there is a reaction. Apparently, Newton’s Third Law applies not only to objects in motion but also to window placement. “Inside Southern Living’s 2024 Kiawah River Idea House, the only room we designed without a window was the scullery,” Schoettelkotte says. “In this instance, we didn’t have a lot of room to work with and decided instead to maximize storage space with built-ins and cabinets.” 

Take Cues from the Environment

“I always go back to the site and the location,” Schoettelkotte says of environmental context and window placement. “One of the biggest things we think about at the beginning of the design process is how the home sits on the site and in which direction it faces. We all know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so how are we managing that pattern of light?”

For example, south-facing windows can make bedrooms too bright and too warm, especially in the summer months. And while you can certainly have too many windows—you don’t want your home to feel like a fishbowl, especially if it sits close to a busy street—if you’re lucky enough that your property boasts any kind of view, today’s window technology allows you to maximize even the most sweeping landscapes with large banks of windows without sacrificing energy efficiency.  

Spend the Money

Window placement and, by extension, the number of windows on your home, isn’t the place to pinch pennies or cut corners. “I’ve never had a client be upset about going over budget on their window package because they choose to go with more windows,” Misso says. “If a client is questioning whether to include a window, we always urge them to include it because that feeling of standing inside your home and having an abundance of natural light cascade in can’t be quantified. Natural light is a guaranteed mood booster.”