How To Choose the Right Window For a Room

Windows are an essential element of any home. With the average Australian home having between 10 and 20 windows, they provide crucial natural light, airflow, and breezes, as well as views, connecting us with the outdoors. Moreover, they are highly economical, significantly reducing our dependence on air conditioning, fans, and lighting, cutting back on electricity usage.

Whether you’re renovating or building a new home, choosing windows is one of the most significant decisions in the entire process. Windows need to be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly, need to fit the room.

At Ross’s Discount Home Centre, we’re the go-to source for quality windows in Perth. We’re exclusive stockists for Jason Windows, WA’s leading window and door supplier, and have been supplying quality renovation products to residents of Perth since 1973. Thus, with almost 50 years under our belt, we have gained considerable experience with windows and the key considerations when choosing them.

If you’re in the process of renovating your home or building a new home in Perth, you’ll want to read this article. Today, we take an in-depth look at windows and everything you need to consider when choosing the perfect window for each room of your home.

Before we get started, though, be sure to familiarise yourself with the types of windows by reading our Doors and Windows Buying Guide. Once you’ve finished reading about the types of windows, jump back to this article to continue reading.

Choosing the Right Window for Each Room

Now that you have a good understanding of the types of windows available, you need to apply these to each room of your home. Getting this right is essential – once you confirm your order, it will be costly to make changes, and once your install your windows, you will have to live with your decisions for at least 15 years, so no pressure!!

Bedroom Windows

Choosing bedroom windows presents many options. The key is choosing the right windows for your bedroom. The critical considerations for bedroom windows are privacy, the amount of natural light, and the placement of the windows.

Your bedroom is a private room. You don’t want to have to close your blinds everything you want to get changed to block out the neighbours. Thus, if privacy is of concern to you, consider a narrow horizontal window, such as an 1800 mm wide by 600 mm wide window, that you can install at or above head height to provide maximum privacy.

Narrow windows installed horizontally at or above head height are ideal for bedrooms as they tick the three critical considerations. They are great for privacy, offer great natural light, and importantly, they won’t interfere with your bedroom configuration. You can move your bed, bedside tables etc., without running into any problems caused by window placement.

Narrow vertical windows installed at each bedside are another popular option for bedrooms. However, they don’t offer the same level of privacy as narrow horizontal windows. Furthermore, they define a bedroom’s configuration, inhibiting you from moving your bed to another wall in the future.

Type Of Windows For Bedrooms

In terms of the type of windows for bedrooms, sliding windows are the number one choice. They allow excellent airflow control and are the most economical. Louvres are another great choice and are very much on-trend right now and. However, they’re at the higher end of the spectrum in terms of cost. Double-hung windows are also a good choice, particularly if you opt for narrow vertical windows.

Recommended options for bedrooms include:

• Sliding Windows
• Louvre windows
• Double Hung windows

Bathroom Windows

Choosing bathroom windows also presents various options. Choosing the right windows for your bathroom is key. The critical considerations for bathroom windows are privacy, the amount of natural light, and ventilation.

Like the bedroom, a bathroom is a private place, and privacy should be the driving force when choosing bathroom windows. You obviously don’t want anyone peering through the window looking in on you whilst in the bathroom. Thus, there are two primary options to consider:

• A narrow horizontal window, installed at or above head height
• A window with frosted or translucent glass

Both of these windows are suitable options for bathrooms. Both provide light and privacy, which you choose will depend on your bathroom configuration.

Type Of Windows For Bathrooms

The most common types of windows for bathrooms are sliding windows, purely because they tick all the right boxes in terms of the. They’re affordable, offer excellent ventilation, and are available with frosted/translucent glass options. For a more luxurious look, opt for louvre windows. Narrow louvres installed horizontally or vertically always look grand are very much on-trend with current bathroom designs.

Recommended options for bathrooms include:

• Sliding Windows
• Louvre Windows

Living Room / Lounge Room Windows

In modern Australian homes, living and lounge rooms often rely on large glass doors for natural light and outdoor access, which means windows are usually added to support light, ventilation, or design rather than act as the main feature.

When windows are included, placement is important. In darker rooms, larger or well-positioned windows can help maximise light. In already bright spaces, windows are often chosen for their design impact, with careful consideration given to placement to avoid issues such as glare on televisions.

Type Of Windows For Living/Lounge Rooms

Living and lounge rooms offer flexibility when it comes to window selection. In homes with higher ceilings or architectural features, windows are often positioned higher on the wall. Raked windows and louvre windows are commonly used in these areas to bring in extra light and airflow without affecting privacy or wall space.

Casement windows are also popular in traditional living rooms. Their full opening makes them practical for ventilation while still providing a strong design feature.

Recommended options living rooms/lounges room include:

• Raked Windows
• Louvre windows
• Sliding Windows
• Double Hung windows
• Casement windows

Kitchen Windows

Choosing the right kitchen window can be tricky. The key to selecting the right windows for your kitchen is practicality – ventilation may also be a consideration point.

Modern homes today are open-plan. As such, many kitchens won’t need a window at all. However, they still have a place in kitchens and can add practicality, convenience and design aesthetics.

Type Of Windows For Kitchens

The most popular windows for kitchens are awning windows, bi-fold windows, and fixed windows. Awning and bi-fold windows work especially well over the sink, particularly when the kitchen looks out onto a patio or deck. They allow ventilation, improve airflow, and help connect the kitchen to outdoor living areas.

Fixed windows are also a very popular choice in kitchens, especially when used as a splashback alternative. Instead of a tiled or glass splashback, a fixed window can bring in natural light, open up the space, and create a clean, modern look. Because fixed windows don’t open, they’re well suited to this application and are easy to keep clean.

Recommended options for kitchens include:

• Fixed windows
• Sliding Windows
• Gas Strut Awning Windows
• Bi-fold windows

Laundry Windows

Choosing laundry windows is fairly straightforward as there aren’t that many options. Providing the window offers natural light and ventilation; you’re on the right track. Laundry windows are usually installed next to the door that leads to the clothesline, which doesn’t leave much space to worrying about what size and shape window to choose.

A 600mm wide by 900mm high window is fairly standard and, in most cases, will be ideal.

Type Of Windows For Laundry Rooms

There are really just two options in terms of the type of windows for laundry rooms: siding windows or louvre windows. Both provide natural light and ventilation and are suitable for small windows. The deciding factor will be your budget or the level of finish you want to achieve. As mentioned, sliding windows and louvres are at polar ends of the cost spectrum, louvres being the most expensive of the two.

Recommended options laundry rooms include:

• Sliding Windows
• Louvre Windows

Dining Room Windows

As open-plan living takes centre stage, having a separate dining room is becoming a thing of the past. However, they do exist, and those that do need windows.

The key is choosing the right windows for a dining room is natural light. You want to maximise the amount of natural light by choosing large windows that offer as much light as possible. Ventilation is also important and should be a consideration in the selection process.

Type Of Windows For Dining Rooms

For dining room windows, there are two main options: sliding windows and casement windows. The most popular option is traditional sliding aluminium windows. You can get them in large sizes, and they offer great ventilation. The other, more luxurious option would be casement windows – they are far more modern in design and will add a real grandness to the space.

Recommended options for dining rooms include:

• Sliding Windows
• Casement Windows

Entrance Windows

Choosing an entrance window is made relatively easy due to the limitation of considerations and suitable options. The critical concerns for entrance windows are the amount of natural light and security.

In many cases, an entrance won’t have a window at all. It may be too small and narrow for a widow, which is absolutely fine. However, if you have a grand entrance or an entrance wide enough to house an entrance door and a window, a window will add to the grandness of your entry, and make what could otherwise be a dark space, appear much lighter and more welcoming.

The best area to install an entrance window is alongside the door, like a sidelight – floor to ceiling. Doing so will ensure maximum natural light.

Type Of Windows For Entrances

There are three popular options to consider for entrance windows: fixed windows, raked windows, and louvre windows. Each serves a different purpose, depending on whether your priority is security, design, or architectural impact.

Fixed windows are often chosen where security is the main concern. They don’t open, which makes them a solid and cost-effective option for entrances. Raked windows also fall into the fixed window category but are designed for angled openings, making them ideal for homes with gable ends, high ceilings, or feature entryways where a standard rectangular window won’t suit the design.

If aesthetics and airflow are higher on your list, louvre windows offer a more modern, high-end look and allow ventilation. They do come at a higher price point, however. Fixed windows are generally the most affordable option, with raked windows sitting in a similar category, while louvre windows are typically among the more expensive window styles.

Recommended options for entrances include:

• Raked Windows
• Fixed Windows
• Louvre Windows

Choosing the right window for each room involves considering factors like style, functionality, and material. If you’re considering aluminium or sliding windows, these articles offer valuable insights:

• The Advantages of Aluminium Sliding Windows
• Sliding Windows vs. Fixed Windows
• Jason Windows’ Sliding Aluminium Windows: Combining Quality, Security, and Style
• Why Aluminium Windows Are the Smarter Option!

Conclusion

Choosing windows for a renovation or new home build is one of the most crucial tasks of all. There are many factors to consider. You have to consider the placement, size and shape of the window and how it interacts with the space before choosing the type of window.

While the purpose of any window is to provide natural light, the key considerations will differ based on the room. For example, privacy is a crucial consideration when choosing a bathroom window, while maximising natural light may be a key consideration for choosing a laundry window. Moreover, these key considerations will narrow down the possible types of suitable windows for each room. Thus, it’s essential to incorporate all considerations to determine the right window for each room.

If you’re shopping for windows in Perth or need help determining which window is right for each room of your home, Ross’s Discount Home Centre can help! We have an in-store window display so you can see our range in person, and we have sales representatives who are only too happy to assist in your window selection process.

You can view a selection of our Doors & Windows online and place a Special Order for one of the many other types of windows available in the extensive Jason Windows range.  We also understand the importance of finding the right fit. That’s why we offer custom windows in addition to our standard products. Email us for a quote today!