In cinematic history, windows have been important plot points representing climaxes and finales. From the infamous window in ‘Game of Thrones’ through which Cersei Lannister watched events unfold in the King’s Landing to the wide window in ‘Padosan’ witnessing singing duels between Mehmood and Kishore Kumar, and the window that unites Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in ‘Pretty Woman,’ scenes with windows have left a lasting impression on us, Indian viewers.
The windows in our homes have a similar impact. Although their primary function is to provide accessibility, natural light, and ventilation, their make, design, style, and color can influence our homes’ cumulative visual appeal and comfort. These structures shower your dwellings with pristine natural light and also ensure a sense of openness. Choose the right doors and windows, and you will land up with warm and cozy digs. Pick the wrong ones, and you can expect renovations down the road.
But, we want you to choose right! So, here are a few factors you must keep in mind before narrowing down on the aesthetics of windows for your modern Indian home.
1) Match Windows to Blend with Your Home’s Overall Mood
Is your home minimalistic? Does it appear modern with hints of vintage furniture pieces? Are you going with a Victorian or Georgian theme? Answering these questions is critical as your window designs must match the theme of your home. If different rooms have individual themes, your window and door designs will change accordingly.
For instance, if Victorian furniture pieces and wall art enamor you, you might want to install wood-carved French windows with arched transoms. On the other hand, if you want a strictly minimalistic theme, go for expansive black aluminium window frames. The point is that your windows are very much a part of your room’s décor, so style them accordingly.
2) Choose the Right Size and Color
If you are lucky enough to live by the sea or amidst much of greens, ensure fenestration of the accurate size. Know that the size and width of your windows matter. Steer clear from small-sized windows when you want to bring the outdoors inside. Go for a picture, casement, or French windows in such a case.
Alternatively, when you are choosing a window for your bathroom, privacy is perhaps a priority. Here, you can go for small-sized windows. Remember that size plays a massive role in the aesthetics of your home.
Let’s talk about the color of your window and door frames. Keep in mind that today window and door designs come in a myriad of tints and shades. You must optimally utilize this opportunity — and go for a hue matching the color of your walls or contrasts them.
3) Select Your Framing Materials Wisely
Window and door designs come in various materials like aluminium, wood, and vinyl. Before choosing one for your home or office, figure out each material’s performance, visual aesthetic, durability, maintenance requirement, and other qualities.
Doing this will ensure you do not choose the accurate material for your space. For instance, if you live in a city where it rains a lot or humidity is a constant issue, you would want to choose a material that does not bloat due to moisture.
4) Pick the Right Glazing
There is a wealth of functionalities available in glass these days. For instance, you can choose glazing for noise-cancellation, toughness, energy efficiency, and much more. Many attributes can be blended into one pane as well. You can select toughened glass which is also soundproof.
While aesthetics play a huge role in deciding door and window designs, you must not forget that glazing functionalities are just as important. Therefore, pick the right glass to complete your door and window systems.
5) Research different Window Types
There is a wide variety of window designs available these days. Some of them include:
a) Casement windows:
A timeless design that never goes out of style, casement windows offer excellent aesthetics, ventilation, and performance. These windows are easy to install, are hinged on one side, and swing opens outwards.
b) French windows:
Incredibly well-known for the aesthetic charm they add to your homes. French windows are expansive and generously usher in heaps of natural light and ventilation.
c) Sliding Windows:
You can install small or large sliding windows. They look great and save much space, as they don’t swing open inwards but slide within their frame.
uPVC windows are the favorite choice of modern homeowners in India
uPVC, or unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, is the most popular material used for building windows and doors worldwide – and for a good reason. It is highly flexible and structurally stable, making it suitable for any intricate window design. Besides, uPVC comes with a range of metallic and wooden finishes. This feature ensures that your windows will never look out of place.
uPVC also has a multitude of benefits. It is an excellent insulator against heat, not allowing heat to flow out during winters and preventing heat flow inwards during summers. It directly contributes to reducing money spent on heating or cooling your home. uPVC has a layer of galvanized steel, so it is harder for burglars and intruders to break.
uPVC window designs do not rot as timber does, nor do they rust like iron. They require almost no maintenance throughout their lifetime, extending to infinity since this material is 100% recyclable.
What Window Design Should I Choose?
When it comes to choosing uPVC window designs, you should consider some basic parameters.
Security
Most windows that do not open wide are more secure than those which open fully. A double-hung window, for example, opens wide if its lower panes are slide upwards, letting intruders get in easily.
On the other hand, awning windows, which hinge at the top of the frame or casement windows that open like doors, leave a very narrow space for burglars to get inside. Both windows can also be sealed tightly. Awning windows also have the advantage of preventing rain and other debris from entering your house.
View
Picture windows are the best for a good view of the outdoors. They are stationary and do not open in any way. They provide no ventilation, but their large size means that they can make any room look spacious.
Bay windows and bow windows are also ideal for a good outside view. These windows curve outward from the exterior wall, but a bow window has 4-6 openings while a bay window only has 3. Because of their curved structure, they provide a wide view of the outdoors.
Ventilation
Casement windows are your best bet for ventilation purposes. They create almost a narrow funnel for a breeze to enter the house. A double-hung window is also a smart choice for ventilation – hot air tends to rise above cool air, so cool air tends to come in through the bottom opening while hot air escapes from the top.
Picture windows are not the best for ventilation since they either move very little or do not open at all.
Light
Bay and bow windows let in the maximum amount of sunlight after picture windows because of their multiple openings and wide field of view. Apart from these, a skylight is a feasible choice to let sunlight into small rooms. This window can also let sunlight into large open rooms; although, it is a lot less durable because of direct exposure to heat and rain.
Looks
The look you prefer depends on the overall style you have decided on for your house.
For a more contemporary vibe, simple sliding windows or awnings are the ideal choices. Casements are also prominent in modern homes. A picture window lets you add a new dimension to your home as it looks sleek and provides a great view of the outdoors, like the more classical-looking bow windows.
For a vintage or classical look, bay and bow windows work well. These window types were actually deployed in building castles during the Renaissance, so it is no surprise that they have such a classic appeal to them. Skylights are also reminiscent of attics in old mansions, so they are ideal — if you build a larger home.
You can consider some miscellaneous things when choosing uPVC window designs as well – garden windows which are usually placed above a kitchen sink to provide a shelf for small plants and other decorations to be displayed, as do bay and bow windows. Intricately designed transom windows placed above doors and other windows can also give an extra edge of elegance.
Nonetheless, India is known for dealing with intense heat waves, extreme weather conditions, and ample sunlight for most of the year. Thus, Indian window designs accommodate materials that are best-suited to counter the effects of such weather conditions along with a natural affinity for tasteful and appealing aesthetics.
Some Fenestration Style Approaches for Your Cozy Haven
Reviving Classicism
For homes with traditional window setups, you can opt for wooden window frames. Wooden window frames can offer eye-catching interiors and exteriors with a touch of luxury along with fine functionality. Wooden frames can be coupled with stained glass, ornamental bar grills, or wooden shutters to accentuate the appeal of your home.
Keeping Abreast with the Times
Wide and plentiful windows with aluminium frames, can be used to invite more light indoors. Aluminium frame windows are the most slender out there. Meaning, one unique benefit that they offer is that they can be exceptionally lean so that the ratio of glass is much more to that of the frame. Aluminium frame windows are where your journey towards reveling in glorious vistas begins!
Marrying Classicism and Modernism
For a personalized aesthetic and functional approach, an elegant blend of traditional and modern Indian window design would be used. Also, you can mix-and-match picture windows with some smaller casement windows, awning or double-hung windows, or sliding windows depending upon your taste.
The Most Sought-After Indian Window Designs
Double-Hung Windows
Double-hung windows have been popular in India and are used to keep the archetypical Colonial, Victorian, or Cape Cod look alive in your homes. These windows have two sashes – upper and lower – each moving up and down. Double-hung is one of the most preferred Indian window designs due to its excellent ventilation capabilities and the ability to control airflow, which is a must for the Indian climate.
Arched Windows
Usually used as transoms, arched windows are installed above the standard window and door across the home to add aesthetics and extra natural light. Transom windows feature both clear and stained glass panes, and hence, are often used to decorate the entryway. People opt for transom windows with tempered glass for extra safety in Indian homes.
Awning Windows
Another favored Indian window design is awning windows. Awning windows are popular in areas that experience heavy rain, like desolated hills and valleys in Meghalaya and Karnataka. Awnings divert rainwater away from your home, shielding the exterior trim around the window. These windows open outward or upward away and often sit high on the wall to aid proper air circulation.
Hopper Windows
Hinged at the top, hopper windows are preferred in small spaces like bathrooms, basements, and kitchens in Indian homes. As much as these spaces require optimal light and ventilation, they also need adequate privacy, and hoppers offer the best of both worlds. Also, hopper windows are easy to clean and pretty low-maintenance.
Casement Windows
Casement windows are a popular choice in both modern and traditional Indian homes. You can choose casement windows for their casual style, sleek look, and functional design. Whether your home has a conventional architectural look or a modern minimalist design, casement windows can fit well with both styles. These windows mainly maximize natural light and control airflow.
Bay Windows
Indian homes in countryside picturesque locations have stunning views to offer. Bay windows can be the perfect elements for such homes. With a cozy seating arrangement next to the bay windows, ample light, and a panoramic view, all one needs is a cup of espresso in one hand and a best-selling novel in another! Bay windows can not only add extra space and dimension to your home but also extend beyond the wall to bring in natural light from multiple directions.
French Windows
French windows have gained immense popularity in premium and luxurious Indian homes with both traditional and modern outlooks. French windows allow plenty of fresh air and natural light to enter your home while seamlessly connecting the home’s interiors with the outdoors.
Skylight Windows
Skylight windows are ideal in bringing in more natural light in city homes surrounded by high-rises, malls, or homes with limited openings on walls. Due to this, they are gaining traction across the country as a valuable Indian window design.
Looking for premium-quality Indian window designs for your home? Get in touch with AIS Windows! A one-stop solution for all your window needs, we at AIS Windows present a diverse choice in trendy, elegant, high-performing, and unique fenestration solutions in substrates of uPVC, wood, and aluminium. Our team is trained and equipped with top-of-the-line tools to provide a smooth and stress-free service, right from product selection up until post-installation support.
So, get in touch with us today!
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