A Gallery of The Ten Best Window Styles For Your Home

The right windows can work wonders when it comes to enhancing your interior spaces by brightening things up with plenty of natural light, opening things up with some panoramic views, and even increasing your home’s energy efficiency. Much like a beautiful front door, a good set of windows helps maximize your home’s curb appeal, making them a good investment for anyone who’s thinking about selling their home.

With so many different window types to choose from, things can get complicated fast when you’re trying to choose for your latest remodeling project. As with any large list of choices, some are winners, others are duds, and it can be hard to distinguish which is which. But fear not, because there are some quite elegant and practical window styles in today’s market, and it doesn’t take much time to become familiar with them.  

Oriel Window

Oriel windows are a type of bay window and as such are quite good options for maximizing the natural light that comes into your house. This is thanks to their large vertical openings which will give your interior space a more airy feel and will let in dollops of natural light. 

Maximize Natural Light in Your House With Oriel Windows

Average Cost

The average cost for oriel windows starts at $1,000 and goes from there.

Pros 

Because of their design, oriel windows offer excellent panoramic views and make your home feel more luminous and luxurious thanks to their more ornamental nature.

Cons

Oriel windows tend to be a more expensive option in the world of windows due to their more intricate decor and construction. Their extra vertical length makes window treatments more expensive as well. If you’re not a fan of all the extra sunlight oriel windows provide, these windows won’t be your first choice.

Bay Windows 

This is a classic window style unparalleled in its elegance and potential. Bay windows are a great addition to a living room, kitchen, or even bedroom if you want a window that will maximize the amount of light that comes into your house all while looking stylish. Bay windows also offer unparalleled panoramic views thanks to their hexagonal frame which increases your range of view while also adding space for a nice reading nook. A bow window offers the same basic design but with a curved frame for an even sleeker look.

Bay Windows Would Make a Luminous Addition to Your Living Room

Average Cost

The average price for bay windows ranges between $1,000 and $3,500

Pros 

The aesthetic benefits of this design cannot be understated. A bay window is an excellent way to bring elegance and versatility to your home’s windows. You can customize bay windows to have various opening panels, and lots of ornamentation.

The Natural Light Offered by Bay Windows Is a Major Plus

Cons

Because of the complexity of this window style, installation and maintenance tend to be costly. Also, this window type is harder to keep clean since the window is divided into multiple different panels.

Storm Window 

This window style is ideal for anyone living in an area with a lot of inclement weather. Storm windows are useful as protection for existing windows against cold drafts and high winds. They increase your home’s thermal efficiency, which is great if you want to live more sustainably. Storm windows are designed to slot right over your existing windows, making installation simpler.

Storm Windows Are Very Practical for Inclement Weather Areas

Average Cost

Average costs range from $200 to $460.

Pros

The simple installation also means lower installation costs, and so it’s no surprise that storm windows have quite affordable installation costs. They increase your home’s insulation which can work wonders for lowering your energy bills.

Cons

Unfortunately, the simplicity of installation does not translate to simple maintenance, and storm windows tend to require regular attention to avoid water seeping between the storm window and the existing window. 

Skylight

There are few better ways to dramatically improve your home’s natural lighting than by installing a skylight. These ceiling-mounted windows allow sunlight to come in from the roof into the room below, brightening it up and opening it to the sky. This is a perfect choice for anyone who wants a “sky’s the limit” vibe in their home. Having abundant natural sunlight means you don’t have to use as much electricity, which is always a plus. A well-placed skylight is also a good investment if you want to give your home’s value a boost.

Natural Light Is Guaranteed With Skylight Windows

Average Cost

The national average for a skylight is around $1,500.

Pros 

A skylight offers a natural way to bring in extra light into a room that might not get enough sunlight otherwise. Skylights fit well with many home exterior designs and complement a wide range of interior design styles as well.

Cons

Skylights tend to be costly and complicated to install, and any mistakes made during the installation could lead to roof leaks and even structural damage. For this reason, it is advisable to have a qualified professional help you with installation. 

Arched Window

This window style has been around for a long time, but it remains a popular choice thanks to its timeless look. Some tastefully placed arched windows are an easy way to increase your home’s appeal because they give it a unique feature that other homes might not have. Their stately aesthetic is sure to impress guests, residents, and homebuyers alike.

Arched Windows Ensure Timelessness

Average Cost

The average cost of arched windows is between $325 and $500 on average.

Pros 

These windows are easy to maintain and tend to be quite customizable, with a wide array of colors and styles available. They can even be installed over existing windows to reduce cost.

Cons

Many arched window designs cannot be opened, meaning that not all arched windows can be used as egress windows. This also means that some arched windows cannot be cracked open for ventilation.  

Glass Block Window 

One of the most durable window designs owing to its thickness and simple design, glass block windows are made up of a grid layout of thick glass blocs, to be arranged in any shape and painted in any shade or color. Considering the blocks are thick, they are less transparent, making glass block windows great for areas such as bathrooms where privacy is important.

Add More Light to Your Bathroom Without Compromising Your Privacy

Average Cost

The average cost for this window style varies based on the size of the window, ranging between $370 and $780.

Pros 

The thickness of glass block windows makes them long-lasting and highly resistant to burglary. They are also very customizable, allowing them to fit in many different homes.

Cons

This window type cannot be opened and there is no way to use these windows as egress windows or for ventilation. While the thickness of the glass prevents strangers from peering in, it also prevents you from gazing out.

Jalousie Windows 

If you live in a hot place, ventilation is of paramount importance to keep things comfortable indoors. Jalousie windows are built with that philosophy in mind and are made to be easily opened to allow good airflow in your house, keeping things nice and cool. These windows can come in different designs but are typically made of a bunch of parallel slats that can be tilted open or closed. These don’t always have to be made of glass, and can even be made out of wood.

Jalousie Windows Would Block the Sun on Hot Days, but Still Allow the Air to Flow

Average Cost

These windows cost between $175 and $375 to install.

Pros 

The benefits here are plain to see. Keeping fresh air flowing through your house is crucial for keeping residents comfortable and healthy. The design of the jalousie windows even allows for ventilation during bad weather since rain is less likely to come in through the windows. This design also fits with many different home aesthetics.

Cons

The only real drawbacks here are security-related. Jalousie windows aren’t very robust so they aren’t a great option if you want to keep out unwanted guests. Their design also makes it difficult to use the window to escape in case of an emergency.  

Transom Windows

This window type is designed to let in light and add ventilation to your home and is a popular addition for homes across the country. Transom windows are meant to be mostly decorative and are a classy way to add some style to your front door. This window type is usually installed above exterior doors as an accent window. The classic transom windows are fan-shaped, but transoms now come in a variety of designs.

Transom Windows Are a Classy Way to Add Style to Your Front Door

Average Cost

The cost of a transom window ranges between $200 and $575.

Pros 

Transom windows are a good solution for someone who’s looking for an addition to their home that is both functional and beautiful. Transom windows can add versatility to your home’s design all while making it look classier.

Cons

Because these accent windows are usually mounted above doors or in higher parts of the wall, they can be hard to keep clean.

Garden Windows 

Indoor gardening enthusiasts will love this window design because it is made just for them. Garden windows give you plenty of room to set up an indoor garden on your window sill. The design of the garden window allows plenty of sunlight to come through, which in turn will help your plants to thrive. Plus, the open nature of the garden window will put the fruits of your labors on proud display to the neighborhood.

Garden Windows Are Designed to Help Your Indoor Plants Thrive

Average Cost

Garden windows cost between $1,000 and $4,000 to install, on average.

Pros 

Garden windows are quite aesthetically pleasing thanks to their greenhouse-shaped design. This structural design also allows garden windows to last quite a long time with minimal maintenance.

Cons

The more sophisticated design of garden windows means more complications. This is a window design you want a professional to install so that there aren’t any mistakes.

Egress Window

As you read this article, you may have asked yourself “since there are so many windows that aren’t good egress windows, which window type of window is good for that purpose?” Well, that would be egress windows. This refers to windows that are designed with unlikely situations in mind so that they are easy to use as a way to escape a house in an emergency. Many egress windows are also designed so that they can be used by emergency services to easily access a house from the outside if needed.

Egress Windows Are Great for Emergency Situations

Average Cost

The average cost of an egress window is between $2,500 and $5,500.

Pros 

On average, there are nearly 1,000 house fires every day in the United States, so it's worthwhile to consider investing in a safety feature such as egress windows. The benefit of having an easy escape hatch for emergencies is huge. Of course, egress windows also function as any other window and are great for bringing in more light and ventilation to your home.

Cons

Because these windows have a safety function, they require a lot more planning and groundwork than a regular window. Building codes restrict how high egress windows can be installed, so most of these window types are installed in basements.

Window Features to Consider

Double Glazed and Triple Glazed windows

These work amazingly well for insulating your home and lowering your energy bills.

Double Hung Windows

They are a simple and practical way to have a window design that is both secure as well as easy to open when you want to get some fresh air into the house.

Sliding Windows

This versatile design can be integrated into many window types with little difficulty and provides another durable design that increases ventilation.

Easy Access to Your Backyard Is Guaranteed With Sliding Windows