Let the light in: More window (area) please – tips on privacy, brightness, energy efficiency & Co!

Let the light in – In new buildings, windows play an increasingly important role. In renovations, too, window areas are often enlarged. Why this makes sense and is beautiful, and how privacy protection can be achieved in an uncomplicated way. Windows already play a major role in the exterior facade. Whether they have muntins, ornaments, are small or floor-to-ceiling, they completely change the external appearance of a house. Thus, a house with few or very small windows in the facade can appear gloomy. Inside, this impression is confirmed. Rooms with more light appear more spacious and open. More light in the rooms also helps us mentally.

Energetic – Good or difficult?

Insufficiently insulated windows can form so-called cold bridges in the facade. For this reason, the replacement of old windows is always one of the first measures in a renovation. This is because a lot of energy is lost in a house through old and not well insulated windows. The roof, exterior walls, exterior doors, windows and the floor slab are the building components that seal off the outside. The energy efficiency of a building depends to a large extent on them, as the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy also states.

Energetically ideal are windows with panes that have a metallic coating. The spaces between them are filled with inert gas. Their insulation values are three times higher than those of single-glazed windows.

Ideal: windows with panes and metallic coating

Bright rooms look more friendly and spacious:

Source for more light

If you are in a room with many windows, you use less energy for artificial light. Especially in the house in the hallways, generous window areas and glass in the house have a positive effect on energy consumption.

Special case corridor

If you have daylight in the hallway for long stretches, you need light there exclusively at night, at least in the summer. In addition, a house looks friendlier if the entrance area is full of daylight. But how can this be achieved? Firstly, through front doors with side panels or skylights. Through these, the light comes directly into the hallway. A high-quality frosted glass film provides privacy at this point. It lets the light in, but does not allow people to see inside the house from the outside. The film can be ordered made to measure and easily applied.

Frosted glass film allows light into the room while protecting privacy

Another option for more light in the hallway are interior doors with glass. These can be all-glass doors or glass inserts in the doors. Similarly, skylights in the house are a way to get the light from the rooms to the interior of the house. Again, the use of frosted glass film can provide privacy.

Effect of large windows in living rooms

Floor-to-ceiling windows are popular in modern living spaces in new buildings. Especially large window fronts create a nice feeling of spaciousness in the room. However, attention must be paid to two points:

• How to heat
• Where storage space or floor space remains

Heating type

Usually, the radiators are located under the window. This was done to counteract the cold bridge and distribute the warm air in the room as much as possible. Now, if the windows in a room are floor-to-ceiling, underfloor heating is ideal. This distributes the warmth already ideally in the space alone by its structure. It also counteracts cold spots on the floor, which can certainly occur with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Footprint

If a room has floor-to-ceiling windows, think about the upcoming furniture. As beautiful as window fronts are, if there is a cabinet in front of them at the end, they look strange. For this reason, the window design and the room should think about the use and furnishings. Floor-to-ceiling windows are not always the ideal solution in small rooms. If floor space for furniture is difficult, high-set narrower windows, as in Scandinavian houses, can be an ideal source of light.

Ideal light sources in the kitchen

While floor-to-ceiling windows are nice at the dining area in an eat-in kitchen, it’s a different story with the windows directly at the countertops. There, on the one hand, a direct source of light is needed, but on the other hand, the floor space for the cabinets. For this reason, floor-to-ceiling windows in a kitchen are rarely the ideal solution. If the work surface is located opposite, the occupant stands in the light while cooking. If the work surfaces are placed in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, it is neither possible to ventilate well nor does the room really benefit from the floor-to-ceiling windows. For this reason, it makes sense to have smaller windows in a kitchen and light through skylights or narrower windows set higher again.

Tip: Higher set narrow windows allow good ventilation and let light into the kitchen

Large windows in children’s rooms

Children’s rooms benefit from brightness. At the same time, it must be remembered that a child plays intensively on the floor, especially during the first years of life. Whether it’s crawling, playing on a play rug or later concentrated building with Lego – a child spends a lot of time on the floor. Those who choose floor-to-ceiling windows in a child’s room must pay particular attention to insulation. Because while underfloor heating works effectively against the cold floor in winter, if the windows are not well insulated, the floor can get chilly even in summer.

Additional tip: Light wall colors reflect the light from the window and contribute to a pleasant atmosphere:

With age, a child may also feel disturbed by the openness of a floor-to-ceiling window. Better than pleated blinds or venetian blinds – which often do not suit the taste of a teenager, a frosted glass film fits here. It can be applied flexibly and protects against unwanted glances without the room having to be plunged into darkness.

Bathroom with daylight

In the bathroom, windows have several important functions. Windows provide the opportunity to ventilate the humid air from the room. They also provide daylight when looking in the mirror, which is often nicer than the very bright artificial lighting in the bathroom. To prevent unwanted views, higher windows are useful, especially on the first floor. On the one hand, a high light band lets the light in and offers the option of ventilation. In addition, bathrooms are often planned so small that lower-seated windows take away important floor space. Or the window sills at the end serves as a floor space and hereby the ventilation is more difficult.

Room size decisive

The size of the window must fit the size of the room. The windows should be freely accessible, so that in addition to light, they allow air into the four-walls. From too many gazes films safely protect the inhabitants of the house, without swallowing too much light. Living is always better with daylight in the premises.