Bay windows are spacious and beautiful, they bring a lot of flair and gracefulness to a home. But even though they sound great, they do have their shortcomings as well. After all, there are no such things as perfection in products, even in home architecture. That said, here’s everything you need to know, good and bad, with bay windows, helping you decide whether or not they are right for your home.
First and foremost, bay windows are vast and spacious, meaning they allow a lot of natural light into your home. Aside from that warm and comforting ambient atmosphere many people desire, it’s also an excellent way to reduce your need for having the lights on, so it can even save you some electricity in some sense.
Bay windows also add a greater sense of open space to the rooms they are installed in. Because of the way they are built, they extend outward from the room, often by up to three feet. While it’s not exactly usable space in the sense that you can walk through it, it still offers a greater sense of openness and provides some shelving space for décor if you want to.
And finally, bay windows add more value to your home if you ever decide to sell. Bay windows are highly coveted for the most part, so people are willing to pay a little bit more to acquire them more often than not. Granted, this only benefits you if you plan on selling your home, but it’s a point worth considering regardless.
Ironically, one of the negatives of bay windows also happens to be one of the advantages, depending on how you look at it. While the greater allowance of natural light can be helpful for some things, it can be bad for others. It may increase solar heat gain, and it will certainly increase light levels when the sun comes up, which could be a problem if you like your rooms dark when you’re sleeping. The addition of window dressings may be a tad more expensive than usual as the angles may present installation issues. However, buying custom-made curtains or having plantation shutters installed would be well worthwhile to create a spectacular focus point in your home.
It can also be difficult to find the proper treatment for bay windows, thanks to its odd angles and configurations. While this is a problem that can be averted if you’re thorough when looking for products and treatments, but it is still significantly frustrating at times.
In the end, whether or not you should install bay windows in your home is a matter of personal preference. You may think they are a great addition to your home, or you may not want them at all. All you have to do is add up the pros and cons and settle on whatever set of values you want the most.
At Fortis & Hooke, we specialise in the repair, restoration or draught proofing of bay windows. Feel free to contact us to arrange for a free, no-obligational survey and quote.