How to pick out bedroom windows

The best windows for a bedroom will depend on your goals and aesthetic preferences but generally you want your bedroom to be a place where you can rest well. The right windows can aid you in that by preserving your privacy, increasing your peace of mind, and protecting you from too much noise. We’ll explain how to pick out windows that can achieve all this.

It might seem odd to discuss privacy and windows in the same sentence, but there are choices you can make that will help preserve your privacy while also allowing you to enjoy the benefits windows provide. And the benefits are real — for example, natural light has been shown to improve sleep.* In addition, building codes often require windows in bedrooms to provide an emergency escape — called egress.** This means that there are compelling reasons to add more, rather than fewer, windows in a bedroom. 

Balance these benefits with your need for privacy by considering the following: 

• Purposeful window style and placement: A horizontally oriented awning window placed high on a wall is a common way to let light into a bedroom without providing an outside-in view. And an awning window can still be opened, even if it's beyond reach, with a pole or automation. Automation is available with our 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series.
• Patterned glass to obscure the view: From a pearlescent Satin Etch to Reeded glass and more, we have a variety of patterned glass options available. Similarly, stained glass — which we call art glass — is a beautiful way to keep a space more private.

And don’t forget that plants are a great way to add privacy organically and in any climate. Look for hearty plants that can thrive year-round where you live — evergreens in the north, cacti in the desert, etc. Pair outdoor plants with window coverings and you might just find you have the privacy you need.

*The effects of exposure to natural light in the workplace on the health and productivity of office workers: a systematic review protocol. Accessed 2024.

**See your local code official for code requirements in your area. 

No need to lie in bed worrying. These window selections can increase your peace of mind:

• Tempered glass is harder to break. This glass upgrade has lots of applications. It could ease your mind if you have concerns about someone slipping in a wet area, near a low window, or if you’re concerned about break-ins.
• A window opening control device (WOCD) limits the opening. This small attachment keeps a window from opening more than four inches. It can be a good choice for a child’s bedroom. It can also be required by code if your window is close to the floor. 

*See your local code official for code requirements in your area. 

The right windows can help reduce the noise you hear inside your bedroom so you can enjoy more restful sleep. Generally, the thicker your window glass, the less sound will carry into your home. There are a few different ways to increase the thickness of your glass. Here are three options you should know about:

• Dual- or triple-pane glass: Both dual- and triple-pane glass provide significant improvements over single-pane glass, which is commonly found in older homes. Dual-pane glass achieves this through an additional sheet of glass and air space in between. Triple-pane glass can dampen noise further with its three sheets of glass and two air spaces. Triple-pane glass is also the most energy-efficient type of glass. Dual-pane glass is standard with our windows and triple-pane glass is available with A-Series and E-Series windows.
• Laminated glass: This glass option is composed of glass-vinyl-glass. This makes it thicker and more rigid, which reduces sound’s ability to travel through it. This type of glass is available with a wide variety of our products.
• STC upgrade: Noise travels less effectively when the panes of glass are of different widths. This upgrade varies the thickness of the panes on your window to reduce sound’s ability to travel through it. It’s an option with our 100 Series and E-Series windows. 

A double-hung window can be an excellent choice for a child’s bedroom. You can let fresh air in by opening the top sash while keeping the lower sash closed. This way, the opening is out of reach for little ones. Don’t know what we’re talking about? A lot of people don’t realize that double-hung windows have two moving (operating) sashes. The sash is the glass and framing around it on a window. So, while you’re no doubt used to sliding the bottom sash of a window up to open it, you might not be aware that you can also slide the top sash of a double-hung window down for a second opening. 

A picture window is a fixed (non-operating) window that can let in lots of light — picture windows are often oversized — and give you peace of mind, if you’d prefer the window not open. As a bonus, picture windows are typically less expensive because of their non-operability. 

Find more information about kids and window safety.