Choosing bedroom windows beyond how they look

What is outside your bedroom window: a quiet garden, a busy road or the neighbour's balcony? Start there. A window you like in a photo may face a very different situation in your home.

Notice when the room gets sun

If you can visit the room, check it at different times. Does the sun fall on the bed in the afternoon? Is the room bright enough during the day?

Glass and shading affect how much sun and heat enter through a window. Tell your designer or supplier what the room is like before settling on the glass. A darker appearance alone is not a reliable guide to how the whole window will perform.

Check what opens

A large glazed area does not mean all of it opens. Ask which sections move and how wide they open. Think about where air can enter and leave the room rather than choosing only by the size of the glass.

Try the handle and opening action on a sample if one is available. Can you reach it comfortably with the bed and other furniture where you want them? If you need mosquito protection, ask which screen arrangement works with the proposed window instead of assuming one can be added later.

Think about privacy after dark

For a bedroom facing a walkway or another home, discuss privacy with the room lights on as well as off. Reflective glass can give a different level of privacy when the balance of light inside and outside changes. Do not assume a glass that looks private in daylight will do the same at night.

Plan curtains or blinds alongside the window, and ask how the glass choice affects the view and daylight. You should understand what the proposed combination will do before choosing it.

If noise is the problem say what you hear

Traffic, a nearby generator and people talking outside are more useful descriptions than simply asking for a "soundproof window".

Noise control depends on the glass, frame, seals and installation, as well as other paths into the room. Ask what evidence supports any noise-reduction claim for the proposed complete window. A heavier-looking frame or a larger product number does not tell you how quiet the bedroom will be.

Before deciding, write down the main problem you want to solve. It might be afternoon sun or privacy, with noise as another concern. That gives you a clearer way to compare options than choosing every bedroom window by appearance alone.

You can see GP's window families or call +234 916 786 0000 to discuss the room and the options to consider.