Looking to find out the basic living room window size? This is your complete guide about standard window dimensions. If you are currently planning out your dream home or looking for a window replacement, this will give you an idea on how to pick the right one as well as the style and type of casement that suits your taste.
Windows play a big role in influencing the design elements or the appearance of your living room since they are the most noticeable feature in the room. A well designed space has a good amount of opening that helps to provide good air circulation and bring more natural light into the room. Therefore, it is important when you are about to plan your dream home to take into consideration its size and position within the space because it will significantly affect the function and design of any room.
Position it where you can get the most natural light because the amount of light also affects various colors. Remember, the color of a room has the power to influence the mood of both you and your loved ones. Choose the style of window that enhances the beauty of your room and also catches the beautiful scenery from outside.
Below are the different types of casement and their corresponding standard heights and standard widths that you can choose from.
What Is The Standard Living Room Window Size?
The size of the casement should be wide and tall enough to allow as much natural light to come in which usually ranges on average from 24 to 96 inches wide and from 12 to 96 inches in height. These ranges are pretty broad because every space is unique and therefore each has different window size needs as well. However, the most important thing to remember is to choose a size that will not only bring in as much light as possible but also a size that will perfectly fit into your space. Having more casement is always a better option than having blank walls in your living area because a well lit space reduces anxiety and stress levels plus it definitely increases home value.
What Are The Different Living Room Window Size And Styles?
Single Hung Windows
They have one sash that is movable and can open from the bottom only. Its standard width ranges from 36 inches to 84 inches and the standard height is between 24 to 60 inches. These types are commonly seen in older homes because back then, they were one of the most common types.
Images Source Pinterest: brennancorp.com
If you have ceilings of normal height and you are dreaming of having floor to ceiling windows, consider a stacked window design. To do this you combine it with a fixed window just like the picture above. This concept will provide a very bright and modern feel to any space. For smaller rooms, choose wider and shorter ones because this combination will make your space feel much more open.
Double Hung Windows
These are the common replacement windows in the United States. They have two movable sashes which can slide up and down. Its two main parts, the top sash and the bottom sash, can both be opened to provide enough of an opening for the fresh air to come in. Its standard size varies anywhere from 24 inches to 48 inches wide and with heights between 36 inches to 72 inches.
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If you have a Colonial, traditional or Cape Cod style home, the grilles of double hung windows are perfect design details for such design styles.
Picture Casement
If you are looking for a casement that will add architectural appeal and will bring more natural light into your room, a picture window can be the one you are looking for. It comes in a wide variety of sizes and styles. In most cases, when you see a borderless opening that looks like a frame, then you are most likely looking at a picture window. They come in a wide range of sizes and often are used in living space. Below are the most common standard widths and heights for this type of casement:
- Standard Widths – 24 inches, 36 inches, 48 inches, 72 inches, and 96 inches
- Standard Heights – Minimum height of 12 inches up to 96 inches maximum height.
If you have a rough opening that can fit one of the standard sizes, grab this opportunity to get it because you are lucky enough to have it in your living area without paying additional costs for a custom size one.
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A good set of picture windows results in an effortless and modern styling living room.
Sliding Casement
These kinds of casements are commonly used as kitchen windows, bathroom windows, as well as bedroom and basement windows. It opens on one side only because the sash window moves from left to right. They are typically wider than their height. Modern sliding glass windows provide high quality thermal insulation which makes them very energy efficient but aside from that, they are much easier to use compared to double hung windows. They open horizontally through sliding the sash back and forth, rather than moving the sash up and down.
- Standard Widths – 36 inches, 48 inches, 60 inches, 72 inches, and 84 inches
- Standard Heights – 24 inches, 36 inches, 48 inches and 60 inches
In the picture above is our living area window that consists of two sliding windows in between a picture window.
Bay Or Bow Windows
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Bay windows also add more architectural style. They are built using two angled windows framing a picture window that are parallel to the inside wall of the house. The front center window is a non-opening and fixed window while the side one can be opened to allow air circulation in the house. These typically come in different shapes such as square, hexagonal or octagonal and with width ranges from 36 inches to 126 inches and height ranges from 36 inches to 78 inches.
Bow windows consist of four or more window units to create the effect of one large bow or curve-shaped window. Not all bow windows are operable for ventilation and they have a narrower window seat when compared to the large window seat that a bay window provides.
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Bay or bow windows create a sense of grandeur and space which are compatible with traditional style homes. However, they also work very well with Victorian, Queen Anne and Tudor Revival homes.
Casement Windows
They open like a door because they swing wide, providing enough opening for better air circulation. This is an ideal type for you if you would like to provide plenty of ventilation. Its standard sizes are usually 14 inches to 35.5 inches wide and 29.5 inches to 77.5 inches tall.
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Combining casement and picture windows will create a mid-century modern design home because of their clean and minimalist aesthetic.
Awning Windows
These types are often used with other styles. They are easy to open and close and because they open outward, you can open them during light rain. Its standard sizes are between 18 inches to 46 inches wide and 22 inches to 94.48 inches tall.
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When paired with a casement style, it will become ideal for modern craftsman-style bungalows.
Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors can function as doors and as large windows for your living room. They are great options for smaller homes because sliding glass doors make your space feel much more open and are guaranteed to bring more light into your living room.
The above pictures are the before and after photos of our living room and dining room area. The before picture, the wall separating the dining room and the back porch had two smaller windows with a single door. We decided to replace that whole wall space with two sliding doors because I really wanted to have floor to ceiling opening and at the same time, I wanted to have easy access from the living room to the back porch. In order to achieve that we utilized sliding glass doors.
Although we bought pretty inexpensive sliding doors, we still ended up paying a lot of money because of the structural changes that our contractor made to create the look of two big casements. However, it is definitely worth the investment because our small living space does not feel small at all because there is a lot of natural light coming in. Aside from that, the sliding doors help our space to have a clean and modern architecture feel.
Custom Windows
If for some reason your living room has a rough opening that standard sized windows or the average window size will not fit, you will have two options. The first option is for you to adjust the window opening to fit the standard size. However, if it is complicated or more expensive, the second option, which is to order a custom one, will be a great option for you.
You can order the custom one from Home Depot, Lowes or your local window company. They will usually offer to measure it for free and then they will give you choices of what frame materials and glass you would like to have for the specific type. After ordering, it will be made and shipped in several weeks. You will then be given an option to have it directly delivered to your home or you can pick them up at the store and have them installed for you for an additional cost. The cost of the custom one is highly dependent on the size and type that you would like to have.
Do Windows Need To Be Centered On A Wall?
The straight and the only answer is yes. They need to be centered because if they’re not centered, it will make the room look odd. It can also make the room feel like something is missing or undone. Centered windows give a simple and elegant look to any space even when utilizing only a few windows on a wall. It is necessary to keep all of them centered and aligned to make them eye appealing.
The above photo is an example of windows that were installed uncentered. Do you like what you are seeing?
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Putting casement in between the fireplace is always a beautiful exemption to the rule. This is because the windows beside a fireplace will function as a frame to highlight the beauty of the fireplace.
What Is The Proper Casement Spacing?
Designing living room windows is very important. It should be aligned evenly to give your living room space a well-planned look. In order to achieve a cohesive look, it should be divided between singular and panel styles and spaced out correctly even when creating wall windows.
