The placement of kitchen windows is one of those issues that many overlook. After being in this industry for a while and participating in many online forums, I realized the need to write about this topic. Read to the end and you’ll probably find some useful tips for your home.
One obvious thing is that we need windows for light and air. We also need them so that we can have a view to the outside. Now the way a window is placed in a wall should relate to the use of that particular room. For example, the living room and dining room should have lower windows because you spend most of your time sitting.
Similarly, the placement of kitchen windows should go hand in hand with kitchen activities. What do we do in the kitchen? We cook, we store food in cupboards and we also store kitchenware. So, in essence, this means that the windows must be placed high enough to accommodate the low cabinets.
The height also works in your favor because you probably spend most of your time on your feet. This makes it easier to access the outside view while letting in some air and light with ease.
Some other factors to consider when planning kitchen window placement include the following:
o Ventilation: they must be placed so that they can be opened for cross ventilation of the air that is natural. Typically, the size of the window openings should cover approximately 10% of the kitchen floor area.
o To maximize incoming light, simply use one large window instead of many smaller ones. Keep this in mind, shorter windows limit light access to the kitchen, so it’s best to consider taller ones.