The right lighting is essential in every room, and including natural light where you can makes a difference, too. Getting enough natural light in the bathroom can be a challenge, especially when considering a wet room or shower. Shower windows can be an option for some bathroom designs, but may not make sense for others. Here are some benefits of a shower window, some considerations for them, and some ideas for what to do with shower windows to help you determine if this feature makes sense for your bathroom design:
4 Benefits of a Shower Window
Here are some of the top benefits of a shower window:
1. More Natural Light
Getting the right lighting in a shower can be a challenge. Usually, waterproof recessed lighting is the top choice for lighting in the shower enclosure. Adding natural light via a shower window can provide more illumination as well. Additionally, natural light can make a shower look brighter and feel more open and spacious.
Plus, it helps improve the overall atmosphere, and could even help give you an energy or mood boost. Getting more light is one of the home updates to boost mental health, and including a shower window in your bathroom design is a small detail that can make a big difference in your bathroom.
2. Better Ventilation & Moisture Control
There is a lot of extra moisture and humidity in the shower. A shower window that opens improves ventilation and air flow. Not only can it give you some fresh air in the shower, but it also helps to remove steam and humidity and reduce moisture buildup, which can help prevent mold and mildew growth. In addition to increasing convenience and comfort, this could also help make it easier to keep the shower clean.
3. Increased Energy Efficiency
Although it’s likely not a big increase, a shower window can contribute to small increases in energy efficiency. As long as it’s properly installed and sealed to prevent drafts, if it opens, having a natural light source in the shower can reduce how much you need to rely on electricity. If there is enough light from natural light sources, there may be some times when you don’t even need to turn on other lights.
4. Enhanced Design
Another one of the benefits of a shower window is that it can enhance the look and feel of the shower, as well as the overall bathroom design. It can help create a more relaxing, comfortable, and spa-like atmosphere.
In addition to natural light, the shower window itself can be a design detail that elevates the style of the shower, helps highlight other shower design details, and more. Plus, upgrading the shower is a bathroom design trend. And, if you want more natural light, a shower window can help you upgrade your shower design.
Does a Shower Window Make Sense For Your Bathroom?
Shower windows don’t make sense for every bathroom. Even in a bathroom design where a shower wall will be adjacent to an exterior wall of the home, a shower window still may not be a good option. Just as with choosing bathroom fixtures in other areas, it’s important to take potential pros and cons and other considerations into account.
Considerations for a Shower Window
Some of the main considerations for a shower window include:
- Shower location
- Shower design
- Available wall space
- Amount of natural light desired
- Type of window
- Budget and cost
- Shower window placement
- Waterproofing
- Privacy
Proper installation, sealing, and waterproofing are essential for shower windows to prevent water damage. Shower windows also have to make sense for a particular shower. The location of the bathroom in a home design, as well as the location of the shower in a particular bathroom design, makes a difference.
Skylights or sun tunnels can be options for adding natural light, if where the bathroom will be located within the home design makes these suitable options. For showers aligned with an exterior wall, a shower window could be a good option.
Even if a shower window could be possible based on the location of the bathroom and shower, it also has to align with the shower design and the look and function you want. If you do want natural light in the shower, there are several window styles that can work well, but it does have to work with the overall shower design and any other features you’re including. You also have to consider the placement of the window and privacy.
Although shower windows have extra considerations and added costs, there are benefits to them. Provided you are interested in having a shower window, your custom home builder can work with you to include one during design in a way that makes sense for what you want and need.
What to Do With a Window Inside a Shower
There may be extra considerations with a shower window, but there are still a lot of things you can do with a window inside a shower. Here are some ideas for windows in showers:
1. Explore Different Types of Windows
There are a lot of window options available, even for shower windows, and custom windows are also an option. This gives you the opportunity to work with your custom home builder and explore different types of windows that suit your needs.
If you want windows that open to allow for ventilation and airflow in addition to natural light, awning, casement, or sliding windows could be a good fit. Clerestory windows are another popular option for shower windows. You still have to consider waterproofing, which will affect the materials that work best, but you still have plenty of options to give you the function you need and the look you want.
2. Think About the Size and Shape of the Window
Also, think about the size of the window. If you want some natural light and ventilation, but aren’t interested in a large window, consider daylight or sliding windows higher up on the wall. On the other hand, if you want a lot of natural light, you can work with your builder to include a larger window.
Not only does this flood the space with natural light, but it also creates a focal point in the bathroom design. You can also think about different window shapes, like circles, hexagons, octagons, ovals, or even triangles. You don’t have to stick with standard rectangles or squares if that’s not the look you want.
3. Consider a Different Placement
There may be some limitations on planning window placement inside a shower, but your builder can help you navigate these considerations to create the bathroom design you want in your custom home. Windows up high can let light shine in and down, while minimizing visibility.
You can also opt for multiple windows in a horizontal row higher up on the wall or a vertical column that essentially runs from floor to ceiling. This stacks the windows in a series for an interesting visual. For a modern or minimalist look with limited wall space, a narrow vertical slit window can be an option. Skylights or sun tunnels can also be options for natural light from above.
4. Add Some Privacy
Privacy is an important consideration for any window, and is a crucial consideration for shower windows. If you live on a large lot and don’t have to worry about people being nearby, it may make sense to have a reflective privacy coating on the exterior glass. This can give you a little privacy just in case, while leaving your view unobstructed.
In other cases, you can choose frosted or textured glass options for the shower window to obscure the view and add privacy. You can also put a unique twist on privacy glass by opting for rain glass or even stained glass. With etched glass, you can even get into custom patterns for a unique and interesting detail that also increases privacy on a shower window.
Placing windows up higher on the wall can also help, as these don’t offer a line of sight into the main area of the shower. This can also reduce moisture exposure on the window because it is away from direct water spray.
Design and Build Your Dream Home With CHG
Provided a shower window makes sense for your bathroom design, it can add natural light, make your shower feel brighter and more spacious, and other benefits of a shower window. The key is that it has to work with your bathroom design, and there will be some extra considerations that come along with it.
When it comes to designing a custom home, there are a lot of details to consider, and it’s important to get it right. Working with an experienced custom home builder, especially one with an in-house design/build process, makes the process much easier and helps make sure you have a home design that suits your needs and wants. If you’re ready to get started on your own custom home in Central Pennsylvania or Northeastern Maryland, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090. We can bring your dream home to life!
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