Contemporary architecture is becoming increasingly popular across the country—but it’s an especially trendy look for homes in Southern California.
If you’re building a new home or renovating your current dwelling to add more modern features, you may be looking for effortless ways to incorporate this style into your home’s appearance.
Fortunately, replacement windows are an effective (and easy!) way to add modern flair and minimalist style to your house. Learn the popular trends for modern windows below and which types of windows offer the best complement to contemporary design.
Which Options Should I Consider When Choosing Modern Windows?
Choosing windows for your contemporary home doesn’t have to be challenging. Just follow these popular trends for modern windows:
Size
Contemporary homes (like the popular farmhouse trend) tend to follow a minimalist design, which means less is more—even when it comes to the number of windows in your home!
Rather than incorporating multiple small windows into your home’s design, consider adding a few expansive windows with thin frames that offer excellent views of your backyard and provide ample natural indoor light.
Placement
Since large windows are a popular trend in modern homes, it’s important to maximize your wall space by choosing the perfect placement for your windows.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are an incredibly stylish way to flood your home with natural light. In addition to floor-to-ceiling windows, consider adding some low-set windows, windows placed on the lower half of your walls, to give your home a contemporary flair. These windows also guard your privacy in rooms like your master bedroom, bathroom, and family room.
Grilles
When they’re incorporated correctly, grilles can add a sophisticated touch to modern windows. Typically, grille-patterned windows are a hallmark of traditional architecture, but they’re usually thicker and made of wood or a wood-style material.
If you’d like to incorporate colonial-style grilles into your contemporary architecture, consider thin black grilles for a delicate modern look or vertical or top-down grilles to limit the number of dividers and maximize the views from your home.
Color
Black windows are all the rage for modern design. If black isn’t your style, you may consider a lighter shade, like bronze, or natural wood to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Hardware
Choosing the proper hardware to complement your modern windows is crucial to effortlessly tie the whole look together.
For large picture windows, hardware isn’t necessary, but for other window styles, choose geometric hardware in the same shade as your frames for a sleek, minimalist appearance.
Popular Modern Window Styles
It’s crucial to select styles of windows that will incorporate the elements listed above to create an effortlessly modern home.
These are the most popular window styles in contemporary architecture:
Casement Windows
Casement windows are hinged at the side and open to the left or right, like a door. Since they crank open, they’re a great option for hard-to-reach places, and they provide refreshing ventilation to keep your home cool.
Casement windows can be installed nearly anywhere you’d like to have the flexibility to open your windows—from your living room to your dining room. Before installing casement windows, ensure there’s plenty of open space outside, so when your windows swing open, they won’t interfere with your home’s beautiful landscaping or hardscaping.
Awning Windows
Awning windows are similar to casement windows in style and functionality. However, instead of being hinged at the side, they are hinged at the top and open at the bottom. Typically, these windows are long rather than tall, like casement windows.
Awning windows look great in kitchens, especially above the kitchen sink, and they’re also a popular choice for bathrooms, since when they’re opened, they provide great ventilation.
Gliding Windows
Gliding windows, also called sliding windows, operate like double-hung windows, except the sashes slide from side to side instead of up and down. They’re great for spaces where you’d like to have the functionality to open your window, but there are too many outdoor obstructions to operate an awning or casement windows safely.
In addition to gliding windows, gliding patio doors are also trendy additions to modern homes. You can add these doors to your living room, kitchen, bedroom, or other rooms leading to your patio, deck, or backyard.
Picture Windows
Picture windows are an extremely popular addition to contemporary homes. These windows are typically larger than other window styles, include minimalist frames, and don’t open, so they work great as a statement piece in bigger rooms in your house, like the living room.
You may want to consider adding picture windows in rooms where you’d like to amplify the outdoor scenery and experience clear, bright, unobstructed views.
Find Minimalist Window Styles for Your Contemporary Home with Approved Contractor
If you’re ready to add modern windows to your home but aren’t sure where to start, explore our wide selection of Andersen Windows from Approved Contractor.
We offer versatile window styles in tons of durable materials, like fiberglass, vinyl, and aluminum, to help you find the perfect look for your home. We’re also an Andersen Window Certified Contractor, so you can be confident our team will be trained with the highest industry standards in window installation to provide maximum installation benefits. Learn more about the window styles you can choose from to add a sleek, minimalist appearance to your home with Approved Contractor!
