Custom windows can be the perfect way to upgrade your home. Maybe you’re struggling to find windows that fit an oddly shaped room, or you’re simply looking for a way to reflect your individual style. Whether you want more natural light, energy efficiency, or a standout design, custom windows offer endless possibilities.
Make Your Space Feel Like Home With Custom-Built Windows
Custom home windows are made specifically to your design preferences, whether that means adjusting the size, shape, or materials. While most homes come with standard window sizes, custom windows allow you to choose exactly what fits your space and vision. You might want them to match your home’s architectural style or create a statement with a unique shape or color.
Custom windows can also help with practical concerns, such as better energy efficiency or fitting a hard-to-reach spot. They’re a great choice for homeowners who are remodeling, building a new home, or replacing outdated windows.
Different Ways to Customize Windows
Customizing your windows lets you create a design that reflects your taste and meets your home’s specific needs. From size and shape to color and glass, custom windows can bring any idea to life.
Custom Size Windows
When standard window sizes don’t work for a room, custom window sizes are the solution. Whether you need small windows for compact spaces, narrow windows for tight areas like hallways, or large custom windows to let in light, there’s a window that works perfectly with your room’s design. Custom window sizes are great for transom windows or other decorative touches, or for modern designs where large windows create a dramatic, open feel.
Custom-Shaped Windows
If you want your home to stand out, consider windows in a custom shape. Arched windows, oval windows, and radius windows can add a unique architectural element. Arched windows, for example, are often used in more traditional or Mediterranean-style homes to add elegance, while round or oval windows create a whimsical or contemporary feel. Custom-shaped windows are also ideal for spaces like attics or stairwells where you want to bring in light but don’t have room for traditional window shapes.
Custom Colors
Window frames don’t have to be basic white. Custom window colors are an easy way to enhance your home’s curb appeal, create a focal point, or make your interior design pop. Custom vinyl windows allow you to choose from a wide range of frame colors to match or contrast with your home’s interior and exterior. From modern black windows to soft earth tones, there’s a color option to suit any style.
Custom Glass Options
Choosing the right type of glass is another way to customize your windows. You can select obscure glass for privacy in bathrooms or entryways, or colored glass to add a splash of vibrant style. Many homeowners also opt for energy-efficient Low-E glass that reduces heat transfer and helps lower energy bills. Glass can be customized with coatings that block UV rays, improve insulation, or reduce glare.
Types of Custom Windows to Consider
Custom windows come in a variety of styles, each with its own benefits. Here are some of the most popular options.
Custom Picture Windows
Picture windows are large, fixed windows that don’t open. Custom picture windows are perfect for living rooms, dining rooms, or anywhere you want to bring in more light, create a feeling of openness, or showcase the view. Because they don’t have any moving parts, custom picture windows can be designed in unique shapes and sizes, making them a great focal point in your home.
Custom Sliding Windows
Sliding windows are popular for their ease of use and space-saving design. They open horizontally along a track, so they’re ideal for areas where a swinging window might not fit, like over a kitchen sink or in a narrow hallway. Standard-size sliding windows are usually about as wide as they are tall, for example, 36 inches wide by 36 inches tall or 36 inches wide by 24 inches tall. A custom sliding window can be much wider than it is tall, for example, 48 inches wide by 12 inches tall.
Custom Casement Windows
Casement windows are hinged on the side and open outward, providing excellent ventilation and energy efficiency. Casement windows come in a wide variety of standard sizes, but if you need them to fit a tall, narrow space, for example, 72 inches high and 18 inches wide, you may need to customize. Narrow casement windows are perfect for kitchens and bathrooms where you need extra airflow.
Custom Window Replacement vs. New Construction
When considering custom windows, it’s important to understand the difference between replacement windows and new construction windows. The type of project can make a big difference in the cost and complexity.
Custom Window Replacement
If you’re looking to replace an existing custom window with a newer model, there are two important things to remember. First, be sure you measure the opening properly so you can order the right replacement window. (This can be tough for oddly shaped windows.) And do some research to find a good window installation company who can make sure the job is done right.
If you have a standard window and you want to replace it with a custom window, the project could get more complicated. Depending on your vision, it might involve cutting into the wall or closing up gaps to fit around the new shape. It can certainly be done, but it will add to the cost of the project.
Custom Windows for New Construction
New construction windows are installed during the building of a new home or an extensive renovation where walls are being opened up. With this type of project, you’re designing your windows from the ground up, and you can really bring your vision to life.
New construction and major renovations give you more freedom to design custom windows, but also tend to be more expensive and time-consuming. You’ll need to account for construction work, potential permits, and a longer timeline to ensure everything fits perfectly.
Let Your Imagination Run Wild with Custom Windows
Whether you’re installing custom picture windows for a stunning view, arched transom windows in your entryway, or a porthole in your nautical-themed bathroom, custom windows provide endless opportunities to personalize your space. By choosing the right size, shape, color, and glass options, you can customize windows you’ll love for decades.
With so many ways to customize windows, it can be hard to choose. Before you order custom windows online, take an easy first step: Talk to a professional to see what’s out there and plan a project that fits within your budget. MI Windows and Doors has a network of certified dealers who are the experts in custom windows. Find a dealer near you to get started.
