Learn what sets apart the bay window and the garden window. Both have their pros and cons and this article will highlight them so you can easily choose the ideal fenestration for your space.
Garden windows are increasingly becoming popular due to their appeal on the gardener who wants to have a good view of their outdoor space and gain their own indoor growing space too. Bay windows have their spatial advantages too.
In this article I outline their comparisons so you can make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
What is a bay window?
Bay windows are windows that stick out in a rounded shape over the outside of a building and have three separate openings. They are often confused with bow windows which have four separate openings. We will be specifically looking at bay windows in this article as many of the pros and cons of bay and bow windows are very similar.
Usually, the bay window has a main window in the middle, also known as the “picture” window. There are two widows on the sides being the same size and less big.
Pros
- Creates some extra floor or window sill space on the interior of the bay window due to it jutting out
- Increases light inside your home by a lot. More than garden windows due to bay windows usually being a lot bigger and going from near floor level to ceiling height.
Cons
- More expensive to normal flat windows and garden windows
- Can provide an obstacle on the outside of your home and cannot be placed next to walkways or areas you need to get past.
- Hard to install in kitchens due to them going from floor to ceiling and being difficult to install without getting in the way of counter-tops
- Because the window is wide it is more difficult to find an area in a house where it is structurally safe to install a bay window.
What Is a garden window?
Garden windows are windows that protrude out from your home. They are excellent at creating an environment to grow plants on your window sill. Usually the two side panels are able to be opened to provide ventilation and additional light.
Pros
- Can provide a mini greenhouse space for plants and even double as counter-top space, saving you storage and making your environment appear less cluttered.
- Great alternative for kitchens as you usually cannot fit a fully sized bay window in a kitchen due to countertops being high up.
- Can provide a good view of your outdoor space and a bigger viewpoint than flat windows. Perfect for spotting if your mulch is about to blow away or your cat is about to bring a rat through the back door
- With correct installation, garden windows can last just as long as bay windows despite their flimsier look.
- Can increase ventilation in your kitchen. Especially useful when cooking with smoke or ventilating on hot days.
- You can add shelves in your garden window so you have more space to add plants and ornaments to your kitchen
Cons
- Can provide an obstacle on the outside of your home so cannot be placed next to walkways or areas you need to get past
- Some garden windows can be energy inefficient and have poor insulation reducing in higher energy bills
- Not as expensive as bay windows but more expensive than regular flat windows due to their more complicated installation.
Garden window and Bay window similarities
- Can increase the value of your property as it is a useful, aesthetic feature.
- Both let in more light than a standard flat window
Garden window vs. Bay window – What should you pick?
Generally, Garden windows are most commonly used in kitchens where there is a lack of natural light and space. This is ideal in this scenario
Bay windows are usually used in rooms where there is more space and there is room to install a window from near the floor to the ceiling. This creates a great space with natural light where you can sit by and enjoy the view.
This can be in the kitchen but you will usually have to tone down the size of the bay window to the point where it more resembled a garden window anyway