In Design, Windows Are Anything But An Afterthought

Forget TikTok stars. In home design, the sun is the original influencer. Where it goes—and how it shines in spaces—informs everything from layout to mood. Key to that conversation? Windows. Whether framing a view, inspiring a color palette, or complementing the home’s architecture, windows are anything but an afterthought. Here, design pros from Miami to Los Angeles share how they approach window placement, maximize (or minimize) light, and call the shots that ultimately shape the spaces we live in.

This piece is part of LUXE’s Visionaries program celebrating our 20th anniversary. Stay tuned as we explore the “Story of Home” through the voices of leading experts and brands, culminating in our November/December 2025 anniversary issue.

Balancing Expectations

Working (for the second time) on a modernist-inspired Pacific Palisades property, Kip Kelly of Nest Architecture muses about the home’s expansive glass façade: “The quality of light invited into each room just makes you happy. It’s a magical place.” It’s a feeling he leans into as someone who grew up in sunny Los Angeles. “A space drenched in natural light that dovetails into the garden uplifts our spirits and nourishes our creativity," he says.

But those light-and-bright sanctuaries don't just come together overnight. The team at Jobe Corral identifies the need for views, ventilation or, simply, functionality early on during the schematic process. “The windows for a project become part of the design vocabulary for the home,” architects Camille Jobe and Ada Corral say. “In some areas it might make sense to fill an entire opening with glass, whereas in others, windows can be treated as punches in the wall [to direct a view to a specific place].”

Channeling foundational design principles, like bringing in daylight from at least two sides, are also key. "If the light enters from but one side, the space tends to feel two-dimensional and on a bright day the glare can be disarming," Kelly adds. And you need consider all angles—not just from the inside. “You want to have a balance with window positioning as viewed from the exterior,” designer Jeff Andrews says. “Symmetry and repetition are a great formula here.”

Material Moments

The same way stained-wood windows add warmth to a room, steel frames introduce an element of architectural interest. It should come as no surprise then that materials play a big role in window selections and the overall style of the home.

Texas-based LaRue Architects is known for balancing rugged, textural materials with modern forms. “We intentionally layer materials—such as regional stone, warm woods and metal accents—to create contrast and depth,” says the team, who designs in a region where natural materials reign. “A rugged stone wall might call for the refinement of a slim steel frame, while wood siding might be better paired with warm-toned wood windows. Every choice is about achieving a cohesive material dialogue throughout the home.”

For Andrews, who recently completed his own home renovation, the decision to maximize light in the kitchen with steel doors and windows was strategic. Yes, the move brought the outdoors in a bit (a win), but the choice also complemented the style of his 1930s Spanish Revival. “We chose windows that would not only work well with the home’s existing architecture, but also add a contemporary edge,” he says.

Emotional Build Up

Beyond acting as a source of light, windows are the “mood-makers” of a home, as Tamara Feldman calls them. “Lighting isn't just functional—it's emotional,” says the Miami-based designer, who notes that what you add—or don't add—to a room can change the overall vibe. “When we want warmth and softness, curtains help cocoon a space. Other times, leaving a window bare creates a crisp, contemporary look that draws full attention to the view,” she adds. “It’s always about striking the right balance for the feeling you want to evoke.”

The quality of light, too, speaks volumes. “A room that is too bright might be more of a pass-through space, diffused light might invite you to stay a while, while sharp glaring light will be uninviting,” the duo at Jobe Corral say. “The amount of glass can even affect how you feel in a space at night. For example, a glass box with darkness beyond can feel scary and exposed.”

Working With Dark Spaces

Known for its cultural and natural landscapes, the Pacific Northwest has its share of remarkable properties that maximize vistas both urban and rural. And with a moody climate, area designers need to get creative with bringing in light. “We are always looking for ways to preserve and enhance the little natural light we get for nine months of the year,” designer Brian Paquette says. “In decoration, I think of appropriately placed mirrors to bounce light from one window to another room and less as a place to check yourself out.”

But that’s not to say there isn’t a certain coziness to a room that lacks a little sun. “Unless it’s a kitchen or bathroom that needs lots of bright lighting to function, I lean into the dark and go with it,” Paquette adds. “Saturate the walls in one paint color that supports and doesn’t try to fight against the dark.” Make up for lost light with table and floor lamps.

Besides, you want a little variety. “A house can be bright and full of light, but that doesn’t mean that every room needs to be the same, and too much of the same can dilute the idea. Instead, contrasting conditions can make the light stand out more,” the Jobe Corral team says.

Solutions For Too Much Light

Everyone loves natural light—but “too much of a good thing” and all that. So how do you handle spaces that receive an excess of sunlight? While layered window treatments and darker matte surfaces can tone down ultra bright rooms, don’t discount built-in solutions. Andrews offers: “In the case of large, open areas with extensive use of glass, I appreciate the use of architectural elements that can serve to block and filter harsh late summer afternoon sunlight, for example, from awnings to soffits to cantilevered roof lines,” he says. Light-filtering shades and home automation systems also speak to the more tech-savvy solutions available in today’s market.

And when you have no other option? Well, you need to embrace it. “We treat the light as a design element itself—it shapes the palette, the materials, even the furniture layout,” says Feldman, whose recently spotlighted Miami project features abundant floor-to-ceiling windows.

Guiding Light

In the end, it all starts with asking a lot of (the right) questions. “Some obvious ones are things like knowing if our clients likes to wake up with natural light in the morning, or if they like blackout shades to sleep," the Jobe Corral team offers. "Others can be things like understanding how they like to decompress at the end of the day, so we can create the right mood for a space. Once we’ve gathered information, we are able to start defining the role that light will be playing in each room."