Summer is a time when more Americans are planning home upgrades. As you plan your home renovations, consider local window replacements. Your windows should be replaced every 15 to 20 years to ensure you're well protected from the elements, according to reports from Forbes. Your windows affect your security, curb appeal, energy bills, and design aesthetic, just to name a few concerns. As such, you want to get the right ones for your home. Here are some of the more popular styles you can choose from.

1. Bay Windows

Have you ever sat in a window seat curled up with a good book? Sometimes you just want the window seat to enjoy a view of your garden, especially on a beautiful spring day. When you install bay windows, they often include a nook for a comfortable and cushy window seat. These windows make your room appear larger by flanking a central window with two or more smaller windows. As a result, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view compared to a traditional flat window. These windows get their name because they project outward from the main walls of your building and create a bay element in your room.

This type of window installation is helpful to improve your ventilation. The side panels are usually easy to open to allow more airflow. Because of the panoramic view, you have access to more natural light and a view of whatever nature you have outside. Therefore, these windows come in handy when they're facing a garden or backyard area. They also add additional space because of their protrusion. This additional space is beneficial both inside and outside the area. As a result, this type of installation may improve value. Plus, it functions as a window seat, which can make a room appear more cozy and inviting. These are architectural and atmospheric elements that can be appealing to any potential home buyer or appraiser.

2. Garden Windows

Do you love growing plants or herbs indoors? If so, garden windows may be at the top of your list for your local window replacements. Like bay windows, they protrude from the exterior of your house. However, they may have even more of a protrusion as they form a box-like structure with glass on all sides, except for the bottom. The main purpose of these windows is to grow plants inside them and to provide access to lots of natural light. They also serve as a functional space for additional shelving, where you can place several items, including more plants, kitchen tools, books, etc. Most people tend to add these windows to their kitchen. If you live in an area with different seasons, your garden windows provide a way to always have your fresh herbs and plants around due to their greenhouse effect. So even if your outside garden is frozen over in winter, you can enjoy your indoor ones in your garden window.

3. Bow Windows

Bow windows have similar characteristics and designs as bay windows. The difference is that the bow window has more of a curved shape. These windows are often curved enough to form a semicircle. Like bay windows, they also have multiple window panes; some may have as many as six of them together in one arch. You often see these elegant windows on old townhouses, particularly in the northeastern part of the U.S. and San Francisco. By adding even just one bow window, you can create a focal point in your dining room or living room. Think of the side where sunlight is more likely to hit and install your window there to take advantage of all the natural light you can bring in.

You have many beautiful options when deciding on the ideal local window replacement. If you live in a home that still has outdated single-pane windows that eat up your energy, it's time to make a change. Switch those windows out for more energy-efficient ones that bring in more beauty and sunlight and add to your home. The average American home has about 22 windows, and you can make some of them stand out with a bow or garden window. When you're ready to enhance the beauty and quality of the windows in your home, contact our team at Window King of America, Inc today for a consultation.