Tips

How to pick out dining room windows

We’ll explain how to leverage the power of windows to meet the unique needs of a dining room and make it a space where you truly enjoy spending time.

A simply furnished dining space with black windows on three sides that afford views of a prairie and wetland.

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You could argue that the dining room is one of the simplest rooms in the home. Its purpose is to provide a place to dine. And yet, the reality is probably more complex. With more living taking place inside the home than ever before, this might be a dynamic space where your kids do their homework in the evenings, you take virtual meetings during the day, and you retreat to plan meals and place a weekly grocery order on Sunday mornings.

However you use your dining room, your windows can shape how it feels to be there. We’ll explain what you need to know to pick out the best windows for this room.

What are the best windows for a dining room?

The simple purpose of this room is apparent in its minimal furnishings. With a dining table and maybe a little bit of storage for dishes and table linens, the room is generally considered furnished. This leaves plenty of room for windows, and since this is a more public space in the home, large windows can have a big impact — particularly if you have an open concept layout. This is why we love window combinations in a dining room. Think about a picture window flanked by double-hung windows in a more traditional home, a row of casements or even floor-to-ceiling windows in a more modern home — there are a lot of different ways to put together a window combination.

So, the short answer is to go for a showstopping combination in your dining room where it will impress your guests and make the room more pleasant. How exactly to pick the right options will depend on the style of your home, layout, and even the mood you want to evoke in the space — let's get into it!

A dining room with casement windows on one side and a large, open bi-folding door at the end that is open to the deck outside.

This home is tucked into a Northern California redwood grove, so it was never going to be sun drenched. Still, the architect homeowner knew it could be better connected to its surroundings, so he added a Folding Outswing Door. This oversized patio door opens up the back wall of his dining room so it can expand out onto the deck, making the most of the stunning views.

Products Shown

E-Series Casement Window

Products used in this image

E-Series Casement Window

Folding Outswing Door

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Windows for a traditional dining room

In a traditional home with a standalone dining room, large window combinations can complement various classic home styles. The most popular combination is probably a picture window with double-hung windows on either side. Picture windows are fixed (they don’t open), which makes them the most energy efficient type of window. That’s why they’re paired with operable windows like double-hungs. All together, this combination will give you better energy performance, lots of glass for framing views, and the ability to let in fresh air.

When thinking through a window combination, here are some options you might want to consider:

Joined windows are windows that can fit together with less framing so there’s more glass overall. This option can help you create a large window combination featuring various window types or styles. Joined windows are available through various product lines.
Transoms are windows above another window or a door. They can be joined to the window below, or they can be framed more traditionally. Either way, they’re a great way to expand the glass in your dining room. Transom windows are available through various product lines.
Casement windows are vertically oriented windows that have hinges on the side, so they open outward with a crank. Their design makes them the most energy efficient window style after fixed picture windows, so they’re sometimes preferred over hung windows. And they can be made to look like a hung window — through adding a check rail and grilles — if you prefer traditional style. Casement windows are available through various product lines.

A dining room with a large window combination featuring a picture window flanked by single-hung windows on one wall and single-hung windows and a door on the other two walls.

This dining room is flooded with light on three sides thanks to the 100 Series Picture windows and 100 Series Single-Hung Windows with modified colonial grilles. The selection of white window frames helps to further the bright and airy feel.

Products Shown

100 Series Picture Window

Products used in this image

100 Series Picture Window

100 Series Single-Hung Window

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Windows for a modern dining room

With the rise of open concept floorplans, some homes no longer feature separate dining rooms. Instead, there might be a dining table integrated into the larger space. In a space like this, large windows are particularly impactful — think oversized windows, particularly floor-to-ceiling windows. Floor-to-ceiling windows can be created in several ways:

Picture windows would be the most typical approach to creating floor-to-ceiling windows. The advantage of these windows is that they are the most energy-efficient window type. But if you want the ability to let in fresh air too, combination units might be the answer. A great option would be joined picture and awning windows, which give you modern flair.
Patio doors are a practical way to create a floor-to-ceiling effect while also adding in outdoor access. Gliding patio doors will give the sleekest look — perfect for a modern home. And if you select an A-Series Gliding Patio Door with contemporary panels, it can be up to 10 feet tall!
MultiGlide™ and Folding Outswing Doors are two of our oversized patio door options. They can fill a whole wall with glass while also offering the ability to combine indoor and outdoor spaces, so they’re especially impactful when your dining room and outdoor living spaces are next to each other. MultiGlide Doors can be automated so they open with the touch of a button, and they can pocket (recess into the wall). Folding Outswing Doors maximize the opening by folding neatly to one side and work well in a remodel because they run on a single track.

The dining space in this home is tucked into a nook featuring an E-Series Picture Window with E-Series Casement Windows around it to maximize the light and views of the meadow outside. The monumental sizing and choice of casement windows help create a more modern look.

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What mood are you trying to create in your dining room?

Bright and airy or intimate and moody? Either way, the amount of light your windows let in can help play a role. Here are some levers you can pull to create the right mood for your space.

What direction should your dining room windows face? If the primary function of your dining room is to provide a space to dine, chances are you’ll be using it in the evening when the sun is in the western sky. To maximize natural light during this time, you’d want to concentrate windows on the western wall. Yet another option that might be worth considering, especially if you’re planning to use the room as a work or study space during the day, is maximizing northern light. This is because it will stay consistent all day long. Since the sun comes from the south in the northern hemisphere, light from the north is always filtered.
What finish or color do you want for your window frames and trim? Selecting white windows with window trim painted to match is one way to create a bright and airy look. But if you prefer the look of black windows, you could paint your window trim white to lighten the overall feeling or skip the trim and use a drywall return. For a bold statement, you could select black windows with black painted trim to match. And don’t forget about other moody shades, like dark bronze or a dark stained wood. If you’re looking for the most color and finish options, check out our E-Series product line, which has more than 50 color options.

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This dining room just had one small E-Series Picture Window, so leaning into a moody feel made sense. The homeowner selected a warm white oak frame and drywall returns — when the window is installed directly into the drywall with no trim work around it. This balanced approach gave the dining room character while avoiding going too dark.

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Dining room window FAQs

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Need help in other rooms?

Let’s take it room by room.

A kitchen with white zellige tile, a large wood island, and a bank of three white windows above the sink.

Kitchen windows

Tall casement windows fit nicely and function well in a kitchen. Their shape makes them an easy fit amongst the cabinetry, their cranks make them seamless to open when you’re reaching over a sink or counter, and their top-to-bottom opening helps vent out cooking smells, heat, and humidity. All of this is why casement windows are such a winner in the kitchen. We’ll explain more about how to fit windows around appliances and built-ins that come with a kitchen, plus other creative solutions to help with your kitchen window selections.

Kitchen window tips