January 7, 2021 GetHom expert 8,512
Many people buy an apartment once and for the rest of their lives. This is a rather expensive purchase and that is why you need to pay maximum attention to choosing an apartment. Absolutely everything plays a role. Including the orientation of the apartment to the cardinal points. Where will the windows face north, south, west or east?
Naturally, almost everyone wants their apartment windows to face 2 sides, but this option is quite difficult to find. That is why we suggest you figure out which side of the world to choose an apartment: in the north, south, west or east, so that it meets all your requirements.
The choice depends on many factors. We will talk about each of them below.
Before choosing the side of the world on which the windows of your apartment will face, you need to understand your personal preferences, as well as your lifestyle.
Some people like to wake up with the first rays of the sun and go to bed as early as possible. Others are nocturnal and prefer to watch the sunset. This all matters when choosing an apartment.
Apartment layout according to cardinal directions
If you are lucky and your apartment faces several cardinal directions, it is important to properly plan the rooms in it. This is necessary for maximum efficiency and your convenience. Let's figure out which side of the world is better to place certain rooms.
Bedroom
This is the most important place in any apartment. Here you spend at least half of your day, resting from the past and recharging your energy for the new day. That is why the location of the bedroom must be approached with special responsibility.
When choosing the location of your bedroom, you need to pay special attention to your biological clock. If you wake up early, choose rooms with windows facing east. So the sun's rays will provide you with a good and cheerful mood from the very morning.
In the case when you need to sleep longer for good health, the best option would be windows facing west. The sun's rays will enter your bedroom around lunchtime.
A bedroom located in the south may be too bright and hot, especially in the summer. In the northern bedroom you may not have enough light, and in winter it will be cool.
Alternatively, place your bedroom in the northeast or southeast for those who like to wake up with the sun, and in the southwest or northwest if you wake up late.
Children's room
This is the place where the child should feel as comfortable as possible. It should be taken into account that children most of all need vitamin D, which means sun exposure.
In addition, the child must develop the correct biological rhythm. Those. The child should be full of energy in the morning and fall asleep peacefully in the evening.
An excellent option for the location of a children's room would be the east side. This way, your baby will wake up in the morning in a cheerful mood and full of energy, and in the evening the sunset rays will not disturb him from falling asleep.
If it is not possible to place the nursery in the east, the south-east or north-east side is suitable as an alternative.
Kitchen
This is another important element of each apartment. This is where you start and end every day. That is why it should also create a pleasant and cozy atmosphere.
To make the kitchen as comfortable as possible for early risers, it is better to place it in the east, southeast or northeast. Thus, it will be light here even in the morning.
If you wake up around lunchtime, the sun will be able to please you in the kitchen with windows facing west, southwest or northwest. And in the evening, such windows will offer a wonderful view of the sunset.
Please note that it is not advisable to choose the south side for the kitchen. In the summer it will be very hot here, and when you cook something, the heat from the stove will also be added, and then it will be impossible to stay in the kitchen.
A good option would be the north side, which itself retains coolness. But here you will need to take care of good lighting.
Cabinet
The workplace should be charged with positive energy so that you have the desire and strength to spend your day productively. If you have the opportunity to place an office in your apartment, you need to think carefully about which side its windows will face. If you need a lot of light for work, the south side is suitable for you, and if the light only interferes, the north side is suitable.
There are many features to consider here. If you work with a computer, excess light will disturb you. Then consider the time of day when you need to do things.
For those who work until noon, it is better to locate the office on the west, southwest or northwest side. If you plan to work at the computer after lunch, it is better to place your office in the east, northeast or southeast.
Living room
This is a place for a family holiday or spending time with friends. Undoubtedly, it should be comfortable and light enough. It is very good if the living room is located on the south side, but you should take care of the presence of air conditioning, because in the summer it will be quite hot here.
An alternative would be the east - if you prefer a cool and slightly darkened environment after lunch. If you install a panoramic window in the living room, it will be great if it is in the west, because you can admire the sunset, and the temperature here will be quite pleasant even in summer.
Feng Shui windows
Feng Shui is the study of arranging objects in space to improve life. It is both art and science. Making your life better is an art, but doing it right is a science.
According to Feng Shui, windows are the most important element of a room and are energy exchangers. Through them, positive Qi energy enters and negative Sha energy exits.
What should windows be like according to Feng Shui?
The appearance of the frame and glass must be free of cracks, visible scratches, chips, etc. Otherwise, the window turns into an entrance of negative Sha energy. Handles, hinges, and latches must be maintained in proper condition.
It is necessary to wash windows regularly, because... pollution prevents sunlight from illuminating the room and prevents the passage of Qi inside.
From the window opposite the door, the Qi energy seems to disappear. For protection, you need to hang a bell or crystals and bad Sha will not be able to enter the house.
Through large windows or when there are many of them, Qi can leave the home.
An attractive view from the window fills the house with favorable Qi energy. An intersection, a mast with attached antennas, a corner of a building, and even worse, a cemetery outside the window, have a negative effect on energy.
It’s good if you can see a beautiful landscape through the kitchen window. When a person has lunch, a wonderful view from the window lifts the mood, balances the energy balance and improves appetite.
In the bathroom and toilet, a small window is enough, and if there is none, hang a bell above the door.
Opening windows with casements allows for the greatest penetration of Qi energy.
The window sill is located at waist level - this helps to harmonize with the environment. It is better to get rid of the habit of loading the window sill with unnecessary, unnecessary items and leave it free. And 2-3 low-growing plants will not hurt and will make any room cozy.
Window placement according to feng shui
Orientation of the apartment to the cardinal points - how to achieve the desired results
The layout of an apartment is not always exactly what we need in order to correctly distribute the rooms in it. In this case, you can hide the disadvantages of one or another side of the world and, at the same time, use all its advantages. This can be done using various design ideas.
Color spectrum
Everyone knows that some shades are warm and others are cool. With their help, you can visually change your apartment. If, for example, your room has a very cold and restrained atmosphere - the north side, then you can smooth out its shortcomings with warm colors and bright accents.
The main thing is not to overdo it. You can bring bright colors into the interior only if they look appropriate with the overall design of the room.
The rooms located on the south side are the brightest and warmest. In order to at least visually “cool them down,” you can use, for example, dark wallpaper or furniture. Just make sure they don't burn out. Blinds or blackout curtains are suitable for this.
Texture
Imagine glossy surfaces - they are undoubtedly associated with cold. At a time when soft decorative elements are warm and cozy. With their help, you can also profitably beat a particular room. For example, if the windows face south, you can try to make a glossy floor in the room. Visually, it will “cool” the room a little and will look appropriate there.
And vice versa, if the room is located, for example, on the north side, soft and even fluffy textures are suitable for it. The same fleecy and “naughty” rug will make a northern room warmer and more comfortable. Try experimenting and you will be surprised by the results.
Form
Oddly enough, but the shape also has an impact on the overall perception of the room. For example, strict, clear forms can visually “cool” a room. Unexpected and dynamic, in turn, “warm” the room.
In order to turn a cold room into a warm and cozy one, it is enough to add chairs and beds with high backs or even unusually shaped elements.
If you have a southern room, it is better to give preference to furniture with clear geometric shapes. It will cool the room a little, add contrast to it and help create a comfortable environment.
Lighting
Of course, artificial lighting also plays a role in the overall perception of the room. With its help, you can adapt absolutely any room to your needs.
Look, for example, natural lighting is suitable for absolutely any room. It can be safely used in the bedroom, living room, or kitchen.
For a visually cold room, “warm light” sources are an excellent option. Even small floor lamps or floor lamps are suitable for this. But please note that in warm rooms you should not use “cold light”, as it will look repulsive. The best option for a bright room is natural lighting.
Smart lamps are a great option for any apartment, which is gaining more and more popularity. Such lamps can produce light of any temperature and can be adjusted depending on your own mood, time of year and even weather conditions.
In addition, they are even capable of creating colored lighting, which is why they are increasingly used in interior design.
General provisions about windows
Located in a wall opening or on the roof, the window plays the role of:
- communications with external space;
- natural light;
- ventilation;
- protection from atmospheric and noise influences from the outside.
The lack of windows or their small size makes the room dark and gloomy. Overly large windows can sometimes make you feel like you're in an aquarium for everyone to see.
Windows of various sizes and shapes, but the most acceptable option: rectangular with a width equal to 55% of the width of the room. A spacious room with two windows and one terrace, filling its inhabitants with love of life and optimism is the best architectural solution.
Finding the best side of the world for an apartment
Each side of the world has its pros and cons. The south is suitable for those who love a lot of light and warmth, the north is for those who like to spend time in cool rooms.
The East is an excellent option for early risers who like to wake up with the first rays and fall asleep at a not very late hour. The West is undoubtedly suitable for night owls, who wake up around lunchtime and love to watch the sunset in the evening.
If you choose an apartment oriented towards the cardinal directions, you need to start from your personal preferences and lifestyle. Be sure to decide on your needs and desires, because each of the cardinal directions is special in its own way and is suitable for different people.
Layout and design
In apartments that face several cardinal directions, redevelopment can be done. This is how you can properly arrange the rooms depending on your daily activities.
Some problems associated with the layout of an apartment relative to the cardinal directions can be solved using various design ideas. Play with colors, textures, shapes and lighting, and you will see with your own eyes the transformation of rooms.
The higher the floor, the more happiness
Premises on low floors are more likely to steal light. When the sun sets below the horizon, the shadow creeps up from below. In some apartments, with dense modern buildings, it begins to get dark much earlier than expected, almost from 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The higher you choose a floor to live in, the more natural light you will get; besides, scientists have proven that sunlight promotes the production of the happiness hormone - serotonin. Choose an apartment on the upper floors of the sunny side and be happy!
Windows facing north and northeast: pros and cons
On the north side there is no sun, so very little solar energy comes in. In winter, daylight hours are shortest here. Only in the summer, early in the morning and at sunset, is it possible for the sun's rays to penetrate inside. It’s better to give this place to the kitchen - it’s already hot when cooking. It is advisable to arrange a pantry or dressing room - you can do without natural light.
If the room matches the direction of the windows correctly, no problems arise. If the purpose of the room is inappropriate, it is easy to compensate with the help of design. For example, “cool down” the southern children’s room or “warm up” the northern living room.
It is possible to correct deficiencies with suitable design using:
- color finishing;
- different textures;
- modern form;
- Sveta.
The designer will suggest the correct option.
Using knowledge of Feng Shui when planning a living space
Before thinking about how to position the house relative to the cardinal directions , it is worth deciding on personal preferences. Feng Shui teachings are often used in this regard.
, placing the house on the site according to the cardinal directions will harmonize the goals and dreams of the residents. According to Feng Shui, the housing area should be divided into 8 sectors. Each side has its own characteristics:
- the southeast side is responsible for well-being;
- the south side gives wealth;
- southwest is responsible for love and harmony in the family;
- the east contributes to the well-being of residents;
- the north helps you achieve success in your career;
- the West promotes the development of creative skills;
- the northeast is suitable for learning and developing mental abilities;
- the northwest is suitable for travelers.
"Vest" is best
Good lighting of the apartment is a big plus, but, oddly enough, this characteristic has no direct connection with the price tag. “If you compare apartments in which most of the windows face the bright side and housing with windows facing north, the prices in them may differ,” says Maria Litinetskaya . – For example, in the Fili Grad residential complex, the difference in cost between apartments of the same area on the first and last floors can reach 600 thousand rubles. However, it is important to understand that such a price premium is influenced not only by the level of insolation, but also, first of all, by the species characteristics. Therefore, it is quite difficult to isolate the share of the illumination level directly.”
In the case of apartments, the situation is similar. According to Vyacheslav Kazunin , senior manager of the MONE Residences project, illumination and window directions are not key factors in their pricing. But the cost of an apartment increases provided that it faces two or more cardinal directions. “Housing on three and even four sides of the world is the most prestigious, but it is worth noting that such lots often have a large area, which is also one of the key factors in pricing,” says the expert.
However, all of the above applies only to housing in which the windows face east and west, clarifies Maria Litinetskaya . Apartments with windows facing both south and north are not so marketable. “Vests” allow owners to intelligently zone the space. For example, in this case, the children’s room and the living room can be located at different ends of the apartment, which is very convenient. None of the family members will be disturbed by a working TV or children playing.”
Stairs
The staircase between floors should be illuminated naturally, so you should make sure that it is located opposite a window or in the light coverage area. If you do not take this recommendation into account, you will have to take care of artificial light; in any case, each step should be fully illuminated, at least for the safety of households. Can be located in any part of the house, but with mandatory natural lighting.
Kitchen area
The kitchen contains a sufficient amount of natural light, but it is worth considering that excess sun in a room intended for regular and long-term cooking is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. An oven, a gas stove, a boiler (heater, water heater) are absolute sources of heat that operate at least hourly. The heat from these devices is quite enough to keep the temperature inside the room within normal limits or even higher, so that heating from outside is not required.
There is a widespread belief among housewives that the best direction for the kitchen area is north. This is true, because the northern wall, by definition, is the most ventilated in the house, and an excess of household appliances that regularly produce heat, coupled with rare natural heating from the sun (sun activity in the northern room is felt only from morning until lunch) will provide decent resistance to the wind rose, attacking from the north and will raise the average room temperature to normal levels or even higher.
Photo examples of house placement
The photo below shows options for the correct orientation of residential buildings on your own site according to the cardinal directions.
Before you start building your dream home, you need to take into account not only its desired appearance, but also its functionality and external factors. It should be located so that all residents feel comfortable and cozy. By observing the rules and features discussed above, you can also achieve a reduction in electrical energy costs.
