Window Awning Styles
Window awnings are fantastic additions to any home, offering numerous benefits to homeowners. Beyond boosting style and curb appeal, they improve your home’s energy efficiency by providing an extra layer of sun protection. Whether you want a metal awning or a fabric color that matches your exterior, window awnings are a great choice for improving your home’s living space.
Homeowners looking to add both style and function will find window awnings ideal for many reasons. From covering casement windows and doorways to shading patios and garages, awnings help keep your home cool while adding a touch of design style. With options like aluminum awnings featuring black brackets for a sleek look or retractable models for carefree operation, there’s something for every home.
When selecting the perfect window awning, there are a wide range of materials and designs available. You can choose polycarbonate for durability, or fabric window awnings for a pop of color. Companies like NuImage offer customizable solutions with sidewings and support arms to fit any window or door.
With so many choices, you may wonder which awnings are best for your home. In this article I’ll discuss the window awnings that are in high demand so you can embellish your home with style while remaining functional.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Aluminum Awnings
Good for: You should consider aluminum awnings if you want an easy-to-maintain option that provides endless style and protection from the elements.
Why you should try this: If you live in a snowy area, aluminum awnings can support up to 50 pounds of snowpack. That durability can’t be beaten.
Aluminum awnings are a classic and one of the most popular and versatile options for awnings. These awnings can be painted to match your exterior. With their durability, you won’t have to worry about harsh elements prematurely wearing on the materials. Aluminum awnings will protect windows from winter snow, ice, and sleet, and shield the home from excessive heat on summer days.
Another benefit of aluminum awnings is the little required maintenance and low risk of peeling paint or rusting. Aluminum awnings may not be best for those that want to allow natural sunlight and elements to reach the windows at times as there are no slates for the weather to pass through.
Fabric Awnings
Good for: Those living in warm settings, not necessarily ones with excessive winter conditions, as the fabric cannot support itself in harsh elements. In fact, it’s often encouraged you remove fabric awnings during the wintertime to help preserve them.
Why you should try this: Fabric awnings offer a cost-effective way to shield from the elements while adding a pop of color.
Fabric awnings serve as a popular choice for window and patio coverings. Designers create these awnings with sides and flaps that offer protection from the sun. Manufacturers offer them in various colors and styles to suit every preference.
Homeowners appreciate how fabric awnings enhance their homes by adding an elevated look to previously plain exteriors. Additionally, these awnings help maintain a cooler interior by shielding against excessive sun.
DIY Window Awnings
Good for: Those who are crafty and looking to cut some costs by covering the installation and building costs themselves.
Why you should try this: DIY projects are always fun and can make you feel proud of your home, knowing that you helped elevate its appearance.
DIY projects are all the rage these days, and that includes window awnings. There are many guides out there that have directions for creating your own awnings, both exterior and interior, ranging in style and sophistication. From the easiest processes, like fabric, to full-on constructing hardware consisting of wood and metal pieces, there are options for all comfort levels.
DIY awnings may not be best for you if you’re not a semi-experienced handyman, as a faulty window awning could lead to major damage if it falls.
Retractable Awnings
Good for: People who live in a changing environment with changing weather conditions or people who want to keep their original exterior most of the time, except when the sun is overhead and making it hard to see.
Why you should try this: Reap all of the benefits without nearly as much work. With the motorized extending, retracting, and position adjusting, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.
Retractable awnings typically feature fabric awnings that are motorized and roll up when not needed or not in use. They are easy to adjust if it’s midday and the sun is overhead, or lower when the sun is rising or setting.
If you’re looking for versatility and automating some of the processes that come with maintaining awnings, then one with a retractable add-on is a great option.
Fixed Awnings
Good for: Those who live in moderate temperatures or continually sunny places will not need to constantly flip between retracting and extending or removing and putting up again as the seasons change.
Why you should try this: This can save you a lot of manpower and maintenance over the years if you live in a place when continual shade is a luxury. Think places with extremely hot summers and mild winters, such as Southern California.
Fixed awnings are those that are permanently attached to the home rather than ones that can be removed in winter months or retractable ones that are easily adaptable. These awnings can vary and size and are usually a hard structure mounted to the home via all of the necessary hardware to keep it in place.
Potential drawbacks of the fixed awnings are that you will not be able to move, retract, or completely remove, say, in the winter months when sunlight is a commodity or when you simply want more views of the surrounding area.
Panorama Window Awnings
Good for: Those who want the protection of an awning without the loss of views your home offers. Given the unique cut, you’ll be able to benefit both from an added layer of element shielding and beautiful views surrounding your home.
Why you should try this: Try this style if you don’t want to lose views just to save on heat and subsequent energy costs. With this innovative option, you can have the best of both worlds.
A panorama window awning focuses on style and design rather than materials, though manufacturers usually make them from aluminum. These awnings provide full coverage while allowing for unobstructed views. Designed with horizontal thin slates, they let you enjoy the scenery outside and allow a bit of sunlight to seep through during the colder months.
Modern Styled Awnings
Good for: Those who are concerned with style over all else. Not to say that functionality isn’t important, but if your home’s appearance is of utmost importance, consider opting for a modern-styled awning.
Why you should try this: You don’t need to forfeit style for the benefits awnings afford. Try this style if you want the best of both worlds and a look that elevates your space.
When you choose an awning for your home, focus on how it complements your modern style. Given the effort you put into perfecting your home’s exterior and enhancing curb appeal, it’s a valid concern.
Don’t worry — many modern awnings will enhance your home’s appearance rather than detract from it. These awnings typically feature solid materials and may not offer the same versatility in retractability as other options.
Wood Awnings
Good for: Those who want a little style. Great for contemporary and modern homes, the wood awning adds a touch of home and warmth without detracting from your home’s overall curb appeal.
Why you should try this: Try wood awnings if you’re looking to upgrade your home’s style. The rain-soaked wood in the wintertime will add an extra layer of charm depending on the design. You will find a bit of relief from the sun, too.
The most popular awnings have both style and function. Wood awnings are usually a good choice for style, but they don’t protect much from the elements. This is because wood awnings are usually slated or latticed, rather than being a solid block of wood.
The relief from sunshine and rain depends on how closely the designer spaces the slats of wood. In many cases, elements will pass through the gaps, offering minimal protection.
Rustic Awnings
Good for: Those who don’t mind forfeiting a bit of style and modernism for something durable and charming.
Why you should try this: The sound of raindrops pattering against a metal roof creates a soothing ambiance. A rustic awning provides a similar experience right outside your window, offering a delightful sound during long winter days.
Rustic awnings complete your home, shed, or garage by adding a bit of weathered charm to the space. They make a great addition to your window, providing style and protection from the elements.
Rustic awnings may not be the best option for your home if you’re looking for something that is easily adaptable. Rustic and typically aluminum or metal material can’t be retracted, and there are no slats for the sun to shine through. You may lose valuable daylight in the wintertime.
Retro Awnings
Good for: Those who care as much about the style of the awning as they do for the functionality. Also, those who love a retro look and would like their home to reflect some of that old-school charm.
Why you should try this: Retro awnings are a great way to add a pop of style and character to a newer or updated home. Done correctly, your retro awning elevates your home’s exterior while sticking close to the colors and patterns you love.
Retro styles can be quite subjective. Millennials might call anything from before 2010 retro, while most adults associate retro with styles from the 1950s and 1960s.
With that said, retro awnings refer to a fabric awning with retro patterns and looks that could fit into the mid-1900s timeframe.
Sometimes, retro styles also appear in aluminum and other materials, emphasizing cuts and accent pieces rather than colors and patterns. The definition of “retro” can be subjective, so I’ve included some photos that showcase retro looks.
Glass Awnings
Good for: Those who are afraid that adding an awning means forgoing views of the surrounding area. From the sunshine to the ground, you can see everything with glass awnings while adding a layer of comfort.
Why you should try this: You should try glass awnings if you’re looking for something durable without extra materials detracting from your home’s aesthetics.
Glass awnings shield your home from the elements, especially during winter, while still allowing you to see outside. While glass awnings primarily protect from ice, sleet, rain, and snow, some brands also offer UV-resistant materials to help reflect the sun’s heat rather than absorb it.
Additionally, glass awnings come in multiple styles, ranging in elegance depending on the price point and depending on what other materials are incorporated into the awning. Glass awnings are generally non-retractable. I recommend you make sure they are installed properly and maintained. They can be dangerous in the winter with hail and large quantities of snow.
This site receives compensation from the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. This listing doesn’t feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right window awning for your home involves considering various styles and their unique benefits. Aluminum awnings offer durability and low maintenance, making them ideal for areas with harsh weather. Fabric awnings provide vibrant color options and excellent sun protection, though they require seasonal care. For a hands-on approach, DIY awnings let you customize and save on costs, while retractable awnings offer flexibility and convenience with motorized adjustments.
Fixed awnings deliver continuous shade without the hassle of adjustments, perfect for consistently sunny climates. Panorama window awnings allow you to enjoy your view while still benefiting from shade. Modern-styled awnings blend functionality with sleek aesthetics, and wood awnings add a touch of warmth and charm. Rustic awnings offer durability with a nostalgic feel, and retro awnings bring a pop of old-school style. Lastly, glass awnings provide unobstructed views and protection from the elements, making them a sophisticated choice for your home. No matter your style or needs, there’s a window awning to enhance your home’s comfort and curb appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, window awnings can keep a house cool by significantly reducing solar heat gain, lowering the need for air conditioning, and also protecting interior furnishings from sun damage.
To choose the right size awning for your windows, measure the width of your window, add a few inches for extra shade, and ensure the drop is about half the window’s height. Consider the sun’s path and opt for an adjustable awning if needed, and think about additional features like side screens for more shade or proper slope for rain run-off.
Yes, window awnings are worth it. Beyond their cosmetic appeal, they block rain, reduce UV damage to your interior, lower cooling costs, protect delicate plants and your foundation, and enhance curb appeal.
