Round Window Vs. Oval Window

Definition and Appearance

• Round and oval windows are exactly what they sound like: a round window has a perfectly circular glass surface, while an oval window has rounded edges but is oblong. For practical purposes, an oval window may also be an ellipse, which is technically not an oval, but a separate geometric shape. In broad terms, though, oval windows are longer in one direction than they are in the other, making it possible to install them in either a vertical or a horizontal orientation. Either type of window may have strips dividing it into smaller panes, which may be square or rectangular in shape.

Applications

• Given the dominance of straight lines in architecture and interior design, any rounded window will be eye-catching, whether perfectly round or oval. For design purposes, the round and oval windows are more similar than different. Either option makes a suitable choice for an accent or designed as a focal point for a room. Stylistically, oval windows are fairly common on doors and in more traditional rooms, whereas round windows often add whimsy or drama to a room. However, you can use either shape for either purpose. For example, a small, round window may shed light in a formal bathroom with little wall space. A large, horizontally oriented oval window might provide a focal point and the primary light source in a sitting room or a nursery.

Window Treatments

• Finding the right treatment for your rounded windows, whether oval or perfectly round, can prove challenging. Again, the two shapes have far more similarities than differences. Most curtains and blinds are designed to hang from straight curtain rods, making it tricky to use these traditional window coverings over either oval or round windows. If you're willing to obscure the window shape when you draw the curtains, one solution is to hang a straight rod above the highest point of the window. To conserve the rounded shape, opt instead for window film. A layer of translucent film provides privacy without cutting out the light. However, you cannot open and close it like a pair of drapes. For an alternative style, pick a patterned or etched film.

Unusual Ideas

• If you're still planning construction or window installation, you can select between round and oval windows for many creative effects. A series of round windows, either lined up in a row or scattered against a wall, makes a design statement unto itself, without any window dressing necessary. If you're looking to add windows to a bedroom, consider installing a pair of tall, oval windows to flank the bed. In a basement room, where any windows must be set high against the wall, you can install a few wide and short ovals to create a light source with softer lines than you'd get from a rectangle. If you're looking to add drama to a doorway, place a round window directly above the doors.

General Tips

• The difficulty in finding window treatments for either round or oval windows may not present a problem, because the unusual window shape draws plenty of attention already. Any window coverings should be understated. When designing a round or oval window, anticipate any future uses of the room before installation. While this applies for any type of window, it's particularly important with unusual window shapes, as they add much more visual interest to a room and serve as focal points. Refer to the overall room aesthetic, now and for the foreseeable future, when choosing between an oval and a rounded window. For example, a round window may give a porthole effect for a nautical theme, while an oval can lend romance to a Victorian sitting room.