19 Dream Window Views
Lay your eyes on gorgeous views made even more exquisite with perfectly designed windows
Any real estate broker can tell you that the most sought-after feature of a home is a view. Gazing into the distance can provide us with a sense of calm and invigorate us, increasing our feeling of well-being. It's hard to imagine improving on beautiful natural settings or panoramic views of a city, but the windows in each of these rooms make their drop-dead gorgeous views of nature or metropolis even better. See why.
This window, which follows the line of the vaulted ceiling, perfectly frames a stunning tree. The tree acts as an organic frame for the distant view, giving it even more interest than if it were unobstructed.
It seems only right that this majestic mountain view is framed by a huge window and massive beams outside the upper corners. The window at the top echoes the shape of the mountain peaks. The visual weight of the window's architecture fits the mass of the mountains.
Let's face it, a city view from up high is fantastic any time of day. And with windows all the way down to the floor, it helps if you aren't afraid of heights.
When everything you see is worth looking at — trees, pond and rolling lawns — it's hard to beat floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows. The furniture is pulled in far enough from the windows to allow people to walk around it and stand right by the window for the full effect.
Bay windows let you walk out into the scenery, giving you a 180-degree view. They make a big ocean view even bigger.
Corner windows with no vertical supporting frame at the corner offer a contemporary way to get that deeper view traditionally provided by bay windows.
An angled corner window makes this spectacular coast view even wider. Glass all the way to the floor allows you to enjoy the uninterrupted sight of brush and rocks all the way down to the waves crashing onto the shore. Low benches along the window provide a perfect place for contemplating the movement of the waves.
This is another great example of corner windows maximizing the view of hills and trees. What a nice spot for dining — everyone has a view.
Although this view is unobstructed all the way to the horizon, it is the stunning combination of the unusual, formal window shape and the graceful, organic curves of the tree that makes this view breathtaking.
A beautifully shaped window does so much to make a beautiful view even more wonderful. The height and arched shape of this window bring your eye up to enjoy the clouds while the horizontal lines of the window's muntins capture the long, low lines of the land seen in the distance.
Windows framing a view of some nearby, interestingly shaped trees are just part of the strategy here. A reflecting pool doubles the image, making a beautiful view even better.
The shape and orientation of windows can put focus on a particular aspect of the view. Tall, vertically oriented windows are a great way to show off a forest view, dramatizing the height of the trees. An open stairwell is the perfect spot for opening up a wall to this stunning winter scene.
Just as the vertical orientation of the windows in the last photo enhanced the view of tall trees, this long, horizontal window frames the view to highlight the surface of the lake and the line of trees on the far shore.
For this endless ocean view, instead of the windows going floor to ceiling, the designer chose to pull the focus tight by using a smaller window. The minimally framed window creates the look of art on the wall and brings your attention to the balance of sea and sky and the subtle gradient of color.
This wide-open view of a grassy plain with hills in the distance framed in a playful color. I wonder what the view is like through that telescope?
Tell us: Have you made the most of a lovely view from your home? Please share your best photo below!
More: Get inspired by more dream spaces
Tell us: Have you made the most of a lovely view from your home? Please share your best photo below!
More: Get inspired by more dream spaces
On stormy days, the energy of the ocean swells and the action of the waves is an awe-inspiring sight. Floor-to-ceiling windows that stay out of the way are a great choice.