Christopher Rohrbachis a consultant forBrennan Enterprises, a family-owned window dealer and instillation service in Arlington, Texas.
Laurey W. Glenn
What Are Transom Windows?
A transom window is a small window on top of either a door or another window, Rohrbach explains.
Credit: Designer: Charlotte Lucas; Photographer: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kendra Surface
It’s not part of the door, but in fact on top of the actual door jamb.
For a window, youd have a smaller window above it, and that would be the transom window.
Transom windows can be rectangular or a semicircle and adorn any window or doorexterior or interior.
Credit:Laurey W. Glenn
However, theyre most commonly found gracing the space above thefront doorof Southern homes.
Those are called sidelights, Rohrbach says.
First of all, they are attractive aesthetically.
Credit:Laurey W. Glenn; Styling by Kendra Surface
Second, transom lights are an effective method for letting light into a home or room.
Use transom windows in cased openings to allow more of that light to flood into adjacent rooms.
Alison Miksch
What Are The Disadvantages Of Transom Windows?
Credit:Alison Miksch
Not all houses can accommodate transom windows.
Their height also puts them out of reach, making transom windows more challenging to dust or clean.
Do Transom Windows Open?
Credit:Laurey W. Glenn
Most transom windows do not open because they are too high up to open and close, Rohrbach explains.
In older homesbefore air conditioning, this was an intentional feature as transom windows improved airflow through the home.
They can be framed in wood, vinyl, fiberglass, or aluminum.
Transom windows also use different styles of glass, from clear to frosted to patterned.
The least expensive vinyl or aluminum transom windows are under $100 and are fixed.
Will Transom Windows Stay Popular?
Its not just a trend though.
In fact, we dont see transom windows going out of style any time soon.
The flair and light transom windows bring to any home gives them longevity.
