DreamPlan Home Design Software

Home Design Software for Everyone

Home DesignBuild your dream home

Landscape DesignExterior landscaping ideas

Deck and Patio DesignEasy deck and patio tools

Interior Design Kitchens, bathrooms and more

Trace ModeConvert floor plans to 3D models

Pool Design Design a virtual swimming pool

Visualize and plan your dream home with a realistic 3D home model.

• Create the floor plan of your house, condo or apartment
• Custom set colors, textures, furniture, decorations and more
• Plan out exterior landscaping ideas and garden spaces

Before you start planning a new home or working on a home improvement project, perfect the floor plan and preview any house design idea with DreamPlan home design software.

The Pros and Cons of Garden Windows

A garden window is a mini-greenhouse that extends outward from your home. Usually found in the kitchen, garden windows have a fixed window in front, two operable side windows to provide ventilation, and one or more shelves to put plants on. Garden windows also usually feature a glass roof, which is sloped to ensure quick water runoff when it rains and to allow extra sunlight to stream into your home.

Because garden windows extend beyond the house, homeowners should avoid placing a garden window in an area where it would interfere with sidewalks, patios, or other exterior features.

Garden windows, small or large, can be an indoor plant sanctuary | © CC BY-SA 2.0 flickr.com / AA Design Build Remodeling

An Indoor Garden

As the name implies, garden windows allow you to turn part of your home into a small garden. With this kind of beautiful window, you can garden year-round. Garden windows also provide a great place to start plants in the winter before replanting them outdoors in the spring. Similarly, garden windows are a wonderful place for a small herb garden, which will give you convenient access to fresh herbs while you cook. As well as providing an attractive showcase for your plants, a garden window also lets in fresh air and light into your kitchen.

How Long Will Your Garden Windows Last?

Garden windows are designed with durability in mind. Nowadays, they are typically made with durable and maintenance-free vinyl frames, and have bases made of moisture-resistant materials for worry-free plant watering. With proper installation and materials, your garden window will provide enjoyment and beauty for years to come.

Energy Efficiency for Garden Windows

Because they are constructed of glass panels joined together in a box, garden windows can make energy efficiency tricky. The good news is that there are a number of ways to make your garden windows as energy efficient as possible. Garden window frames should be constructed of vinyl, aluminum, or wood because these materials allow the glass panels to fit together securely, keeping out air and moisture.

When considering glass for your garden window, you’ll want to pay special attention to two energy efficiency ratings. A garden window has more glass panels than most windows, so its U-factor (a measure of airflow through a closed window) is an important rating measure. Look for a lower U-factor to ensure maximum efficiency. The solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) measures the amount of radiant heat a window lets in, and you’ll want to look for a lower number with this measure as well. For maximum energy efficiency, consider low-E coated glass for your garden windows.

Garden Windows Can Bring the Outdoors into Your Home

Whether you’re an avid gardener looking for a way to garden year-round, or simply want to add light and beauty to your home, a garden window may be the perfect new addition to your home.

Home and gardens windows

Flower bed ideas – 10 beautiful ways to create floral displays in your garden

Got a new flower bed to plant and no clue where to start? Whatever your budget or style, be inspired by our flower bed ideas

Cucumber companion planting – the best plants to grow with cucumbers

5 designer dos to copy from this modern rustic home – use texture, wood and art to perfection

5 ways to use eggs in the garden – the natural remedy for transforming your flowerbeds

Subscribe to Homes & Gardens magazine – 6 issues for a special price

House Design

See how texture and metal combine to create a modern yet surprisingly warm family home

A series of subtle yet significant changes to this property transformed it from dark and dreary into a stylish, bright and eminently liveable-in family home

By Jennifer Ebert • 2021-04-16T10:59:22Z

Seven secrets about Kamala Harris’s new home – from the former Social Secretary to the Vice President

The expert shares everything you need to know about the official Vice President residence – Number One Observatory Circle

By Megan Slack • 2021-04-14T11:01:46Z

Buying Guides

Best stand mixer 2021: the ultimate kitchen accessory

Find the best stand mixer for your home with our guide to the top KitchenAid, Cuisinart and Smeg stand mixers

Best toaster 2021: our top ten from Dualit, Breville, KitchenAid, Smeg and more

Choose from the ten best toasters of 2021, with two- and four-slice toasters from all of our top brands

By David Ludlow • 2021-04-14T16:10:39Z

Best robot vacuums: 7 top options for autonomous cleaning

Our round up of the best robot vacuums means you can sit back and relax while your vacuum zooms around your feet.

By Chris Haslam • 2021-04-13T18:57:52Z

Best ride-on lawn mowers: 7 top tries worth the investment

From zero-turn to electric, here are the 7 best ride-on lawn mowers money can buy

By Brittany Romano • 2021-04-12T19:38:50Z

Best home fragrance: 9 luxuriously fragrant scents to fill your home your home with happiness

According to our team of experts, these are the best home fragrances worth the investment

By Brittany Romano • 2021-04-12T09:17:58Z

Best candles: 5 sensational scented and luxury candles

According to our team, these are the best candles with which to scent your home

By Brittany Romano • 2021-04-09T11:00:30Z

Best non-stick frying pans – 8 top skillets for cooking eggs, vegetables, and more with ease

Sick of food sticking to the pan? The best non-stick frying pans minimize mess and cook food to perfection.

By Jaclyn Turner • 2021-04-08T21:28:05Z

Interior Design

5 nightstand design mistakes to avoid – and how to put them right

Follow our ‘what not do to’ guide on how to avoid the most common nightstand mistakes

By Sophie Warren-Smith • 2021-04-17T16:59:22Z

Small utility room ideas – 11 ways to make compact spaces work hard

A small utility room can still deliver the functionality and style you need

By Sarah Warwick • 2021-04-16T08:35:48Z

Kitchens

23 pantry ideas – versatile storage that’s equally suited to modern life

Store your food in style with these gorgeous pantry ideas and designs – from walk-in rooms to standalone larders

The two-tone kitchen trend will transform your space – here are 5 ways to use it in your home

Dual-colored kitchens are a design-savvy choice for your next transformation

By Ruth Doherty • 2021-04-15T06:00:28Z

Country kitchen ideas – get the rustic look with our ultimate inspiration gallery

Rural dwellers and city slickers alike can take inspiration from our country kitchen ideas, incorporating everything from architecture and cabinets to handles and backsplashes

By Ysanne Brooks • 2021-04-12T17:37:40Z

This is the kitchen color combination most likely to add value to your home – and buyers love it

New analysis shows the unexpected kitchen color combination that can add value to your home – and which buyers find most attractive

By Anna Cottrell • 2021-04-12T06:00:48Z

This kitchen fuses classical cabinetry with industrial design – find out how to copy the look

This kitchen melds cool good looks with practicalities for a stylish yet wholesome design

By Homes & Gardens • 2021-04-11T10:00:33Z

Breakfast bar ideas – stylish ways to create space for snacking

Flexible by nature, breakfast bars come in a wide range of styles to suit any type of kitchen, no matter the size

By Jennifer Ebert • 2021-04-09T09:12:18Z

Floral stylist Willow Crossley shares her kitchen design secrets – and an unconventional wallpaper tip

Willow Crossley is famed for her bold twists on natural designs. Here she reveals her favorite things in the heart of her home

By Megan Slack • 2021-04-08T08:53:53Z

Bathrooms

Bathroom layout ideas – the best layouts for bathrooms, ensuites and shower rooms

Getting your bathroom layout right is key to every successful bathroom renovation. Here, leading design experts give their tips

By Linda Clayton • 2021-03-29T12:01:14Z

How to design a bathroom – expert bathroom planning and layout advice

Discover how to design a bathroom to perfection – it’s a great opportunity to make the most of your space in style

By Jennifer Ebert • 2021-03-29T10:23:42Z

Exotic stone – the latest luxe look for bathrooms that’s bold and beautiful

For those who dare, exotic stone will bring drama and luxe appeal to any bathing space

Home and gardens windows

Flower bed ideas – 10 beautiful ways to create floral displays in your garden

Got a new flower bed to plant and no clue where to start? Whatever your budget or style, be inspired by our flower bed ideas

Cucumber companion planting – the best plants to grow with cucumbers

5 designer dos to copy from this modern rustic home – use texture, wood and art to perfection

5 ways to use eggs in the garden – the natural remedy for transforming your flowerbeds

Subscribe to Homes & Gardens magazine – 6 issues for a special price

House Design

See how texture and metal combine to create a modern yet surprisingly warm family home

A series of subtle yet significant changes to this property transformed it from dark and dreary into a stylish, bright and eminently liveable-in family home

By Jennifer Ebert • 2021-04-16T10:59:22Z

Seven secrets about Kamala Harris’s new home – from the former Social Secretary to the Vice President

The expert shares everything you need to know about the official Vice President residence – Number One Observatory Circle

By Megan Slack • 2021-04-14T11:01:46Z

Buying Guides

Best stand mixer 2021: the ultimate kitchen accessory

Find the best stand mixer for your home with our guide to the top KitchenAid, Cuisinart and Smeg stand mixers

Best toaster 2021: our top ten from Dualit, Breville, KitchenAid, Smeg and more

Choose from the ten best toasters of 2021, with two- and four-slice toasters from all of our top brands

By David Ludlow • 2021-04-14T16:10:39Z

Best robot vacuums: 7 top options for autonomous cleaning

Our round up of the best robot vacuums means you can sit back and relax while your vacuum zooms around your feet.

By Chris Haslam • 2021-04-13T18:57:52Z

Best ride-on lawn mowers: 7 top tries worth the investment

From zero-turn to electric, here are the 7 best ride-on lawn mowers money can buy

By Brittany Romano • 2021-04-12T19:38:50Z

Best home fragrance: 9 luxuriously fragrant scents to fill your home your home with happiness

According to our team of experts, these are the best home fragrances worth the investment

By Brittany Romano • 2021-04-12T09:17:58Z

Best candles: 5 sensational scented and luxury candles

According to our team, these are the best candles with which to scent your home

By Brittany Romano • 2021-04-09T11:00:30Z

Best non-stick frying pans – 8 top skillets for cooking eggs, vegetables, and more with ease

Sick of food sticking to the pan? The best non-stick frying pans minimize mess and cook food to perfection.

By Jaclyn Turner • 2021-04-08T21:28:05Z

Interior Design

5 nightstand design mistakes to avoid – and how to put them right

Follow our ‘what not do to’ guide on how to avoid the most common nightstand mistakes

By Sophie Warren-Smith • 2021-04-17T16:59:22Z

Small utility room ideas – 11 ways to make compact spaces work hard

A small utility room can still deliver the functionality and style you need

By Sarah Warwick • 2021-04-16T08:35:48Z

Kitchens

23 pantry ideas – versatile storage that’s equally suited to modern life

Store your food in style with these gorgeous pantry ideas and designs – from walk-in rooms to standalone larders

The two-tone kitchen trend will transform your space – here are 5 ways to use it in your home

Dual-colored kitchens are a design-savvy choice for your next transformation

By Ruth Doherty • 2021-04-15T06:00:28Z

Country kitchen ideas – get the rustic look with our ultimate inspiration gallery

Rural dwellers and city slickers alike can take inspiration from our country kitchen ideas, incorporating everything from architecture and cabinets to handles and backsplashes

By Ysanne Brooks • 2021-04-12T17:37:40Z

This is the kitchen color combination most likely to add value to your home – and buyers love it

New analysis shows the unexpected kitchen color combination that can add value to your home – and which buyers find most attractive

By Anna Cottrell • 2021-04-12T06:00:48Z

This kitchen fuses classical cabinetry with industrial design – find out how to copy the look

This kitchen melds cool good looks with practicalities for a stylish yet wholesome design

By Homes & Gardens • 2021-04-11T10:00:33Z

Breakfast bar ideas – stylish ways to create space for snacking

Flexible by nature, breakfast bars come in a wide range of styles to suit any type of kitchen, no matter the size

By Jennifer Ebert • 2021-04-09T09:12:18Z

Floral stylist Willow Crossley shares her kitchen design secrets – and an unconventional wallpaper tip

Willow Crossley is famed for her bold twists on natural designs. Here she reveals her favorite things in the heart of her home

By Megan Slack • 2021-04-08T08:53:53Z

Bathrooms

Bathroom layout ideas – the best layouts for bathrooms, ensuites and shower rooms

Getting your bathroom layout right is key to every successful bathroom renovation. Here, leading design experts give their tips

By Linda Clayton • 2021-03-29T12:01:14Z

How to design a bathroom – expert bathroom planning and layout advice

Discover how to design a bathroom to perfection – it’s a great opportunity to make the most of your space in style

By Jennifer Ebert • 2021-03-29T10:23:42Z

Exotic stone – the latest luxe look for bathrooms that’s bold and beautiful

For those who dare, exotic stone will bring drama and luxe appeal to any bathing space