Interior Transom Windows: What Are They?

Transom windows are rectangular or semicircular windows installed on top of a door or other window, often found in older homes. They are used to separate open rooms into two distinct spaces, such as between a kitchen and dining room, or to allow natural light to flow between rooms. These windows come in various shapes and materials and are an inter-space addition.

Transom windows are designed to provide natural light and ventilation to interior spaces, and they come in various styles, including semicircular, rectangular, and custom designs. They can be operable and can be built over a door or clerestory windows, which sit within a wall above eye level. In both cases, they allow inhabitants to retain “borrowed light” that enters dark passages or hallways without a window to the outside.

The most traditional and widely recognized transom window style is a semicircular window with dividers separating the panes in equal radius. This style of transom window is the most popular and widely recognized. Interior transom windows are the perfect way to divide space inside your home and bring more natural light inside. They can be made in most any size and are used to allow additional light into or out of a room, as well as easier passage of heat or cool air between rooms.

In summary, transom windows are aesthetic touches added above interior or exterior doors, as well as open entryways between homes. They come in various styles, including semicircular, rectangular, and custom designs, and can be installed above doors or larger windows to provide natural light and ventilation. By adding a transom above a door, homeowners can share light between rooms and add distinctive style to their doorway.

Are transoms outdated?

Old houses often had windows above doors, known as transom windows, installed to allow more light and fresh air. This architectural style, which fell out of favor in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, has come back into style. Transom windows, small or larger windows, are used to let natural light into a space due to their opaque or transparent glass. They can be installed as a set piece with a door or window or work well separately. This article covers the history, pros and cons, style options, and costs of transom windows, sourced from contractor estimates used by Angi.

Why do old houses have transom windows?

Transom windows were used before electricity and air conditioning in homes to provide natural light and airflow, while maintaining privacy. They were originally designed to open from the bottom up using metal hinges, and are now primarily decorative and do not open. Transom windows come in various shapes, colors, sizes, and materials, and can match any design aesthetic. Rectangular and semicircular are the most common shapes, with single or multipaned rectangular windows typically installed over doors and extending the doorframe’s length. Sidelights on exterior doors extend the unit’s width, while semicircular windows, also known as fanlights, are installed above both doors and windows.

Can you open a transom window?

Transom windows may be equipped with metal hinges for the purpose of facilitating their opening and closing. Although some may regard them as anachronistic, a considerable number of homeowners value their historic charm and aesthetic appeal, which often inform their personal design choices.

What is the point of a transom window?

Transom windows, which were used before electricity and air conditioning, were used to allow natural light into rooms at a height that wouldn’t allow others to see in. They opened via metal hinges, providing airflow. Exterior transom windows were placed on front doors to allow air in from outside, while interior transom windows provided airflow throughout the home. Modern transom windows are primarily decorative and don’t open. There are two main types of transom windows: rectangular and semicircular.

Rectangular windows are installed above doors and can be single or multipaned, while semicircular windows, also known as fanlights, are popular above both doors and windows. Material options for transom windows include stained, textured, frosted, or clear glass, wood, aluminum, fiberglass, or vinyl window frames. They can be fixed or open, and some even have moisture sensors that close automatically when it rains.

Are transom windows outdated?

Transom windows, also known as transom lights, have been around since the 14th century and are rectangular or semicircular windows above a door or window. They are named after the horizontal beam they sit on, called a transom, which separates the top of a door or window from the wall above. Despite being more decorative than functional, transom windows have been making a comeback due to their historic charm.

They can make doors and windows feel larger and more grand, calling back to the regalness of older homes. All products and services featured are independently selected by our editors, but when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why is it called a transom?

A transom is a horizontal structural beam or bar that separates a door from a window above it, contrasting with a mullion, a vertical structural member. In architecture, transoms are often referred to as fanlights in Britain, often with a semi-circular shape. In early Gothic ecclesiastical work, transoms were only found in belfry unglazed windows or spire lights to strengthen mullions without iron stay bars. In the later Gothic, particularly the Perpendicular Period, transoms became common in windows of all kinds.

Transom windows, which could be opened to provide cross-ventilation while maintaining security and privacy, were common features in apartments, homes, office buildings, schools, and other buildings before central air conditioning and heating became common in the early-to-mid 20th century.

What is the purpose of interior transom windows?

Transom windows can be used to separate open rooms into distinct spaces, such as between a kitchen and dining room, or to allow natural light to flow between rooms, as seen in farmhouse style. Pella offers awning window hardware, transom replacement services, and other customization options for home improvement enthusiasts. With expert installation, quality customer service, and exceptional products, Pella is a leading choice for home improvement enthusiasts. Schedule a free consultation to find windows and doors for your home.

What is a transom in interior design?

A transom is a horizontal structural beam or bar that separates a door from a window above it, contrasting with a mullion, a vertical structural member. In architecture, transoms are often referred to as fanlights in Britain, often with a semi-circular shape. In early Gothic ecclesiastical work, transoms were only found in belfry unglazed windows or spire lights to strengthen mullions without iron stay bars. In the later Gothic, particularly the Perpendicular Period, transoms became common in windows of all kinds.

Transom windows, which could be opened to provide cross-ventilation while maintaining security and privacy, were common features in apartments, homes, office buildings, schools, and other buildings before central air conditioning and heating became common in the early-to-mid 20th century.

What is the disadvantage of transom window?

Transom windows, traditionally used for ventilation, are now fixed and only provide natural light. They are located above a door frame and provide additional natural light into an entryway or room. Transom windows are named after the beam that separates the top of a door or window from the wall. Glass panes, also known as lites or lights, are part of these windows. A fanlight, a type of transom window, has a semi-circular shape and is also known as transom lights.

Are transom windows more expensive than regular windows?

Transom windows represent a cost-effective option, with an average cost of $334 to $711 per window, resulting in a national average of $459. The estimated cost of window materials is between $249 and $531 per window.

What is the difference between a transom window and a clerestory window?

Transom windows, which are installed above doorways, permit the influx of light and fresh air into a room when the door is closed. Clerestory windows, on the other hand, are narrow windows that are installed at or above the roofline in an interior living space.