Do triple pane windows make rooms feel darker?

Yeah, I noticed the same thing when we swapped ours out a couple years back. The living room felt a bit dimmer, but honestly, it was only really noticeable on those super gray winter days. We ended up just adding a floor lamp and that took care of it. I’d say the lower heating bills and not feeling drafts anymore made it totally worth it. Our plants didn’t seem to care either, though I did move one fern a little closer to the window just in case.

I get where you're coming from on the dimmer room thing. We put in triple pane windows last fall and I definitely noticed a slight drop in natural light, but it wasn’t dramatic. I measured the light levels with a cheap lux meter just out of curiosity—on overcast days, it was maybe 10-15% less than our old double panes. Not a huge deal, but enough that my wife commented on it.

Honestly, the tradeoff was worth it for us too. Our heating bill dropped by about 20% over the winter, and we don’t have those annoying cold spots near the windows anymore. The only thing I had to adjust was moving my snake plant closer to the window; it seemed a bit sluggish at first but perked up after that.

If you’re worried about your space feeling darker, adding a lamp or two seems like an easy fix. For me, the comfort and energy savings outweigh the minor loss in brightness. If you’re really sensitive to light though, maybe check what coatings or tints the glass has—some manufacturers use heavier Low-E coatings that block more sunlight than others.

That lines up with what I noticed when we upgraded—slight drop in brightness, but nothing major. I did wonder if it was just my imagination at first. Did you find the Low-E coating made a bigger difference than the extra pane itself? I remember some brands had more of a tint, which bugged me a bit in the showroom. The energy savings are great, though, especially in drafty old houses like mine.

- I noticed the same thing—slight drop in brightness, but not enough to really bother me.
- The Low-E coating definitely made more of a difference than the third pane, at least in my place. Some brands had that blue-ish tint you mentioned, which I found annoying too.
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“I remember some brands had more of a tint, which bugged me a bit in the showroom.”

I was a little paranoid about condensation too, especially after hearing horror stories from my cousin—his started fogging up in year two. Mine are only a few months old though, so I might just be in the honeymoon phase. The brightness drop is there, but honestly, I notice the dog’s nose prints on the glass more than any darkness.

I’ve wondered about the condensation too—especially since I’ve seen it up close on a neighbor’s windows. As for the darkness, I’m not convinced it’s a huge issue. I replaced two big sliders with triple panes last fall, and yeah, there’s a slight dimming, but honestly, it’s only obvious when the sun’s low. I’m more annoyed by the fingerprints and smudges that show up now than any actual loss of light. Maybe it depends on the coating or glass type?

I gotta disagree a bit—my living room definitely feels gloomier since I swapped to triple panes. Maybe it’s the low-e coating or just my old house, but I notice it most on cloudy days. The energy savings are nice, but I do miss that brighter vibe.

Yeah, I’ve noticed that too—triple panes with a heavier low-e coating can definitely cut down on natural light. In my place, north-facing rooms felt a bit dimmer after the swap. It’s a tradeoff for sure. I ended up using lighter paint and some extra lamps to help balance it out. Not quite the same as sunlight, but it helps on those gray days.

That’s interesting you mention the north-facing rooms. I swapped out old double panes for triple panes a couple winters ago, and honestly, I was a bit surprised at how much less daylight seemed to come through—especially in the kitchen, which already doesn’t get much direct sun. I did the same thing with lighter paint, but I’m still debating whether to add more overhead lighting or maybe go for some kind of smart bulbs.

Has anyone tried using different types of window treatments with triple panes? Like, do sheer curtains still help diffuse what light does come in, or does it just make things feel even dimmer? I’m curious if there’s a sweet spot between insulation and brightness that folks have found, especially in places where winter drags on.

I get what you’re saying about the triple panes making things feel darker, but honestly, I think it’s sometimes more about the coatings than the extra layer of glass. Some low-e coatings really cut down visible light, especially in north-facing rooms where every bit counts.

Has anyone tried using different types of window treatments with triple panes? Like, do sheer curtains still help diffuse what light does come in, or does it just make things feel even dimmer?

I’ve found that sheers actually help soften the light, even with triple panes—at least compared to blinds or heavier curtains. I’d argue it’s worth trying a super lightweight voile or even going bare for winter months. For me, the energy savings outweigh the slight dimness, but I totally get not wanting to live in a cave all winter. Maybe try swapping out bulbs for higher lumen LEDs before adding more fixtures? Sometimes that’s enough to tip the balance.