Every 1940s House Had Them — The Classic Window Design That Invites More Natural Light

The huge rise in popularity during the 1940s of revived styles such as Cape Cod architecture led to builders and architects looking for clever ways to maximize space in smaller homes. Enter the many different types of dormers, designed to bring more light into homes. 

Dormers are structures built into roofs to project out vertically, usually containing a window to add more light and a feeling of space. Dormer windows can be traced all the way back to Francois Mansart, a French architect in the 17th century who created his own "mansard" roof style. With Parisian rooflines height-restricted, these early dormer windows added room without breaking any regulations by making attic space inhabitable.

The original Cape Cod-style homes of the late 1600s generally had one story with a gabled roof, but in the early 20th century Boston architect Royal Barry Wells reintroduced the style, adding space with dormers. And in the post-World War II housing boom, the style boomed in new suburbs, such as Levittown, New York. It remains one of the most popular architectural styles, largely because of Cape Cods' classic design and the huge amounts of natural light they let in — much of it because of the use of dormers. 

Dormer windows also came back into style with Colonial Revival houses built in the early 20th century and spread to other architectural styles such as the Minimal Traditional look popular in the 1940s and '50s. Dormer windows were used extensively to add a feeling of light and to create livable space in houses that weren't that tall. 

With attic ceilings often lower than on the floors below, adding dormers there is the perfect way to provide extra light, leading to a more open feeling and, again, additional livable space, says Sarah Stafford Turner, House Digest's resident architecture and design historian. This is one of the 1940s home design features to consider trying in your space, with the additional benefit of giving the outside of your home a classic, stylish feel.   

There are many dormer styles to choose from, so it's easy to find the right fit for your home. Larger styles such as the gabled dormer (a peaked structure protruding from the roof) and Nantucket dormer (two gabled dormers on either side of a lower shed-style dormer) are popular for adding light into a home but, of course, consideration needs to be given to the costs. On average, dormers cost around $15,000 to install, but can range from $6,000 up to around $25,000, according to home-improvement site Angi. There's also the additional cost of permits, which can range from around $390 to $1,930, depending on your region. 

If you're lucky enough to already have dormers in your attic or second floor, though, and aren't currently using the space, think about doing so. It's the perfect starting point for expanding your home.