It's easy to overlook, but the direction of the room is surprisingly important when looking for a room.
West-facing rooms are particularly popular because, although they get a lot of sunlight, the rooms are hot and the sunlight is too bright.
However, some people consider west-facing properties as they tend to have lower rent.
So, this time we will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of west-facing rental properties, as well as ways to make your stay comfortable even if it faces west.
We will introduce some useful information for those who are worried about the direction of their room, so please refer to it.
Are there really no benefits to renting a west-facing property?
The characteristic of a west-facing property is that the room is bright in the afternoon and the setting sun pours in. Another characteristic is that the room is bright for longer periods of time than in other directions.
However, the sunlight is strong and dazzling, and the rooms can get too hot, so it is said to be an unpopular area. For that reason, the rent is set low.
Japan has a hot and humid climate, so summers are hot and humid. People tend to choose south or east facing orientations for a more comfortable stay.
People who are at home during the day or who get up early in the morning and are active prefer south-facing or east-facing homes.
However, the performance of rental properties has improved in recent years, and with the increasing sophistication of home appliances that make living environments more comfortable, more people are choosing properties regardless of their orientation.
For example, some people who go out a lot during the day are less likely to be in their room in the afternoon and so choose a west-facing apartment because the rent is cheaper.
In addition, many people in cold regions choose west-facing properties because the western sun makes the room warm during the cold season, allowing them to live without turning on the heater.
The strong western sunlight can be a disadvantage in the summer, but it keeps the room warm during the cold seasons.
Although the situation will change depending on the location and floor of the property, a property facing west is not necessarily a bad property. It is essential to view the property and check the surrounding environment.
Comparing the characteristics of west-facing properties with other orientations
When searching for a property, the most popular orientation is south-facing.
Next comes the east-facing apartments, which get plenty of sunlight in the morning, followed by the west-facing apartments, and finally the north-facing apartments, which get less sunlight. The rent is highest on the south side and lowest on the north side.
While the location and the position of surrounding buildings will play a role, we would like to introduce the characteristics of other orientations compared to west-facing.
South facing features
The best thing about a south facing home is that it gets lots of sunshine all day long.
Even though it is cold in winter, the sun shines in and the room gets warm. Just the right amount of sunlight lets in and you can stay comfortable.
The difference with a west-facing room is that it doesn't get strong sunlight.
South-facing homes get as much sunlight as west-facing homes, but they are more popular because they don't get strong sunlight or are too hot.
East facing features
The advantage of facing east is that it gets lots of sunlight in the morning.
This is the perfect orientation for those who want to wake up properly in the morning and get their daily rhythm in order. It is bright and cool, especially in the summer mornings.
However, as it gets darker and darker from the afternoon into the evening, the room gets colder.
The difference with a west-facing house is that it is brighter in the morning and the temperature is cooler during sunrise, so the room does not get too hot. If you are a morning person, an east-facing house is the best choice.
North facing features
The thing about a north facing house is that it doesn't get much sunlight.
The property features large windows to brighten the interior.
In fact, properties facing north and facing the road do not have any large buildings in front of the room, so they let in just the right amount of light and are cool and comfortable to live in.
The difference with a west-facing room is that it is not subject to the influence of the afternoon sun, so the room is not hot and dazzling. However, the light and warmth of the sunlight is less likely to enter the room, so utility bills will be higher.
West-facing properties from a Feng Shui perspective
In Feng Shui, facing west is said to be the direction that governs financial and career luck.
However, there is various information, such as that having a large window on the west side can actually allow your luck to escape.
The following are some of the most important aspects of the west direction in Feng Shui:
- If you let the western sun in, your luck will be bad.
- Place or wear something yellow
- Do not place anything on the west-facing balcony.
- Keep your balcony and entrance clean at all times
- Large windows facing west will let your luck escape.
However, there are many different schools of thought in Feng Shui.
Since luck changes depending on the location of the room and the surrounding buildings, it is not necessarily true that a property facing west is bad. The same can be said for other directions.
In addition to the direction, cleaning your surroundings is also necessary to improve your luck.
The important thing when choosing a property is to be able to live in a comfortable environment and to be able to live in a way that suits your lifestyle.
No matter how good a property is from the perspective of feng shui, you won't be able to live there for long if the rent is high or there are poor living conditions such as noise.
First of all, it is important to find the conditions that best suit you, such as comfort and convenience.
Advantages of a west-facing property
Next, we will introduce the advantages of west-facing properties.
The benefits of a west-facing property are:
- Low rent
- The room is warm in winter
- There is a lot of daylight in the afternoon
- The laundry dries quickly
- Reduces energy costs
I will explain them in order.
Low rent
West-facing properties tend to have lower rents than south-facing properties, which are more popular and therefore more expensive.
Although west-facing homes get plenty of sunlight, they tend to be avoided due to poor living conditions.
For this reason, rent is set low, so if you want to keep rent as low as possible, it may be a good idea to consider a west-facing property.
The room is warm in winter
West-facing properties are hot in summer but warmer in winter than properties facing other directions.
Especially in winter, the room becomes so warm that you don't even need to turn on the heater.
In cold regions, rooms tend to be warmer due to the western sun, so many people choose properties facing west.
In addition, there are longer hours of daylight from the afternoon into the evening, so it stays warm even in the evening.
There is a lot of daylight in the afternoon
Properties facing west get more sunshine than other directions.
This means the room will darken slower, saving you money on your electricity bill.
The long hours of sunlight have many advantages, such as keeping rooms warm for longer periods during the winter.
Another advantage of properties on mid- or high-rise floors is that, depending on the location, you can enjoy the beautiful western sun.
The laundry dries quickly
It is said that laundry dries faster in a west-facing room.
If you hang out your laundry in the morning, the warmth of the sun in the afternoon will allow you to bring it in the same day.
It is more efficient to dry and store laundry in a day rather than leaving it out to dry for a long period of time.
Reduces energy costs
Some say that west-facing units have lower utility bills.
Since the sun is out for a longer period of time each day than in other orientations, lighting hours are shorter.
In addition, during the winter, the room remains warm for long periods of time, so you can avoid turning on the heating or use energy-saving settings.
Depending on the location and the floor of the room, this is a property where you can keep your utility bills down.
Disadvantages of a West-facing property
Next, we will introduce the disadvantages of west-facing properties.
The advantages of a west-facing property are:
- The afternoon sun is coming in and the room is hot.
- It's hard to get firelight in the morning.
- Furniture and wallpaper fade easily
- Difficulty seeing the computer or TV screen
The afternoon sun is coming in and the room is hot.
The strong sunlight from the west enters the room, making it hot.
Additionally, heat accumulates during the day in the concrete of buildings and the asphalt of roads.
From afternoon to evening, direct sunlight and heat accumulated in buildings and roads are released, causing the room temperature to rise suddenly.
I moved in because I liked the sunny location, but sometimes it's too hot to live here.
In addition, the hours of sunlight are longer in this direction than in other directions, which makes the room hotter.
It is difficult for sunlight to enter in the morning
In the morning, sunlight is less likely to enter the room. Therefore, the room temperature in the morning becomes cold.
For those who are active early in the morning, the cold morning weather may be stressful.
For those who are active during the day, the lack of sunlight in the morning makes it easier to sleep.
Furniture and wallpaper fade easily
The afternoon sun can cause furniture and wallpaper to fade easily. This is because the ultraviolet rays from the sun cause sunburn.
In particular, wallpaper that has been damaged by sunlight cannot be restored to its original condition when you move out, so measures must be taken to prevent it from fading.
You can prevent wallpaper from fading by rearranging furniture or installing UV-blocking curtains .
Difficulty seeing the computer or TV screen
Strong western sunlight can make it difficult to see computer monitors or television screens.
For those who work remotely, strong sunlight entering the room can cause reflections on the screen and interfere with your work.
In such cases, it is a good idea to place the monitor or TV in a location where it is not exposed to sunlight.
People who are suited to west-facing properties
We have introduced the advantages and disadvantages of west-facing properties. Based on these characteristics, we will introduce who west-facing properties are suitable for.
There are three main types of people for whom west-facing properties are suitable:
- People who live a nocturnal lifestyle or are active during the day
- People who live in cold climates
- People looking for a good value room
People who live a nocturnal lifestyle or are active during the day
If you go to work during the day and return home late at night, a property facing west is ideal.
I recommend this since you rarely spend time indoors in the afternoon when the sun is strong.
If you get home late at night, you will be less affected by the western sun.
People who are active during the day wake up between the morning and lunchtime, when the sun shines in and they can stay warm.
People who live in cold climates
West-facing properties are popular with people who live in colder climates.
The long hours of sunlight and high room temperatures help keep energy bills down in the winter.
Especially in winter, when it's cold outside, the western sun is warm enough that you don't need to turn on the heating.
Therefore, in cold regions, properties facing west are ideal.
People looking for a good value room
West-facing properties offer good value for money as they have low rent and keep utility bills down.
While it depends on the location and the property's environment, longer hours of daylight and shorter lighting hours at night can help save on electricity bills.
And if the rent for a west-facing room in an apartment building is cheaper, you can live in the same environment for less.
West-facing properties are recommended for those who don't want to spend a lot on living costs.
Measures against western sun to improve living comfort
Recently, products that reduce the intensity of the western sun and home appliances that improve air circulation have become available.
Using products that protect against the western sun can make your home more comfortable.
This is a solution that is easy to install and set up, so please take a look.
Install blackout and heat-blocking curtains
If you are concerned about strong sunlight, blackout and heat-blocking curtains are effective.
Blackout curtains block UV rays and strong sunlight.
There are special fabrics that completely darken a room, as well as curtain fabrics that let in a little light.
If you don't want the room to be dark, you can choose lace curtains that have a light-blocking effect.
Simply close the blackout curtains before you go out to lower the room temperature.
Thermal insulation curtains are curtains that can block out heat and cold from the outside.
To improve cooling efficiency, special fabrics are used to prevent heat from being trapped.
It can also keep out the cold air from outside during the cold season, so it can be used all year round.
Blackout and heat-blocking curtains are sold at home improvement stores and online shopping sites. Curtain specialty stores also sell custom-made curtains .
Applying UV-cut glass film
We recommend UV-blocking film to prevent glare from the sun and sun damage to furniture.
It's very easy to use, just stick it on the window glass.
Furniture and wallpaper can become faded in the sun due to ultraviolet rays, which can leave marks on the wallpaper. It is important to use film to block as much ultraviolet light as possible from entering the room.
They come in a wide variety of sizes and functions, so look for one that fits your window at a home improvement store or online shopping site.
Use a circulator
We also recommend using a circulator to ensure even air flow.
By creating an air flow that expels hot air outdoors, you can lower the room temperature that has risen due to the western sun.
Hot air rises and cool air flows down, mixing the air and keeping the room temperature constant.
Air circulators are sold at electronics retailers and online shopping sites. The more powerful the air circulator is, the more expensive it is, so buy one according to your budget.
Install a high-performance air conditioner
Modern air conditioners have become more sophisticated, able to sense the room temperature and automatically adjust it accordingly.
For example, there is a function that detects temperature and directs cool air at areas where people are present.
If the room temperature becomes too cold, it will automatically switch to energy saving mode, so you won't waste energy.
If you have the budget for moving or are planning to live in a property without air conditioning, you may want to consider air conditioning.
summary
This time, we introduced west-facing properties for rent.
West-facing properties tend to be avoided because they are exposed to the western sun, but they also have benefits such as cheaper rent and lower utility bills.
So, a property facing west is not necessarily a bad property.
You can also take measures against the western sun by using miscellaneous items and home appliances.
By using blackout curtains to block out as much sunlight as possible, you can reduce the amount of heat entering through the windows and lower the room temperature.
We also recommend using sunscreen and high-performance appliances that regulate the air in the room.
West-facing rental properties are often thought of as bad properties, but they are actually worth the money. Please consider a west-facing property as an option.
