A round window placed in an unexpected area can make a wonderful focal point for a room. Sure, it’s easy to say that porthole windows are just for nautical themes but that’s simply not true. Think of a circular window as a special resource, a secret weapon which you can use whenever you want to add a unique touch to an interior design or to punctuate the architecture or geometry of a building. A round window can enrich a space in numerous ways and we’ll have a look at some right now.

The round window is framed by a custom shelving unit that wraps around it

This large and round window is one of the most beautiful and special things about the Urban Cabin, a structure designed by Fábio Galeazzo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The aim here was to enhance and highlight the connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces and to enhance the view by framing the landscape.

The custom wood shutters make this round window look like a giant pinwheel

It’s hard to decide what’s most interesting, the fact that this holiday home has a cylindrical shape or the wooden shutters that were custom designed for the circular glass wall and the end of the structure. The clients wanted this to be a cozy retreat, sort of like a luxury campsite and this is the unique design that Simon Laws of Anthill Constructions came up with.

The round window in the bathroom adds a nautical touch to the design, especially considering the viewThe bedroom actually has two circular windows, each framing a different portion of the view

This is how a suite in the Dream Downtown Hotel from New York looks like. The large round windows pierce the hotel’s facade giving it an unusual, unique and memorable look. The hotel was designed by Handel Architects and on one side the facade features two perforated stainless steel layers with different patterns.

The circular cutouts in the staircase wall act as windows, letting light filter through and serving as artwork alternatives

This is the staircase designed by Karawitz Architecture for a house that they built in Bessancourt, France. The design of the house is an interesting interpretation of the traditional home, with a pronounced sculptural character and a somewhat abstract appearance.

The skylights aren’t perfectly round and this gives an organic lookThe design of the house is inspired by the topography of the Jeju island

The inspiration for this residence is the cocoon, hence its name (the Cocoon House). This was a project by Planning Korea and the actual cocoon volume is at the center of the building. It has an organic, rounded shape very similar to what it seeks to represent and it has these circular windows/ skylights that bring light in.

The round windows form cozy nooks ideal for reading or admiring the views

This is a house set in a preserved area of the rainforest on the coast of São Sebastião and designed by Arqdonini Architects. It’s a house that respects its surroundings and makes the most of the views. The idea was to link it to the landscape by using natural, pure materials and a chromatic palette based on earthy tones.

The round window coordinates with the wall mirror and the sink

A porthole window can enhance even the simplest and most utilitarian space. It’s not always something you associate with the nautical style, although it does have this effect, especially when used in bathrooms. This design, however, is rather more industrial with a hint of glamour and luxury.

The stained glass on this round window is a really great fit for the vintage decor inspirationMost round windows are not operable. This one is a pivot window which can be opened to let in fresh air

Somehow, a large circular window is more charming than a rectangular one and that’s because of its less common shape. The round edge is a great fit for the bedroom because it coordinates well with all the soft edges and smooth angles from throughout the room.

It’s easy for a round window to become a focal point, especially in a decor like thisAn ox-eye window is a feature that can break the monotony in a kitchen

When dealing with a neutral or monochromatic palette, a decor needs something special to stand out and to look complete and beautiful and that something could be a round window. Consider this feature for utilitarian spaces such as the kitchen or the bathroom.

In this kitchen, the circular window is a fun focal point which framed the view above the sink

A lot of things can make a kitchen look special and stand out from all the usual designs and one of them is a round window. Adapt its style to the look you prefer for the room.

Although it looks quite out of place, this round window adds character to the house

It may seem a bit odd to think of a window in a way similar to a work of art but there’s not really such a big difference between them assuming that the window doesn’t have a standard design. For this London house extension, Paul Archer Design created a large round window inspired by sculptor Barbara Hepworth and abstract painter Ben Nicholson.

All the windows stand out in this room by contrasting with each other

Sure, you can’t only have round windows in your home because then none of them would look special. It’s best to only use them as accent features and to let them contrast with regular, rectangle-shaped windows.

The cloud that frames the window is a thin shell of gypsum and fibre, only 7 mm thick

What you see here is just a small part of an awesome project developed by architect Carlos Arroyo in Oostkamp, Belgium. His task was to transform a large industrial building which featured this big hall. The architect chose to decorated the space with a series of luminous white clouds pierced by the round windows.

Technically, the windows on this structure are not exactly round but that’s because they’re meant to be irregular just like the form of the building itself. Curious what this is? It’s the Mousemotel, an unusual project by architect Pascal Hausermann. The hotel is located in France and it’s actually a group of small, white structures that resemble pods.

Any other type of window would have ruined the peaceful and relaxing ambiance

This is the interior of the Grotto Sauna, an amazing retreat on the shore of Lake Huron, north of Toronto. It’s a dreamy location and this sauna respects it and gains from its beauty by mimicking the forms around it. This was a project by Partisans.

Round windows are not just eye-catching and beautiful, they’re also pretty fun

it’s hard to even spot this quirky little house that Denieuwegeneratie built in Huizen, The Netherlands. That’s because it’s embedded in an artificial hill. It’s the strategy that the architects used in order to minimize the impact on the landscape.

The round windows and the rounded corners give the hotel a very elegant lookAlthough the windows are not that big, they frame the views in a unique way

In Vienna’s historical center one building stands out from the rest. It’s the Topazz hotel, a structure designed by BWM Architekten. It has a very distinctive facade with curved edges and lots of round windows that follow an asymmetrical pattern. The building has a lot of character and a strong visual presence.

The round pivot window is operable which is a necessity in areas such as the bathroom

The Welseley Residence is a beautiful familly home designed by mckimm in Brighton, Australia. It’s a special and beautiful house that looks all closed off from the street but is actually very open to the outdoors towards the back. It has a modern design with simple, geometric forms reiterated throughout the interior.

A large round window is paired here with rectangle-shaped windows on the opposite wall

The futuristic nature of this residence’s design makes it easy for elements such as round windows or clean, geometric forms to look natural. This is a house located in Athens, Greece. It was designed by Dimitris Economou and it’s a home defined by a neutral and minimalist palette of colors based on shades of brown, beige and the always elegant black and white.

The repetitive nature of the windows creates a pattern that suits the building perfectly

What better name to represent this home than the “O House”. It captures the very essence of what defines it best: a facade pierced by lots of round holes/ windows. It’s a very unusual design, very sculptural and surprisingly well-balanced. The design of the facade is both ornamental and focused on the views. This was a project developed by Philippe Stuebi in Switzerland.

From inside this tower home one has panoramic views on all sides and even towards the sky

Looking at this old defense tower from a distance, one wouldn’t really imagine that inside of it there’s a cozy and modern living space. Unexpected surprises like this one are the most beautiful and memorable. The tower was transformed into a comfortable home by Piercy Conner Architects who made sure to keep its original charm and exterior shell intact. They transformed the interior, creating a sort of tower within a tower which has a row of windows at the top and round windows on the ceiling.

It’s actually the combination between the window and the garden view that makes this such a wonderful feature

Variations of the porthole window are designed by architects as custom features in their projects, like this beautiful window that overlooks a garden. It’s not round nor does it want to be. It’s been designed with a built-in lounge area perfect for admiring the view or for meditating and reading. This is a design by Dominique Coulon.

The round window fits rather nicely in this vintage-industrial bathroom

This house designed by Andrew Hinman Architecture is unusual for several reasons. The first one would be the fact that it’s a vintage streamlined aluminum house and then there’s also its design which is a sort of a hybrid between various styles and concepts. The Locomotive Ranch Trailer is located in Uvalde, Texas where it’s been relocated as requested by the client.