The direction your home faces matters—here’s why

North, South, East, or West—Is one direction better than the rest?

Key Takeaways

• The direction your house faces can affect the amount of light it receives, heating and cooling costs, and maintenance.
• Facing south provides bright all-day light, but it can cause damage from sun exposure and result in higher cooling bills.
• Consider habits and needs to determine which rooms require natural or more subdued light at certain hours of the day.

When house shopping, many of us will consider the size of the backyard and the kitchen. We'll squabble over the “right” square footage and even whether or not we should paint over the brick. We won't give a second thought to home orientation. But maybe it’s time all that changed. Should your house face north, south, east, or west?

Realtor.com Executive News Editor Clare Trapasso says the direction a home faces can impact how much light a home receives, heating and cooling bills, and even maintenance needs. The real clincher in all of this is how much sun your chosen direction gets.

But there’s more to consider than whether you take your morning porch coffee with a side of direct sunlight. Here, Trapasso shares the factors that might sway you one way or another when finding your ideal home direction.

Pros Of South-Facing Homes

More often than not, homeowners are looking for spaces with lots of natural light, says Trapasso, which is what makes South-facing homes so desirable. “Southern exposure typically provides the brightest, all-day, natural light compared to a softer, more indirect (and often darker) north-facing light,” she explains. 

Having natural light in your home makes a more pleasant dwelling, and it can improve your mental and physical health, sleep, stress levels, and more. 

However, natural light is hard to mimic, even with specialized lamps, fixtures, and bulbs, so facing a direction that maximizes it can be ideal for many. It can also help you sell your home for top dollar. 

But, Trapasso is quick to point out it really comes down to what a buyer is looking for. “Generally, buyers seek out homes with more natural light making Southern exposures popular,” she shares. “However, it really depends on the buyer and their priorities.”

Cons Of South-Facing Homes

Of course, along with the pros of a South-facing home, so, too, come a few cons. 

Sun Damage Can Be A Concern

One of the most notable drawbacks is the likelihood of sun damage. “South-facing homes can be more vulnerable to sun exposure damage affecting exterior siding, roofing, as well as indoor furniture, which can fade,” explains Trapasso. “This can be costly over time.” 

Summer Energy Bills Can Be High

When it comes to South-facing homes, homeowners can anticipate warmer summers (higher AC bills) and winters (lower heating bills), plus less icy conditions to deal with. 

How To Resolve These Problems

But that shouldn’t necessarily deter you from opting for a home with lots of natural light. Trapasso says items like curtains, blackout shades, and even UV-blocking window film can help protect belongings from being sun-damaged.

Cons Of North-Facing Homes

Depending on your climate, the heating and cooling benefits (and drawbacks) associated with home orientation shouldn’t be overlooked. “North-facing homes may cost less to cool but could cost more to heat in the winter,” says Trapasso. 

“These properties are also more prone to icicles, ice dams, and frozen walkways and driveways as the sun isn’t positioned as well to melt the ice.” 

The Maple family dubbed their home Proud Mary, a nod to the name of the woman who (along with her husband) commissioned its construction in 1906. James Ransom

Pros Of North-Facing Homes

Of course, this isn’t an issue in much of the South. In fact, having a north-facing house could be viewed more as a benefit as it also means the home will stay cooler when the intense summer weather hits. 

Additionally, you're more likely to have a steady amount of light throughout the day, so you may not get the intense swings of light—and temperatures—throughout the day, keeping your HVAC bills from spiking.

Pros Of East- And West-Facing Homes

Regardless of which direction your home faces, having unobstructed views of the water, city skyline, mountains, or other attractions can add great value to your home, according to Trapasso. 

But when it comes to spotting the best sunrise and sunset vantage points, orientation matters. 

“East-facing rooms may have the best sunrise views, while you may see the most magnificent sunsets from west-facing rooms,” says Trapasso. 

The key is to determine where you want to peep those views. Are you more of a front-porch sitter? If so, keep it straightforward with east-facing for sunrise and west-facing for sunsets. If you’d rather take it all in in the privacy of your backyard, plan accordingly by ensuring the backside of your home is the primary factor in your directional desires.

Cons Of East- And West-Facing Homes

While we love a glorious sunrise or sunset, they’re not the most energy-efficient. East- and west-facing houses get plenty of morning and afternoon sun, which is great in the winter for warming your home. 

However, when the summer rolls around and that hot westward sun is beating down at you through your windows, it can be miserable. Not only will you feel warm, but that heat can also jack up your cooling bill and damage the physical house or your furniture. 

Other Directional Factors

Don’t let the direction the front of your home faces be the only factor to consider. Instead, use it as a compass to drive your situational needs for the spaces that mean the most to you. It’s also important to factor in the direction your most-used rooms face.

If you’re a night owl and like a slow wake-up, a primary bedroom with western-facing windows will keep the sunlight more subdued in the morning, but will generally light up in the afternoon, Trapasso explains. 

If you thrive on a natural wakeup, an Eastern-facing room might be best as it receives a lot of natural light in the morning. The same considerations should be kept in mind in regard to rooms where you have any sort of ideal lighting wishes. 

Other Cultural Factors

In Vastu Shastra, which is an ancient Indian architecture philosophy aimed at bringing humans and buildings together in harmony, there are many superstitions surrounding south-facing homes. Some of these myths include a home facing south will bring financial and health problems and misfortunes to the occupants—however, many Vastu sources also say a south-facing home can be auspicious if done right. 

However, in the Chinese practice of Feng Shui–which is the art of achieving balance and harmony through the arrangement of buildings, furniture, and other objects in your environment—south-facing orientation is a good thing. In this practice, all of that light is good for bringing positive energy, called chi, and family harmony. 

Frequently asked Questions

How can I protect my furniture from sun damage in a south-facing home?

Use curtains, blackout shades, and UV-blocking window film to minimize sun damage.

What is the best home orientation for minimizing energy bills?

North-facing homes may cost less to cool but might incur higher heating costs. South-facing homes can lead to higher cooling costs in summer but may save on heating in winter.

How does home orientation affect the resale value?

Homes with more natural light, often due to Southern exposure, are generally more desirable and can potentially sell for a higher value.