I really don't like windows behind the nightstands. Plus the trim and window treatments almost always end up partly behind the bed because enough room was not left for them. Could they be placed beyond the nighstand on each side?

I went with choice number 3 as my DD did not want full size windows near her bed. I like that idea the most.

I have full size on the sides of each nightstand and a large transom over the bed. No window treatments

We are doing the windows above the nightstand (architect designed them to flank a king bed and ID has double checked measurements as built) because we have some nice views we didn't was to miss, but I do like smaller windows over the bed as well -- but too high for the views in our situation, so architect shot that one down. We will probably do low profile blinds and nightstands are being custom built to span the width of the bedside windows. Large 9' window with window seat (the dog will love it!) on the north wall.

I'm half-kidding, but if you read or watch much horror, windows belong behind nightstands (or beyond them, like palimpsest said).

I do like the transom over the bed as well. I just don't like lamps right up against windows so much.

We went with choice #3 fixed windows with no window treatments as they naturally preserve privacy. On the larger windows in the room on a different wall we have curtains flanking them but they do not close-decor only. Then we have a blind that we can close but being in the woods and facing the back we don't ever need to close it so it basically disappears.

I really don't like windows behind the nightstands. Plus the trim and
window treatments almost always end up partly behind the bed because
enough room was not left for them. Could they be placed beyond the
nighstand on each side?

Yeah, the idea of the side of a window partially covered is unappealing ... though I'm fine with the behind-the-bed window.

Another thing -- a thing I haven't really considered -- is that we will definitely keep our king-sized bed when we move ... but at some point I'm going to be in this house alone .... probably for 20-30 years; I don't like thinking about that, but considering our health and ages, it's realistic ... and there's a really good chance I'll downsize the bed. I don't want the windows to look like they'd only "fit" a king sized bed.

I have full size on the sides of each nightstand and a large transom over the bed. No window treatments

See, I think I have to have window treatments. Like I said, one side wall will house a patio door, while the other side wall will house a double-window ... I have to have window treatments on those large items ... so it seems to me that if I cover SOME windows, I must cover ALL windows.

but too high for the views in our situation,

Again, with large windows /door on the two sides, it'd be a little silly of me to be concerned about people looking in the windows over the bed.

I'm
half-kidding, but if you read or watch much horror, windows belong
behind nightstands (or beyond them, like palimpsest said).

That picture icked me out a little, reminding me why I'm not a horror fan.

I do like the transom over the bed as well. I just don't like lamps right up against windows so much.Hmmm, do I have an opinion about lamps in front of windows? I don't think I do.

Thanks for the thoughts, folks. I'm still undecided and am interested in other opinions.

My only issue with windows behind night stands is all the books I have stacked on mine and if a good breeze would make a mess all the time.

I think with most designs like 1, 2, and 3, they look great with the drapes extending to the wall- as of the whole wall has windows. Otherwise there's a strip of exposed painted wall that looks off.

One reason I do not care for windows flanking the bed is what you touched on. I am definitely one of those symmetry people. If you fit the windows to the size of a king bed, how far from the bed are your windows going to be and what size?

The reason I ask is that you would want the window to center the nightstand. Wherever the window is placed will always determine the size of nightstand you can have.

If I had the choice, I would not place windows beside the bed, but on a side wall or on the wall the bed faces. Then place mirrors over the nightstand. You still get natural light and you get the reflection from the mirrors.

My only issue with windows behind night stands is all the books I have
stacked on mine and if a good breeze would make a mess all the time.

I'm a Kindle reader, so I have a lot less on my nightstand than I did years ago, but with significant windows on each side of the bed, we are expecting wonderful cross-breezes in the bedroom.
I think with most designs like 1, 2, and 3, they look great with the
drapes extending to the wall- as of the whole wall has windows.
Otherwise there's a strip of exposed painted wall that looks off.

Very good point ... curtains to the edges are nicer.

Another thought I hadn't considered -- I won't have any cool architectural bits; just a plain rectangular room ... hopefully with great windows.

Off topic: I was just running through some online pictures ... my headboard looks kind of like this, except smaller (not so tall, not so wide) ... but mine's wood-tone. Oh, my, my, why have I never considered painting my headboard turquoise?

I'm doing 3 20" x 20" windows behind the bed higher up. They will be a tryptic stained glass.

Actually this house is designed to have all beds at ninety degrees to the windows and to the entry door which is past the foot of the bed. There is no place to put the bed elsewhere unless it's a twin. I think the architect did some things very specifically. We need black out shades or curtains because there is so much light pollution here.

I was gonna totally suggest stained glass, but CP beat me to it!

If you end up with windows above the bed, do them in odd numbers. :-) My personal favorite is three.

I have a behind the bed window in my current house (casement, guest bed). To do this we ended up eliminating the headboard, but there a chair like pillow for sitting up in bed. Another option would have been finding a shorter headboard than what originally came with that bed.

Here's a pic of my windows behind the bed. My bed will actually fit inside the "niche" and the windows will eventually have stained glass panels attached. Mine is a traditional look for the windows but the designer for our builder did one long window above the bed in a contemporary home they just completed.

how would the different window options impact the exterior?

I'm doing 3 20" x 20" windows behind the bed higher up. They will be a tryptic stained glass.

I can't believe I didn't consider stained glass. I LOVE stained glass ... my husband adores it too. I have some leaded glass in my current house, but no stained glass. I consider stained glass one of those things that exists outside of trends ... never really "out" ... I've always loved it and am planning to have stained glass light fixtures in the kitchen / over the dining table.

But could I have stained glass over the bed with NO window treatment ... and drapes on the windows /doors to the sides of the bed? It'll be a very small master, and I'm iffy about mixing window treatments.

Both of the pictures you included appeal to me ... perhaps the modern one appeals most because I have in mind a very simple, clean design for the bedroom and your picture is VERY LIKE my thoughts (though I'm more traditional in general, and that'll be reflected in the main living areas). But I think I do like the three windows better than one large one.

I LOVE the concept of bed-tucked-into-niche that you're using in your bedroom ... seems cozy ... but I don't want to be tied into maintaining a king-sized bed forever.

how would the different window options impact the exterior?

A very good question, and the answer is, Very Little.

The master bedroom will be on the side of the house ... set in a little bump-out like the grey bump-out to the left of this house (not our actual plan, just an example picked from the internet).

So, the windows to the left of the bed will face the front of the house, but the windows over the bed will be to the side of the house ... they won't need to match up with the upstairs bedroom windows above.

But could I have stained glass over the bed with NO window treatment ... and drapes on the windows /doors to the sides of the bed? It'll be a very small master, and I'm iffy about mixing window treatments.

That's exactly what I'm doing. Actually I'll probably just do window shades since my look is craftsman. But why couldn't you? My master is 13' from back wall where stained glass is to opposite wall, and 16' from side to side. Not large either.

I have a transom window behind our bed with no window treatment. We had considered putting a film on the window to defuse the light, but after living with it this way for 3 years, I'm fine as is. Our bedroom is west facing.

NHBaskets, that's a lovely room ... and I like the greenery/candles in lieu of window treatments. We actually have that same "look" in a similar window over our tub.

My3Dogs, what a wonderful view.

We put our window behind the bed - I wake up when the light comes in, and so I always use room-darkening curtains, and this way you see the window from the outside for symmetry, but it doesn't annoy my sleep pattern.

My window setup is just like yours Glass door on one side double windows on the other. And we chose the smaller windows over the head of the bed. Love all the windows.