The sun's angle at any given time of the day depends on your latitude. The further north you live, the lower the winter sun will be in the southern sky. Whether a window faces north, east, south or west makes a big difference in the type of light it receives. If you want morning sunlight to spray across your breakfast table, your breakfast room window should face east. South-facing windows are often located beneath eaves or roof overhangs that block the high, intense summer sun but allow the warmth of the lower winter sun.
Western sun can be intense and glaring.
Controlling it is more difficult because, as the sun sets, its low angle dips beneath eaves and overhangs. Shades, blinds or glare-resistant glazing are generally required. North light, never direct from the sun, has cool, bluish hues because it comes from the sky. Because it's constant, north light is favored for artists' studios and the like. All rights reserved.