How Sun Exposure and Home Orientation Affect Life in OHCC.
A client asked us a great question this week.
She and her husband currently live in Colorado, where their backyard faces east. They love it because they enjoy the shade all afternoon.
As they’re thinking about their future home in Ocean Hills Country Club, she asked:
“What is the best direction for the backyard to face?”
It sounds like a simple question.
But like so many things when it comes to choosing a home in Ocean Hills, the answer is:
It depends.
Think beyond north, south, east or west
Orientation absolutely matters.
An east-facing outdoor space can give you beautiful morning light and more afternoon shade. A western exposure may give you wonderful sunsets—but also more direct afternoon sun.
But direction is only one piece of the equation.
Elevation matters. Vegetation matters. The angle of the house matters.
And perhaps most importantly, the floor plan matters.
Some Ocean Hills floor plans have the kitchen in the front of the home; others have it in the back. Bedrooms, living spaces and larger windows can also be positioned very differently depending on the model.
That means two homes with exactly the same backyard orientation can live very differently.
Start with how you actually live
For us personally, we cook at home a lot. So we wouldn’t particularly want intense late-afternoon sun coming through the kitchen while we’re preparing dinner. We also love having our windows open whenever the weather allows.
Our home’s northern orientation works really well for the way we live. Someone else might feel completely differently.
Maybe morning coffee on a sunny patio is one of your favorite things. Maybe you want afternoon shade because that’s when you’ll spend the most time outside. Maybe catching the sunset from your backyard is high on your wish list and you’re perfectly happy to manage the additional afternoon sun that can come with it.
There’s no universally right answer. There’s only the answer that works best for you—and for that particular house.
Sometimes you have to experience the home
This is why it’s difficult to make blanket rules when you’re searching in Ocean Hills. A home that appears to have an orientation you wouldn’t normally choose might surprise you once you’re standing there.
Maybe it’s elevated enough to catch a wonderful breeze. Maybe mature landscaping provides plenty of shade. Maybe the house sits at an angle that changes the sun exposure considerably. Or perhaps a patio cover makes the outdoor space comfortable during the exact hours you’re most likely to use it.
These are details you can’t always determine from a listing or a compass. Sometimes you just have to stand in the backyard and experience it.
And if you’re seriously considering a particular home, it can even be helpful to see the property at a different time of day.
Know your preferences without creating too many rules
After we shared all of this with our client, she responded:
“It sounds like we’ll just need to wait and see. I don’t want to add too many criteria, or we’ll never find a house that checks all the boxes.”
We thought that was a pretty good conclusion. Knowing what you prefer is incredibly helpful when you’re searching for a home.
But there’s a difference between a preference and a deal-breaker.
The more you learn about Ocean Hills—the floor plans, locations, views, orientations and individual homes—the better you’ll become at knowing which things truly matter to you and which ones you’re willing to be flexible about.
Because ultimately, you’re not looking for the home that checks the greatest number of boxes.
You’re looking for the one that feels right for the way you want to live.
If you’re starting to think about a move to Ocean Hills Country Club, you don’t have to have all of your boxes figured out before you begin. In fact, that’s part of what the process is for.
We love helping buyers explore different floor plans, locations and homes—and along the way, figure out which preferences really matter and which ones might surprise you.
Whether you’re ready to move soon or simply starting to explore, reach out anytime. We’re always happy to help you get to know Ocean Hills and what might feel like home to you.
