Window Furniture Explained

Published: 9 June 2016 | Last Reviewed: 20 August 2026

This post is part of our regularly reviewed content series, ensuring all advice remains accurate and relevant to your home project.

Author: Carl Benson

Carl is the founder of Suffolk Latch Company, with a background in engineering and over 20 years’ experience in home hardware. He works closely with suppliers and designers alike to develop quality ironmongery that stands the test of time. Read my full bio.

A Practical Guide to Window Furniture

Window furniture is the collective term for the fittings used to open, close, hold and secure a window. It includes traditional window stays and fasteners, Espag handles, sash fasteners, sash lifts and pulls, sash stops, fanlight catches and specialist opening fittings.

Choosing the correct hardware starts with the type of window and the way it opens. A traditional timber casement does not use the same fittings as a sliding sash window, while a casement fitted with an Espagnolette mechanism needs a compatible handle rather than a traditional standalone fastener.

This guide explains the main types of window hardware and the job each fitting performs. If you already know what you need, browse our full Window Handles & Hardware Collection.

What Is Window Furniture? Which Window Hardware Do I Need? Window Stays Window Fasteners Window Stays vs Window Fasteners Espag Window Handles Sash Window Furniture Fanlight Window Furniture Traditional Window Furniture Materials and Finishes Replacing Existing Window Furniture Related Reading Conclusion FAQ

What Is Window Furniture?

Window furniture is the hardware fitted to a window so it can be operated and secured. The term covers several product groups, and each one has a different purpose.

On a traditional timber casement window, the main fittings are often a stay and a fastener. The stay holds the open casement in position, while the fastener closes it against the frame. A window with an Espagnolette locking mechanism uses an Espag handle to operate that mechanism. Sliding sash windows use their own fittings, including fasteners, lifts, pulls, stops and, on traditional cord-and-weight systems, pulleys.

Fanlights also require specialist hardware. Depending on the window, this may include a catch, a quadrant or roller-arm stay, or a screw opener for a suitable high-level opening.

Style and finish matter, but function comes first. The safest order is to identify the window, establish what the fitting needs to do, check dimensions and compatibility, and then choose a design and finish.

Which Window Hardware Do I Need?

Start with the window type and how it opens. Once that is clear, choosing the correct hardware becomes much simpler.

The quickest way to narrow the choice is to identify the window type and opening method.

Window type	Typical hardware	Main purpose
Traditional timber casement	Window stay and window fastener	Holds the open casement in position and secures it when closed
Casement with an Espagnolette mechanism	Compatible Espag window handle	Operates the locking mechanism fitted within the window
Sliding sash window	Sash fastener, lifts or pulls, stops and related sash fittings	Closes the meeting rails, provides handholds and controls opening
Opening fanlight	Fanlight catch, specialist stay or suitable opening mechanism	Closes, supports or operates the opening section

This is a starting point rather than a compatibility guarantee. Existing screw holes, plate sizes, fixing centres, spindle dimensions, handing and frame details can all affect the final choice. When replacing hardware, compare the measurements of the old and new fittings before ordering.

Window Stays

A window stay is commonly used on a traditional opening casement. The stay has a row of holes that locate over one of the stay pins, allowing the window to be held at a chosen opening position.

When choosing a stay, check the overall length, the available space on the casement and the fixing positions. Two stays described as the same nominal size may not have identical fixing centres, so measuring the existing fitting is useful when you want to reuse or cover old screw holes.

Our Window Stays Collection includes a range of lengths, designs and finishes. The Avon Window Stay is one example of a stay available in several sizes and finishes to coordinate with related Avon fittings.

For fitting guidance, read How to Install Window Stays. For help checking dimensions, see How to Measure Window Stays.

Reeded Window Stay

Bronze Pear drop Casement Stay

Window Fasteners

A window fastener holds a casement window against its frame when closed. The handle engages with a keeper or plate, depending on the product and the construction of the window.

Traditional fasteners are available in several forms, including locking and non-locking versions. The correct choice depends on the window profile, the keeper arrangement, available fixing space and whether the fastener is handed or reversible. Where security is important, check the individual product specification and the wider window requirements rather than relying on appearance or product name alone.

Browse the full Window Fasteners Collection. A representative option is the Locking Avon Fastener, which is designed for casement windows and coordinates with related Avon window furniture.

If you are unsure about left- and right-handed fittings or the way the keeper is positioned, read our guide to Casement Fastener Handling.

Ball End Casement Fastener

Locking Reeded Fastener

Window Stays vs Window Fasteners

A window stay holds the casement open; a window fastener holds it closed. On many traditional casement windows, both fittings are needed.

A window stay and a window fastener perform different jobs. They are not normally alternatives on a traditional timber casement.

Window stay	Window fastener
Used while the casement is open	Used when the casement is closed
Holds the window at a selected opening position	Holds the casement against the frame
Usually works with stay pins fixed to the window	Works with a compatible keeper or plate
Helps control ventilation and movement	Provides the closing point for the casement

Many traditional outward-opening timber casements therefore use both fittings: the fastener for closing the window and the stay for holding it open. A casement fitted with an Espagnolette mechanism works differently, so check the existing window system before adding or replacing hardware.

Espag Window Handles

“Espag” is short for Espagnolette. An Espag window handle operates a compatible locking mechanism fitted within the window. Turning the handle moves the mechanism, which engages with its keeps around the frame.

The handle is only one part of the system. Before ordering a replacement, check the spindle size, fixing centres, handing, handle position and compatibility with the existing mechanism. A similar-looking handle is not necessarily a direct replacement.

Browse our Espag Window Handles Collection. The Avon Espagnolette shows how a traditional-looking handle can be used with an Espagnolette window system.

For a fuller explanation of terminology, measurements and selection points, read What Is an Espag Window Handle?.

Brompton Espagnolette Matt Black

Espag Window Handles with Armor-Coat

Sash Window Furniture

Sash windows use their own group of fittings. Fasteners, lifts, pulls and stops each have a different job, so the window type should guide the choice.

Sliding sash windows use a different group of fittings from casement windows. A sash fastener closes the meeting rails, while lifts and pulls provide a handhold for moving the sash. Stops can restrict how far the window opens, and pulleys form part of the cord-and-weight system used on many traditional box sash windows.

Choose each fitting according to its job and the dimensions of the window. In particular, check the width and alignment of the meeting rails before selecting a fastener, and make sure the fixing points sit on sound timber.

Our Sash Window Furniture Collection includes fasteners, locks, lifts, pulls, stops and pulleys. The Brighton Sash Fastener is a traditional option for closing the meeting rails of a sliding sash window.

For a more detailed overview of the available fittings, read How to Choose Sash Window Furniture.

Brighton Sash Fastener Lock Satin Brass

Unlacquered Brass Sash Lift Hooks

Fanlight Window Furniture

A fanlight is a smaller window positioned above a door or another window. Some are fixed, while others open for ventilation. Opening fanlights can be high or difficult to reach, so they may need hardware designed for their position and movement.

Depending on the window, the appropriate fitting may be a catch for closing it, a quadrant or roller-arm stay for supporting the opening section, or a screw opener for a compatible high-level fanlight. The hinge position, opening direction, access and frame dimensions all need to be considered.

Browse our Fanlight Window Furniture Collection for catches, specialist stays and opening hardware. Check each product description and dimensions before deciding which fitting suits the window.

Fanlight Catch Matt Bronze

Fanlight Window Screw Opener Polished Brass

Traditional Window Furniture

The original version of this article focused on three familiar casement designs: Monkeytail, Peardrop and Shepherd’s Crook. These names describe the shape of the handle or stay and remain useful when coordinating traditional casement hardware.

A Monkeytail has a curled end, a Peardrop has a fuller tapered shape, and a Shepherd’s Crook has a hooked profile. These design families can appear across matching stays, fasteners and, in some ranges, Espag handles.

Choose the design only after confirming the functional requirements. Matching shapes can help create a consistent scheme, but the stay length, fastener type, keeper, spindle and fixing dimensions still need to suit the window.

Browse our Traditional Window Hardware Collection for coordinated casement fittings in established designs and finishes.

Black Monkey Tail Window Stays

Pewter Monkey Tail Window Stays

Materials and Finishes

Once the type and measurements are settled, you can narrow the choice by material and finish. Common options include brass, bronze, black, pewter, chrome and nickel, with the available finishes depending on the product range.

Think about where the window is fitted, its level of exposure, the surrounding door and cabinet hardware, and the maintenance expected. Products used in damp, exposed or corrosive conditions need to be chosen by their material and performance guidance rather than by colour alone.

For finish-led choices, browse Brass Window Hardware. For suitable projects that call for a higher-performance protective finish, see Armor-Coat Window Furniture and check the individual product information before ordering.

Natural variation and changes in appearance can occur with some materials and finishes. If matching several fittings across one room or property is important, order from the same stated finish and follow the relevant care guidance.

Replacing Existing Window Furniture

Do not choose replacement window hardware by appearance alone. Check the fixing centres, dimensions, handing and existing mechanism before ordering.

Replacing old window hardware is often straightforward, but it is worth inspecting the window before removing anything. Take clear photographs and record how the fitting operates, where the keep sits and which parts move when the handle is used.

Useful measurements can include:

Overall length and width
Fixing centres
Backplate or fixing-plate dimensions
Spindle size and projection where relevant
Keeper size and position
Left- or right-handed operation

Do not assume that a fitting with a similar outline will cover the old holes or operate the existing mechanism. This is particularly important for Espag handles and for fasteners where the keep must align correctly.

For a practical replacement checklist, read How to Replace Window Hardware. For broader ideas about sash and casement window styles, see our Window Inspiration article.

These supporting guides cover the main Window Hardware subjects in more detail:

Conclusion

The simplest way to choose window furniture is to begin with the window type and the job the fitting needs to perform. Traditional casements commonly use a stay and a fastener, Espagnolette windows need a compatible Espag handle, sliding sash windows use dedicated sash fittings, and opening fanlights may require specialist hardware.

After identifying the correct category, check dimensions, fixing positions, handing and compatibility before choosing a design or finish. This helps avoid ordering a fitting that looks suitable but does not work with the existing window.

To compare the full range by window type, visit our Window Handles & Hardware Collection.

FAQ

What is window furniture?

Window furniture is the collective term for the hardware used to open, close, hold or secure a window. It includes products such as window stays, fasteners, Espag handles, sash fittings and fanlight hardware.

What is the difference between a window stay and a window fastener?

A window stay holds an open casement at a selected position. A window fastener holds the casement against the frame when it is closed. The two fittings perform different jobs.

Do I need both a window stay and a window fastener?

Many traditional timber casement windows use both. The stay controls the open position, while the fastener closes the window. Windows with other mechanisms may use a different arrangement, so check the existing window before ordering.

What hardware is used on sash windows?

Sash window furniture can include fasteners or locks for the meeting rails, lifts and pulls for moving the sash, stops for restricting the opening and pulleys for traditional cord-and-weight systems.

What is an Espag window handle?

An Espag window handle operates a compatible Espagnolette locking mechanism fitted within the window. Spindle size, fixing centres, handing and mechanism compatibility should be checked before replacement.

Can old window furniture be replaced?

Yes, in many cases, but the new fitting must suit the window and any existing mechanism. Compare fixing centres, plate sizes, keeper position, spindle dimensions and handing before ordering.