Which exposure is right for you + NYC living rooms with fantastic double exposures

By Cait Etherington | From Future New York Saturday, May 2, 2026

Home with multiple open exposures at The Park Millennium, 111 West 67th Street, #28DEF | Compass | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/lincoln-center/park-millennium-111-west-67th-street/8262/28DEF/CCsutshA

In a city where exposures can be a home’s best feature, there is no underestimating the value of a great view. This article explores the high value placed on exposures and how to determine the ideal exposure when renting or buying a New York City apartment.

Questions to ask when weighing the pros and cons of exposures

While some exposures are considered more valuable than others, there are pros and cons associated with every exposure, which means that the right exposure for you may be the wrong exposure for someone else. The following are five key questions to ask when exploring exposures.

What quality of natural light do you prefer, and at what times of day?

While there is no such thing as a right or wrong answer to this question, it is worth mentioning that each direction has pros and cons.

Eastern exposure

If you're an early riser, you may want to look for an eastern exposure to take advantage of the day's first light streaming into your apartment. However, if you're not a morning person, an eastern exposure, especially a bedroom with an eastern exposure on a high floor, may not be the best way to start each day.

Cannon Point North, #11M
$1,550,000

Beekman/Sutton Place | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths

Open House: Saturday - Sunday, May 3-4, 2026

Cannon Point North, #11M (Compass)

From the Listing: Bring your vision to Residence 11M, an expansive, sun-drenched 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home perched on the 11th floor. Boasting sweeping, direct views of the East River, this highly sought-after M-line layout offers exceptional proportions. The home features a proper entry foyer, an oversized living room bathed in eastern light, and a dedicated formal dining area. Both bedrooms are generous in size, including a king-sized primary suite with an en-suite bath.With its gracious footprint, 11M is the perfect canvas to design your dream home. See floor plan and full details here.

Western exposure

A western exposure will give you a great view of the sun setting over the city. In addition to the great sunsets, a western exposure will also deliver many hours of direct sunlight later in the day.

The Oliver Cromwell, #PH27A
$5,750,000

Central Park West | Cooperative | 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 1,975 ft²

Open House: Thursday, May 14, 2026

The Oliver Cromwell, #PH27A (Corcoran Group)

From the Listing: The Crown Jewel of The Oliver Cromwell Perched on the 27th-29th floors of Emery Roth's celebrated 1927 landmark the Oliver Cromwell. This singular triplex residence delivers unmatched light, sweeping skyline, Park and Hudson views, and gracious indoor/outdoor living - a rare Upper West Side offering. Enter on the 27th floor to an expansive great room framed by western vistas and UV-protected gallery windows. Ten-foot ceilings and pristine hardwood floors create an elegant space for both intimate evenings and grand entertaining. See floor plan and full details here.

Southern exposure

Southern exposures also tend to get a lot of direct light during the day. If you love a bright apartment, you'll likely love a southern exposure, but during the summer months, it may impact the overall temperature of your unit. Also, compared to a western exposure, a southern exposure will bring somewhat harsher light into your unit. Investing in heat-reflective blinds or even treating your windows with a heat-reflective film may be necessary.

84 Oak Street, #3B
$3,500,000

Greenpoint | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths | 2,017 ft²

84 Oak Street, #3B (Serhant)

From the Listing: Residence 3B at 84 Oak Street is a design-forward home defined by scale, light, and a rare sense of privacy in the heart of Greenpoint. Set within an intimate six-residence boutique condominium between West and Franklin Streets, this recently renovated 2,017 sq ft three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence is distinguished by exceptional proportions. The main living space spans an impressive 25-foot width, complemented by soaring 17-foot ceilings, creating a volume typically reserved for townhouse living. Dual north and south exposures invite natural light to travel through the home throughout the day, illuminating continuous white oak flooring. See floor plan and full details here.

Northern exposure

If you’re seeking less direct sunlight, opt for a northern exposure. This may sound like the least desirable at first blush, but less sunlight means a somewhat gentler morning wake-up, and may not bring as much heat into an apartment.

Park Millennium, #28DEF
$11,800,000

Lincoln Center | Condominium | 5 Bedrooms, 5 Baths | 4,500 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Park Millennium, #28DEF (Compass)

From the Listing: Residence 28DEF opens with a gracious, art-worthy foyer and gallery, an ideal welcome for collectors. A thoughtfully designed mud room area is perfect for convenience and storage. Beyond, a dramatic wall of windows floods the home with natural light, framing breathtaking east, north and west exposures across the expansive home. See floor plan and full details here.

Do you own furniture or collectibles that need to be protected from direct sunlight?

However welcome sunlight may be, if you've ever looked at a bookshelf that has been exposed to direct sunlight for many years, you will already appreciate that direct sunlight does bleach out color. Unless you're an antiquarian, you may not care if your book spines grow paler by the year, but if you own any precious works of art or light-sensitive items of furniture (notably, upholstered items are generally at risk), you may want to take this into consideration when exploring the pros and cons of different exposures. While light-reflective window dressings and window films can help, both represent an additional investment that may not be worthwhile, especially if you’re renting.

Are you concerned about the impact and cost of cooling and heating your apartment?

The only thing more coveted than a great view and amazing natural light may be a climate-controlled environment. If you care about keeping your apartment cool during the summer months, both western and southern exposures, which deliver ample direct sunlight in the afternoon and later in the day, may not be ideal since they will raise the temperature of your apartment and, in turn, your reliance on air conditioning. For this reason, if you're concerned about cost or about reducing your carbon footprint, an eastern or northern exposure may be preferable.

Is an ideal exposure a deal breaker or just a nice-to-have?

A final consideration is how much you are or are not willing to pay for a great view. With very few exceptions, the best deals in most buildings are found on the first and second floors, which generally have the least desirable exposures. In some cases, however, even a higher-level floor may still be more affordable. If the tenth floor of a building doesn't have unobstructed views but the eleventh floor does, expect to pay less for the tenth-floor unit. The bottom line is that if you're willing to compromise on your exposure (e.g., a northern versus southern exposure in Manhattan or an obstructive versus unobstructed exposure), you may be able to save tens of thousands of dollars in the process.

Corner living room facing the Hudson River

In West Side apartments, southwest-facing apartments are coveted for their river views. (One High Line - Corcoran Group)

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The market value of great exposures

In New York City, great exposures are often worth tens of thousands of dollars, which is why comparable apartments in the same building nearly always cost more on higher versus lower floors. But floor level isn't the factor that impacts the value of an exposure. In Manhattan, southern-facing exposures that offer a bird's eye view of the city's skyline tend to be worth more than northern-facing exposures. Likewise, a western exposure offering views of the Hudson River will generally be worth more than an eastern exposure offering city views.

It also goes without saying that obscured exposures (e.g., an exposure that looks onto the wall of an adjacent building) are generally worth less than unobstructed exposures. In fact, great exposures are so coveted in New York City that some owners are even willing to pay to preserve them. A case in point took place at City Prairie, a Chelsea cooperative where owners paid $11 million to buy the air rights to an adjacent property in a bid to keep a developer from building a 145-foot tower that would have marred their views of the Empire State Building and reduced their natural light. A smaller retail building rose on the site instead.

Developers and designers have taken notice of the value of open exposures and abundant light, and worked that into their projects. The apartments at the nearly finished mixed-use condo, 520 Fifth Avenue, start on the 42nd floor, the better to make the most of open exposures and city views. This is likely a factor why the building sold so quickly. In Downtown Brooklyn, Nine Chapel was designed so that every apartment is a corner unit with at least two exposures, allowing for an abundance of natural light in multiple directions. It is nearly 90% sold.

Active Listings with Light-filled Exposures

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

The Toulaine, #22H
$765,000

Lincoln Center | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath

The Toulaine, #22H (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)

From the Listing: You found it! In the Heart of desirable Lincoln Square, this bright, very High Floor, Move-in Ready one bedroom is primed for your comfort! Enjoy blue skies and open city views through the oversized windows in your living room and bedroom. Apt.22H is cheerful, bright and inviting with abundant sunshine and generously proportioned rooms that feel spacious and wide. See floor plan and full details here.

Sherman Square, #9H
$799,000

Broadway Corridor | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 670 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Sherman Square, #9H (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)

From the Listing: Wake up to mornings on your sun-drenched east-facing balcony with views stretching east, north and south along Amsterdam and Broadway's Upper West Side. Inside this newly renovated Jr 1-bedroom home, you'll find a sleek white modern bathroom, a huge almost 28' long living room, a beautiful white and stainless galley kitchen,3 oversized closets, and newly upgraded electrical. See floor plan and full details here.

565 West End Avenue, #3G
$995,000

Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 950 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

565 West End Avenue, #3G (Corcoran Group)

From the Listing: Residence 3G at 565 West End Avenue is a gracious and oversized one-bedroom home with lovely tree-lined views over West End Avenue and classic prewar charm throughout. Every room is generously scaled and windowed, bringing in beautiful eastern light and an airy feel throughout the day. A proper entry foyer opens to an expansive dining gallery-large enough to accommodate dining, entertaining, or a home office setup. Just beyond, the dramatic sunken living room offers wonderful proportions and signature corner windows with eastern and southern exposures, creating a bright and inviting space for everyday living. See floor plan and full details here.

278 West 86th Street, #2AB
$1,000,000

Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

278 West 86th Street, #2AB (CORE Group Marketing LLC)

From the Listing: Rare full-floor home with architectural pedigree. A charming pre-war residence. Homes with this level of space, character, and layout flexibility are rarely available at this price point within such a well-located historic building. Spanning approximately 925 square feet with soaring 11'6-foot ceilings, this full-floor residence offers volume, light, and historic appeal. Just one flight up, this home originally served as a parlor level in the early 1900s, designed for gracious entertaining, a quality that still defines the space today. See floor plan and full details here.

Chatham 44, #PHA
$1,295,000

Midtown West | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 1.5 Baths | 828 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Chatham 44, #PHA (Compass)

From the Listing: Penthouse Living with Your Own Private Rooftop Cabana — Welcome Home. Perched atop Chatham 44, this one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath penthouse delivers something rare in NYC: two private outdoor spaces, all-day light, and skyline views — plus 828 square feet of beautifully appointed interior to come home to. With a private balcony, a 176-square-foot rooftop cabana, and a dedicated storage unit, this penthouse is built for people who actually want to use their home. See floor plan and full details here.

The Belvoir, #PH-G
$1,375,000

Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 800 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

The Belvoir, #PH-G (Compass)

From the Listing: An urban outdoor oasis available for the first time in 50 years......Bring your designer! High above West End Avenue, this rare and exceptional penthouse residence presents a unique opportunity to own a truly special home. Grand in scale and rich in character, the oversized one-bedroom co-op boasts a thoughtfully designed layout and remarkable architectural details throughout. Most notably, the massive wrap-around terrace is equal in measure to the interior space, providing enough room to create separate zones for cooking/dining and lounging/sunning. Further, it is surprisingly quiet, due to the fact that it is set back from the street. See floor plan and full details here.

The New York Towers, #18C
$1,560,000

Gramercy Park | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

The New York Towers, #18C (Compass)

From the Listing: Welcome to Residence 18C at 305 East 24th Street — a bright and spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home featuring a smart five-room layout. A gracious entry foyer leads to an expansive living area filled with natural light from its open northern and western exposures, complemented by a formal dining room just off the kitchen — perfect for entertaining. Step outside to your private terrace, an ideal spot to relax and unwind. See floor plan and full details here.

Olympia, #18D
$1,650,000

DUMBO | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 795 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Olympia, #18D (Sothebys International Realty)

From the Listing: Overlooking the New York Harbor and Downtown Brooklyn in the heart of historic Dumbo, Residence 18D is a spectacular one-bedroom residence. Offering 795 SF of interior space and ceiling heights up to 11' this home perfectly combines luxury and convenience.The foyer with a large coat closet leads into an open kitchen and living/dining area defined by attention to detail throughout. See floor plan and full details here.

Sweeney Building, #8H
$1,775,000

DUMBO | Condominium | 1 Bedroom, 2.5 Baths | 1,230 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Sweeney Building, #8H (Archpoint Advisory)

From the Listing: Perched on the eighth floor of the iconic Sweeney Building at 30 Main Street, this architect-designed loft is one of DUMBO's most thoughtfully reimagined residences. From sweeping, unobstructed views of the East River, the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and the glittering city skyline, to the meticulous custom finishes throughout - every detail signals a home in a class of its own. At 1,230 square feet, the layout is a study in intelligent design. See floor plan and full details here.

One Brooklyn Bridge Park, #305
$1,895,000

Brooklyn Heights | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,386 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

One Brooklyn Bridge Park, #305 (Compass)

From the Listing: Volume, Light, and the Brooklyn Horizon. In this sprawling 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, ~1,386-square-foot loft, the architecture does the talking. Boasting soaring 13-foot ceilings and oversized windows that drink in the light, this residence offers a dual-aspect perspective that captures the evolving energy of the downtown Brooklyn skyline to the East and the warmth of the Southern sun. See floor plan and full details here.

119 West 71st Street, #9B
$2,350,000

Broadway Corridor | Cooperative | 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

119 West 71st Street, #9B (Compass)

From the Listing: Residence 9B at 119 West 71st Street is a renovated sun-filled classic six room home with sweeping open views of the city skyline in the heart of the Upper West Side. This high-floor home with generously proportioned rooms masterfully blends original prewar architectural charm with modern luxury finishes. See floor plan and full details here.

37 Riverside Drive, #10B
$2,500,000

Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

37 Riverside Drive, #10B (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)

From the Listing: Floating Above the Hudson. Perfectly positioned on the 10th floor of 37 Riverside Drive at 76th Street, this classic prewar home is graced with stunning park and river views to the north- gorgeous light from every window. A timeless space of enduring elegance and extraordinary potential. See floor plan and full details here.

The Mondrian, #29D
$2,550,000

Midtown East | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths | 1,700 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

The Mondrian, #29D (Sothebys International Realty)

From the Listing: Residence 29D represents the rare combination of design, light, and location—a turnkey home. The expansive living and dining area frames breathtaking city and East River views through a full wall of windows, bathing the home in natural light from sunrise to sunset. See floor plan and full details here.

One West End, #26G
$3,395,000

Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 1,471 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

One West End, #26G (Compass)

From the Listing: Welcome to Residence 26G, a brand new, never lived in two bedroom, two and a half bath home at One West End. This corner residence combines elegant design, refined materials, and open north and west views that bring in beautiful natural light throughout the day. One West End is a full service luxury condominium offering exceptional amenities and a tax abatement in place until 2039. See floor plan and full details here.

One United Nations Park, #38H
$3,695,000

Murray Hill | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 1,818 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

One United Nations Park, #38H (Serhant)

From the Listing: Welcome to this exquisite, high-floor 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom corner condo graced with a private balcony and dramatic views of the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the East River, and the Queensboro Bridge. Moments from the United Nations, Tudor City, and the heart of Midtown, this sprawling residence offers an effortless indoor-outdoor lifestyle in the sky. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows with northern and western exposures flood the home with natural light, offering enchanting sunrise and sunset vistas year-round. See floor plan and full details here.

295 Warren Street, #TH
$3,999,000

Boerum Hill | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 2,720 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

295 Warren Street, # (Corcoran Group)

From the Listing: Welcome to 295 Warren Street! Modern and sleek this fabulous two-family townhouse is fully renovated. Currently configured as a double duplex with two, 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath apartments, this lovely home offers great options for its new owner--live in one unit and rent the other, or easily convert the house into a single-family home. Up one flight, the upper duplex opens into a loft-like living space with an easy, open flow. See floor plan and full details here.

Maverick, #16A
$4,750,000

Chelsea | Condominium | 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 2,100 ft²

Maverick, #16A (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

From the Listing: This graciously proportioned 2,100 SF four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath residence features both Southwestern and Northeastern exposures with oversized tilt-and-turn windows, and seven-inch-wide white European oak flooring throughout. The Chef's kitchen unfolds to the expansive living and dining spaces and boasts a fully integrated Miele appliance package including a dishwasher and wine fridge. White oak cabinetry by Scavolini surrounds the space, finished with oil-rubbed bronze metal surround accents and integrated under-cabinet lighting, completed with a Dornbracht mounted kitchen faucet in a platinum matte finish. See floor plan and full details here.

72 Poplar Street, #PH
$5,350,000

Brooklyn Heights | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths | 2,000 ft²

Open House: Sunday, May 3, 2026

72 Poplar Street, #PH (Compass)

From the Listing: Step into the epitome of luxury living with this meticulously designed full-floor penthouse condo that redefines urban elegance. Nestled in a landmark Italian Renaissance Revival building at the crossroads of Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO, this three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence offers 2,000 sq ft of interior sophistication paired with an extraordinary 2,468 sq ft wraparound rooftop terrace boasting sweeping views of Lower Manhattan and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. See floor plan and full details here.

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Contributing Writer Cait Etherington Cait Etherington has over twenty years of experience working as a journalist and communications consultant. Her articles and reviews have been published in newspapers and magazines across the United States and internationally. An experienced financial writer, Cait is committed to exposing the human side of stories about contemporary business, banking and workplace relations. She also enjoys writing about trends, lifestyles and real estate in New York City where she lives with her family in a cozy apartment on the twentieth floor of a Manhattan high rise.

Read Full Bio | Contact Cait Etherington

In this article:

Questions to ask when weighing the pros and cons of exposures

Eastern exposure

Cannon Point North, #11M
$1,550,000

Western exposure

The Oliver Cromwell, #PH27A
$5,750,000

Southern exposure

84 Oak Street, #3B
$3,500,000

Northern exposure

Park Millennium, #28DEF
$11,800,000

Select which properties are of interest to you:

The market value of great exposures

Active Listings with Light-filled Exposures

The Toulaine, #22H
$765,000

Sherman Square, #9H
$799,000

565 West End Avenue, #3G
$995,000

278 West 86th Street, #2AB
$1,000,000

Chatham 44, #PHA
$1,295,000

The Belvoir, #PH-G
$1,375,000

The New York Towers, #18C
$1,560,000

Olympia, #18D
$1,650,000

Sweeney Building, #8H
$1,775,000

One Brooklyn Bridge Park, #305
$1,895,000

119 West 71st Street, #9B
$2,350,000

37 Riverside Drive, #10B
$2,500,000

The Mondrian, #29D
$2,550,000

One West End, #26G
$3,395,000

One United Nations Park, #38H
$3,695,000

295 Warren Street, #TH
$3,999,000

Maverick, #16A
$4,750,000

72 Poplar Street, #PH
$5,350,000

Turn Favoritesinto Tours!

In this article:

Questions to ask when weighing the pros and cons of exposures

Eastern exposure

Western exposure

Southern exposure

Northern exposure

Select which properties are of interest to you:

The market value of great exposures

Active Listings with Light-filled Exposures

Select which properties are of interest to you:

Listings in this article

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