How to Brighten Up a Room Without Windows
You may have the perfect house with a few exceptions. It seems like that is so often the case. Even if you love your house, there is probably at least one thing that you wish you could change. This is probably the case if your house has rooms without windows. Most people love natural light. It is a great way to brighten up your home and your mood. However, there are some houses that have rooms without windows. This does not have to be a deal breaker because there are many tips on how to brighten up a room without windows.
Light Walls and Light Furniture
One of the first things you should consider when determining how to brighten up a room without windows is white walls. If you are not sure about white, you could have them painted a pale blue. These colors help give your room the feeling natural light would give it. In addition, light colors help to reflect light from any source to help give your windowless room the brightest possible feel. A professional painter can help you select a light reflecting color that you can enjoy.
White furniture may not be your preference, but it is a great way to lighten up a room without windows. Consider looking for a long white sofa with a white accent cabinet, and you will be surprised at how it makes the room wider and taller. This automatically brightens your room. When considering how to brighten up a room without windows, you may want to think about a white carpet. Yes, it may stain easily, but it helps to make your room brighter.
Mirrors
Another item to consider when thinking about how to brighten up a room without windows is adding a mirror. If you find one large mirror you love to place on a wall, it is a great way to fake light in your room. Mirrors bounce light off of them and give you depth. This helps to make the room appear larger. Often, rooms without windows seem small and dingy, even when they are not. A mirror helps to break up that feeling. If your room has a low ceiling, get the largest mirror you can. If possible, you want a mirror that is large enough to get within four to six inches of the ceiling. This helps pull attention away from the ceiling and how low it is. If you are hesitant about mirrors because you think they are difficult to keep clean and streak free, you could consider window cleaning services to help keep them spotless.
Internal Windows
When thinking about how to brighten up a room without windows, there are some unique steps you can take that you may not have considered. Just because you cannot add an external window to your home does not mean you should rule out adding any windows. When you have two spaces separated by a wall, you can add full-size windows between the spaces. Of course, these need to be spaces that do not require privacy. For example, you may not want to put a full size window on your bedroom wall. However, adding these windows can give you a great deal of light and create a larger space.
If you cannot or do not want to add a full window to your home, you can consider a transom window. This is a window that is placed high above a door. The wall space above any door that separates it from the ceiling is called a transom. If you put a window in that space, it is called a transom window. It can bring light into the room without taking away any privacy.
Hide Your Lights
When you think about how to brighten up a room without windows, the first thing you may think of is to add lighting. That seems like an obvious first step. While this is true, it is also important to consider where you add your lighting. If you do not have windows in your kitchen, you want to consider adding under cabinet lighting. This type of lighting serves the functional purpose of providing task lighting. It also helps lighten up the edges of the room, so there are no dark corners. Also, adding lights where they cannot be seen is a great way to give the room an indirect glow. This can mimic light coming in from a window. You could consider adding light behind furniture, tucked in near a bookcase, or between beams if that is possible.
When you do not have a window in a specific room, you may have to be over the top with lamps. You can add in more lamps than you think you need. This gives you the ability to turn them all on to give you enough light. You also have the option to turn off some of them to give you mood lighting when you want it. You want to consider mixing both floor and table lamps to give eye level lighting in addition to higher light options that you can use with a floor lamp.
Another consideration for lighting is to add candles to your room. Candles can add more light to your room, and they can provide additional ambiance to your space. Overhead lighting can be a great way to make the lighting in your room even brighter and better. You can consider decorative overhead lighting such as pendants, chandeliers, and semi-flush lighting. This can provide style, design, and lighting to your space.
Bring On the Art
When you want to know how to brighten up a room without windows, you should consider purchasing art for the walls. One great thing about art is it creates a focal point for the room that also adds depth and a pop of color. Another great thing about adding art to your walls is it is maintenance free. Aside from gentle dusting, you can set it and forget it. You can add a large piece of artwork, or you can find several smaller pieces. The great thing about artwork is you cannot go wrong. If you like it, you can consider adding it to your wall. If you opt for a large piece that has a metallic or white frame, it can help to break up the space and bring in the lightness a window would typically add to a room.
Add Some Plants
Not everyone is a fan of plants, but when you are wondering how to brighten up a room without windows, plants are an easy option. Plants literally bring life to a room. When you add them to your space, it helps it feel alive. When thinking about how to add plants to your living space, you can consider adding planters that are a light color. This gives you bursts of colors around the room. One point to keep in mind is that when you place plants in a dark room, you will need to water them regularly or even place them in front of a window in another room occasionally. Another place where you can add plants is in window boxes where you have windows. They add a pop of color to the outside of your home. You can see the flowers in the window boxes from the inside of your house.
Change Your Drapery Options
When you want to think about how to brighten up a room without windows, you should consider your drapery and shades. There are a few techniques you can try when it comes to drapery and window shades for your room. The first option you can try is to create a wall of drapery as a backdrop. The drapery can be placed in such a way that it appears to cover a window, even though there is no window there. In addition, putting a drape on the wall gives your room more depth. You will not even have to pull back the drape to give the wanted depth.
If that option does not appeal to you, you can use some type of shade, such as a Roman shade, in rooms that have windows. Drapes can be heavy and give the room a heavy look. They can also prevent light from coming in. A shade is lighter and has less fabric. It gives the windows a finished look without making them heavy. Also, dark curtains and shades will absorb light and prevent it from coming in. This is ideal if you want the room to be darker, but not when you are trying to add light to a room.
Change Your Flooring
When you want to determine how to brighten up a room without windows, you can make changes to your floor. This may seem like a silly option, but making changes to your floor can really lighten your room. If you have hardwood flooring or want to switch to it, you should consider light wood. It will help to brighten up the room really well. If you are not a fan of white walls and you choose more colors for your walls, a light floor is a great balance. In addition, it can help to make the space feel larger by pushing out the walls.
Another option is to consider a seamless floor. A seamless floor is one that does not have joints, seams, or ridges. These floors are poured into place and become a natural part of the home. These floors may also be referred to as weldless. When placing these types of floors in place, you should consider white painted floors. Depending on the furniture and the other decor in the room, you can create an edgy look that meets your design. If you opt for white floors, you may want to consider a flooring service to help keep your floors clean.
Possible Construction
When you have rooms without windows, you could consider adding a window. This would require construction on your home, and if you are renting, it may not be a viable option. However, if you own your house, it could be a great way to consider how to brighten up a room without windows. If you are considering adding windows to your home in rooms that do not currently have them, it could be a good time to consider a full window replacement for your home. You could switch out all the windows to ensure they match. This is great if you have older windows that may need to be updated. This might not be the best way to go if you have new windows. However, it can make a significant change to your home.
If you are willing to do some construction, but you do not want to add a window, you can consider adding a wood truss. A truss is a system of triangular beams that create an arch and adds space to a room. A truss is easy to install and can be cost-effective. In addition, this can be an environmentally friendly option to add light to a room. This may not be viable for all homes, but it can be a place for consideration.
There are a number of options available to you when considering how to brighten up a room without windows. Depending on your situation, some of these options may be possible than others. Some options may fit your decor or budget better than others. It is important to know that you have options for making your space appear brighter and larger than it is. You do not have to live with it the way it is. Taking some of these simple steps can bring new life to your space, and love it all over again.