11 Ways To Work With A Windowless Room

Yanic Simard, Houzz Contributor

They say you never know what you had till its gone, and thats certainly true for windows. When dealing with a windowless room, you really start to miss the natural light and appreciate the openness they bring. But whether youre planning a little corrective construction or just a quick fix, there are plenty of ways to bring that same feeling to your basement, den, kitchen and more.

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1. Mirrors. Adding a large mirror to your wall is one of the first ways to simulate the effect of a window, not just for bouncing some light but also for adding a sense of depth that breaks up claustrophobic wall planes. In a space with a low-ceiling, use as large a mirror as possible, reaching close to the ceiling (but not all the way up; stop 4 to 6 inches below) to distract from the ceiling line.

2. White walls. White (or very pale blue) walls help simulate the fresh, full-spectrum sparkle of natural sunlight, while subtly reflecting light from every source for the brightest look possible. Choosing one color for the walls and ceiling also helps the edges float away, so encroaching walls are not the focal point; rather, the items within earn the attention.

3. Large art. Similar to a mirror, a large art piece (especially one in a white or metallic frame with a lot of white background) breaks up walls like a window would and brings in a snap of lightness for those who dont like white as a floor-to-ceiling color.

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4. French doors. Adding windows to a doorway (by converting to French doors) also gives the eye that sense of peeking out into a space beyond, and lets a new ambient light source in, even if the adjacent room is simply a pantry. Add a few lights inside or a single ceiling fixture (with a cool fluorescent bulb), and the hint of light pouring out will give the illusion of daylight.

5. Hidden lights. Tucking a few lights where they cant be seen helps give your room a sense of an indirect glow that mimics light pouring in from a nearby window. Try placing lamps between beams, behind furniture (such as behind a sofa) or tucked next to a bookcase to make the light source more mysterious.

6. Transoms. Another architectural way to add a nonspecific light source is to add a window between a room and an adjacent space (especially if the next room over has natural light to share). Placed high enough, a transom window (technically, transom is the term for the piece of wall dividing a window and the door below) will open a space to new light without compromising privacy.

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11 Ways To Work With A Windowless Room