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Windowless Rooms Are Not Lost Spaces

A house with a windowless room or one with extremely limited openings through which sunlight may enter is not common, but they do exist. For example, what was originally a large storage area that has been converted into a room may not have a window since the original storage function did not need one. Now that the use of the space has changed, providing natural sunlight during the day is essential. There could also be cases where an obstruction that came up after the house was built is now blocking the windows and preventing natural light from entering. Whatever the reason, a room without windows does not have to be dark and gloomy. Here are some ways to brighten it up.



•   Mirrors: Placing large mirrors on the walls will both make the room look larger and more open as well as amplifying available light by reflecting it.

•   Light colored walls: White or light-colored walls give a room an open look and also brighten it by reflecting whatever light is available far better than dark-colored walls would. Keeping the ceiling the same color will remove the hard delineation of the top of the room and make it feel larger.

•  Large paintings or photographs: One large photo or painting placed on a wall will create a window-like effect by breaking the symmetry and if the image is light-colored, will give a feeling of depth to the surface.

•  Concealed lighting: Diffused illumination from well placed concealed light located high up in the space will create a glow that will open up the whole area and reduce the darkness of any shadows that maybe there from other light sources.

•  Transoms: A transom is, technically speaking, a piece of wall dividing a door and a window. In common usage, a transom window is a window placed between 2 enclosed spaces to improve visibility between the rooms while retaining the separation of the spaces.

•  Frosted glass: If the space in the room is to be divided into separate areas, using frosted glass partition will provide the division and privacy required while avoiding the aura of a heavy wall that an opaque partition will create.

•  Daylighting systems: A daylighting system uses a small roof-mounted dome to capture sunlight during the day and carry it, using special high reflectivity tubes, through walls, to the inner areas of the house. These are places where natural light is often not available or is inadequate. The light carried through the tubes is diffused into the interior space using elegant light fittings. Space will now be filled with brilliant natural sunlight, with the ability to control light intensity to suit the use of the room and the occupants’ mood. Daylighting systems made by the leading manufacturer are highly efficient, easy to install, low maintenance and extremely cost-effective. Contact a daylighting systems dealer to learn more about how these can light up even the darkest parts of your home, with using electricity and inflating your utility bills.

Don’t think of a windowless or dark area of the house as unusable space. With a few small modifications and the use of a daylighting system, it can be turned into a working, useful and appealing room.

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