5 design solutions for rooms without windows

No. 1. Proper lighting is the basis

Ideally, artificial lighting in a windowless room should be as close to natural as possible so that those in the room do not experience discomfort. You will have to give up your favorite warm light bulbs in favor of fluorescent lamps . The main task is to create uniform lighting in all areas of the room , since dark corners will once again remind you of the main problem of the room. To accomplish this task, designers recommend using the following techniques:

multi-zone lighting . To illuminate a room without windows, it is necessary to use ceiling lamps, wall lamps, table lamps, and floor lamps. Only in this case will it be possible to illuminate every corner and cope with the lack of light;
In addition to the central chandelier, it is better to use a system of spotlights that will evenly illuminate the entire room. Some experts advise making spot lighting as inconspicuous as possible in order to create the feeling of sunlight entering the room;
niches, paintings, furniture fronts, ceiling and floor skirting boards - everything that can be additionally illuminated should be equipped with a light source;
sconces, floor lamps and table lamps would also be appropriate. Don’t be afraid that the room will be too bright - you are unlikely to turn on all the light sources together, but you will provide yourself several comfortable lighting scenarios.

It is very important that those in a windowless room do not have the feeling of an enclosed space. To make such a room more comfortable and level out its peculiarity, you can use any tricks. Light up kitchen fronts or bed bases , creating the impression of sunlight penetrating. Illuminating cabinet furniture, especially if there is a lot of it in the room, will make the room brighter and lighter. Sometimes additional light sources are installed near the floor itself - it looks impressive and airy.

Sometimes ideas are born when you least expect them. For example, instead of the doors of a regular cabinet, you can use shutters (a frame structure with many horizontal panels and a small gap between them), and thanks to the LED strip, which is hidden behind the doors, it seems that sunlight is falling into the room through a window with shutters. The effect is so strong that even your brain, which knows the secret of the room, will perceive the stream of artificial light as natural rays.

Designer tips for decorating a windowless bedroom

With a competent design, creating the bedroom of your dreams in a room without windows is not difficult. You don’t have to be a designer; it’s important to take into account the main design nuances. To get a suitable result in a bedroom or living room without a window, professionals advise using the following solutions:

By creating a niche with built-in lighting directly in the wall. Moreover, when decorated with frosted glass, the effect of having a window is completely recreated.
By designing a false window right in the ceiling.
The bedroom is complemented by an artificial fireplace with lighting.
Installation of a suspended ceiling in a room with an imitation of a starry sky or clouds.

In addition to the examples presented, there are many more opportunities to decorate a dark room without a window. It is necessary to remember that loading the interior will not lead to a positive outcome and adhere to measures in everything.

No. 2. False windows - a spectacular optical illusion

A false window is the most popular design technique for a room without a window . It’s not that difficult to deceive the eye, and there are plenty of options for doing it today. So, false windows can have several options:

mirror window with imitation of division into parts. This solution really makes you believe that there is a window in the room, especially if you find the right and most natural place for it. In addition, the mirror expands the space and doubles the scarce light - a whole carload of advantages. You can complement such a mirror with curtains or a light curtain, but the main thing is that the textiles only slightly cover the mirror surface. Consider sandblasting the mirror;
a backlit window allows you to imitate a real window as naturally as possible, but to install such a structure in the wall you need a small niche (7-10 cm deep). Reflective aluminum foil , an LED strip with daylight (light temperature approximately 2700 K) is installed, and this entire structure is covered with panels imitating window sashes , the design of which can be absolutely any (if desired, all this is easy to do yourself). The best option is to use frosted glass , which will scatter the incoming light and create the most accurate imitation of sunlight. Another good option is to use stained glass for glazing the sashes of a false window. The glass can be transparent, and behind it there is an image of a natural or city landscape. If you choose the right subject for the photo, everything will look very realistic. In this case, the backlight is installed along the contour or behind the image;
LED windows equipped with a screen and built-in backlight. You can adjust the weather outside the window at your own discretion. Some of these designs also reproduce sounds, however, this pleasure will not be cheap.

There is another option - to draw a window on the wall with the preferred landscape behind it, but this solution is for those who are familiar with fine art. And don’t forget about the indispensable companion of any window - curtains , unless, of course, we are talking about a ceiling window.

Another interesting and quick-to-implement solution is backlit blinds . These look like completely ordinary blinds that we are used to seeing on windows. They differ in the presence of LED lighting, which will help us create the effect of having a window. You just need to hang the blinds where you want to see the window opening and connect the structure to the network. Light, penetrating through the cracks in half-closed blinds, creates the illusion of a real window. All arrangement work will take a minimum of time. These blinds were originally designed to make ordinary window openings more interesting, but have found new uses.

Tricky tricks: imitation or window into the next room

If there is no window, it can be successfully replaced, the room will be cozy, light and bright.

How to successfully imitate a window

Use a poster or decorative stickers depicting a window and the landscape behind it.
Installation of a full frame simulating a window. Choose curtains, place indoor plants on the “window sill” - guests will not distinguish the window from the real one.
False windows with lighting. You can choose and order from a variety of ready-made options for walls and ceilings.
Install curtains or blinds on the floor, placing LED strips behind them.
Place a framed mirror in place of the desired window.

Bedroom design in a light style

Bright bedroom without windows

Bedroom without windows in a light style

No. 3. skylight

A ceiling window is also a false window, but I would like to place it in a separate group of techniques for arranging a room without natural light. It would probably be unnecessary to say that such a design will make the room more comfortable, more harmonious and even brighter. There are several options for arranging a ceiling window:

stick photo wallpaper with a picture of the sky . It will be clear and blue, cloudy or night - it's up to you. To enhance the effect, you can direct the backlight to the photo wallpaper;
stretch ceilings with the image of the sky . You can draw anything on the film canvas; you can illuminate it both from the outside using standard methods, and from the inside using fiber optic threads and creating the effect of a “starry sky”;
on the ceiling you can use the same technology as when installing a false window on the wall. In the recess is created backlight, repeating the temperature of daylight, the structure closes frosted glass or glass with a sky image, branches against the sky, etc. True, this method will require the construction of a box made of plasterboard (suspended ceiling technology), and this takes away several centimeters of height, but an additional volumetric light source compensates for these losses.

No. 4. Drawn curtains

If curtains are a mandatory attribute of a window, then their mere presence makes our brain believe that behind them lies an ordinary real window . This means that some wall, or part of it, can be covered with curtains, and their length can be any. Long curtains from ceiling to floor usually look best. You can place them behind the back of the sofa or the head of the bed. We will not receive additional light from such a design, but we will relieve the feeling of discomfort due to the lack of a window in the room.

Mirrors.

Adding these accessories to your decor is one of the main ways to imitate the effect of windows, as they are not only great at refracting artificial light, but also bring a sense of depth to the room.

In a space with a low ceiling, panoramic reflective surfaces can distract guests' attention from this architectural feature.

Project by Francesca Owings Interior Design

No. 5. Creating a real window opening

Now don't be scared. This is not about cutting a window in a load-bearing wall and connecting the room to the street. Everything is much less radical, but the walls will still have to be torn down. The essence of the technique is to connect a windowless room with the most suitable neighboring room , if this is, of course, possible.

You won’t be able to dreamily look out of such a window, watching passers-by hurrying somewhere, the rain or a peaceful natural landscape, but there will definitely be more light - it will penetrate from the neighboring room. On the other hand, this does not mean at all that the artificial lighting system in such a room can be taken less seriously, because natural light in this situation is unlikely to be enough.

The window size can be any - it all depends on your preferences and the characteristics of the adjacent rooms. This can be a standard size opening or a floor-length glass partition. When you need privacy, blinds, regular or roller blinds will help you hide from prying eyes - in general, everything that saves us in the case of an ordinary window.

It is very important that such a solution will cope with the ventilation problem.

Basic rules and requirements for these premises

The main feature of this bedroom in the photo is its dimensions. The optimal option is within 10-12 m², but what if the room is more spacious? Then it is involuntarily filled with other furniture, and for a room where there is no natural light, this is extremely undesirable. And I don’t want to turn it into a place for storing unclaimed things hidden from prying eyes either. Logically, the conclusion suggests itself that dark and deep tones of furniture, as well as finishing materials, are contraindicated for small and dark rooms .

Where to get fresh air

In pursuit of rational use of square meters in a city apartment, redevelopment is often carried out. Modern building materials make it possible to do this easily and with pleasure by erecting partitions from plasterboard. Architectural trends all over the world are moving towards increasing the area of common areas, that is, living and dining rooms, but even a window is not always available for the bedroom. Will the owners sweat in the heat and stuffiness of such rooms, cursing everyone and everything, or can something be done? It turns out that there is a way out and simple ventilation in a bedroom without a window solves the problem.

So:

It is simply necessary in a room without a window, even if only one family member rests in it.
Our body emits 60 watts of heat per hour, which is not at all small if we are talking about a pencil case with a small area.
Oxygen is necessary for healthy sleep and getting up in the morning fresh and alert, so you can do it yourself to deprive a bedroom without a window of the name “sealed box”.
To do this, a hole is made in the lower part of the wall with the adjacent room and a grille is inserted for beauty.
As Raikin Sr. said, everyone tries to inhale pure oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, which rises upward, so a hole with a grate is made in the upper part of the wall to remove carbon dioxide.
Another method is to erect partitions with a 10 cm gap that does not reach the ceiling; it is completely invisible to prying eyes, and air flow is provided by holes in the door or wall with a decorative grille.
Ventilation is even easier on the wall facing the street; then a small window is mounted as an option.

How to make a bedroom partition

Partitions from solid foam blocks and plasterboard to simple curtains

So:

Partitions are made from different materials, but when constructing a room without a window, it was determined that it did not reach the ceiling by 10 cm.
When a wall acts as a partition, you can make holes in it with inserted glass blocks.

Attention: The entire partition made of glass blocks will look stylish, but will be very expensive, because one block of good quality can be purchased for 100-150 rubles.

Small niches can solve the problem of using glass blocks in small quantities, and then the price will not be too expensive.
The best option is when the partition is a closet that does not reach the ceiling, but is needed in the bedroom as a piece of furniture.
The back wall of such a cabinet is decorated with a beautiful panel or sheet of chipboard.
Sliding doors are very practical, beautiful and popular, although not cheap.
They can be partially or completely made of opaque frosted glass.
The beautiful design of the bedroom is complemented by full lighting of the room.
Lighting for a bedroom without a window is the basics, and the important point is its selection.
It is clear that there is no natural light here, and artificial light must be both bright and non-fatiguing for the vision of those present.
The bedroom is a place of complete rest, and therefore an environment conducive to comfort and relaxation.
In such a room it is not necessary to have one, standard chandelier; without it, the interior will not suffer.
It is enough to install spotlights around the perimeter. It is important to decide in advance about the ceiling and the layout of the lamps.
On plasterboard and suspended ceilings, the instructions require placing 2-3 spotlights at the head of the bed, the remaining 2-4 along the walls of the bedroom, and it is mandatory to install a lamp, sconce or lamp on the wall opposite the head of the bed.
Designers have found an excellent technique for a bedroom without windows - mirrors.
Properly placed mirrors in a room make it possible not to overload an already small room with lamps; they tend to visually significantly expand the space and make the room brighter due to reflected artificial light.

No. 6. Transom, or Hello from the past

Many of us are familiar firsthand with the idea of having a small window near the ceiling. A similar solution was put into effect by the designers of Soviet Khrushchev apartments, who connected the bathroom and kitchen with a small window. There are still a lot of jokes about it, but such a life hack cannot be underestimated. The architects were then able to solve the problem of additional lighting in the event of a lack of electricity, making the bathroom a little lighter and more spacious. Residents of such apartments admit that in sunny weather the bathroom can be used without turning on artificial light. Everything new is well forgotten old, so we take this idea into service.

Creating a small window right under the ceiling and connecting the problem room with the adjacent room is an excellent solution and not as drastic as arranging a large window opening. Light will enter through the transom, and the neighboring rooms will remain isolated and secluded - what is needed for the design of a room without a window.

There is a slightly different variation of this method . Where does a windowless room come from in an apartment? After constructing a blank partition and separating the space from adjacent rooms. You can build a wall that is not full height , leaving a gap under the ceiling for the penetration of light and fresh air.

Bedroom layout without window

Design begins with choosing a layout. As a rule, blind rooms for a bedroom are allocated in a redesigned one-room apartment or where a storage room was previously located. In the absence of a window, the correct arrangement of all components of the bedroom comes to the fore. There are several options here depending on the total area of the room:

In the case of a compact bedroom, for example, 4 sq. m without a window, they make do with one bed. If possible and desired, add bedside tables. As a rule, places for storing things and linen are equipped under the bed.
If there is more space, hanging shelves and shelves for various trinkets will add originality. Placing a convenient wardrobe will solve the storage problem. It is recommended to install a compartment in such a bedroom.

Important!
It is worth remembering that you should not crowd a bedroom with a missing window opening with a large amount of furniture in order to avoid the feeling of cramping, as well as to preserve the necessary free square meters. Depending on the amount of space in the room, the bed is placed against one of the walls or in the center. All other furniture is arranged so as to create a feeling of coziness and comfort.

An interesting technique when designing a room without a window, as, for example, in the bedroom in the photo, is zoning. Thus, it will be possible to divide the room into certain functional areas. But one should take into account the fact that light screens, glass or openwork structures are used as partitions. No bulky plasterboard walls or large-scale cabinets are installed.

No. 7. Magic of the mirror

The mirror surface can be used not only to create false windows. Everyone knows how a simple mirror can transform the interior of a small room. It doubles the space and light - just what you need for small rooms without windows.

You can choose a large solid mirror panel, make a composition from small mirrors, or lay out an entire wall or part of it with mirror tiles - there are plenty of options for every taste and interior style. Do not forget that part of the furniture facades can be mirrored. An interesting effect is achieved when decorating the upper part of the walls with a mirror . In a similar way, you can simulate the windows described above.

No. 8. Shine and metal

Glossy, shiny surfaces, like mirrors, are capable of reflecting light, which means they are very useful in arranging a room without windows. Metal (chrome and brass) frames and vases, a glass top of a dining or coffee table, a glossy furniture facade, a crystal chandelier - all these and many other metal, glass and glossy objects perfectly reflect light, fill the room with glare and make it more comfortable and illuminated. In each of these objects, light sources will be reflected, increasing the overall level of illumination.

Furniture facades and at least part of the doors in the wardrobe should be made glossy. Another opportunity to add volume and light to a room lies literally under our feet. We are talking about flooring: glazed tiles or varnished laminate will do an excellent job of reflecting light.

It is important not to play too much with mirrors, gloss and glitter . If you overdo it, the room will become bright, but still uncomfortable, and numerous reflections will irritate and cause discomfort.

No. 9. Photo wallpaper

Photo wallpapers are actively used when it is necessary to expand a small space or set a certain atmosphere in the room. In our case, photo wallpaper will also be useful. The classic technique is the image of an open window or balcony . Thus, the space visually expands, and a much-needed window appears in the room.

You can simply use natural or city landscapes, preferably with a noticeable perspective . It is desirable that the photo wallpaper occupies the entire wall or most of it, and that the image is somehow supported by interior items. For example, if the photo wallpaper depicts a forest, you can complement the picture with large living plants. It doesn’t hurt to additionally highlight the image. A correctly selected and designed landscape will change the room beyond recognition.

No. 10. Interior tricks

Along with other techniques, in a room without a window you can use some tricks that will make the room even brighter or distract attention from its main drawback.

Additional light sources should be used to the maximum. An illuminated aquarium, a fireplace, candles and garlands are used . A bright painting, an interesting art object, furniture of an unusual shape can become a distraction , a focal point that will attract the eye, thereby leading it away from the imperfections of the space.

Features and advantages of a room without windows

A number of shortcomings initially discourage you from creating such a room:

It is impossible to ventilate the room in the usual way.
24-hour lighting using electrical appliances is required. The result is additional energy costs.
Not all plants thrive in such an atmosphere.
Lack of pleasant views of the street.

A room without a window has its advantages:

The room is warmer. It is easier to heat, and the heat is retained much longer.
There are many options for interior design in such a room.

It is more practical to solve the problem of room design than to deal with the lack of lighting.

No. 11. Light colors

The ability to reflect light varies among different colors . For example, dark, saturated shades absorb a significant portion of the radiation, while light shades, on the contrary, mostly reflect it. White works best in this regard , which is why designers fell in love with it, actively using it in all small rooms. It is better to choose it for the ceiling. If it doesn’t quite fit into your interior plans, then choose another light shade. It is important that the ceiling is lighter than the walls.

unobtrusive light and pastel shades of for walls and furniture . Beige, cream, light blue and light peach will make the room cozy, create a feeling of open space and much-desired natural light. Do not forget about shiny finishing materials: metallic wallpaper, glossy plaster, etc.

To prevent the interior of the room from being completely boring, it can be complemented with several bright accessories. Natural shades are preferred. Two or three bright colors will be enough - otherwise you can overload the room.

No. 12. Sliding panels instead of walls

Replacing blank walls with mobile partitions would seem to be the simplest and least expensive solution, but, unfortunately, not always possible. A sliding partition is well suited for separating the bedroom from the living room, or the living space from the kitchen. When privacy is needed, the doors close, creating two separate, isolated spaces. Doors ajar or fully open will allow light and fresh air into a windowless room.

Features of a bedroom without windows

Some distinctive features of a windowless bedroom:

Lack of natural daylight. This means that this room is dark at any time of the day, which creates some difficulties. The room will have to be constantly additionally illuminated, and this is due to the need to install several fairly powerful lighting fixtures, as well as high electricity costs.
If there are no windows in a room, then it is probably small in size, and sometimes they are very, very small. And the lack of light will reduce the area even more, which is noticeable even in the photo. But this problem can be solved.
Lack of fresh air. It usually comes through a window, but your bedroom doesn't have one. And oxygen is necessary for the normal functioning of the body.
You cannot place indoor plants in a room without windows, as they require natural sunlight and oxygen to grow.
A small bedroom without windows may not seem very cozy, as if it were like a storage room. But if you use some simple techniques, this can be completely avoided.

No. 13. Green room decoration

A windowless room is a room with limited fresh air. In this case, it will be difficult to do without a normal ventilation system, but a few plants in the room still won’t hurt. They will decorate the room, bring life into it and give a little oxygen.

ficus plants are best suited because they can purify, moisturize the air and even remove toxins from it. Chlorophytum, begonia, aloe and Kalanchoe are also excellent

Ventilation

If the room is not ventilated enough, the humidity will increase, and then fungus may appear. In such rooms, natural ventilation is replaced by supply ventilation. It is necessary that in one hour a volume of fresh air enters the room twice its own. You can install an airgiver on the wall. On the street side, a grill is placed on the device to protect it from moisture and insects. Purified and insulated air enters the room through an air duct. The airgiver must be installed at a low height from the floor. Installation of the entire system will take no more than two hours. The air conditioner can be used either as an alternative or in conjunction with an air conditioner. The air conditioning device is portable and is capable of cooling the air, not just heating it. A good solution would be to install an ionizer. It is also capable of purifying the air, and not just circulating stagnant masses. To refresh the room, various containers with aromatic substances are additionally used.

Experts recommend using air conditioning together with an air-giver.

No. 14. Ventilation in a room without windows

Anyone who has a windowless room in an apartment knows that it is difficult to breathe in it, the air is constantly stale, and ventilation does not always help. There is no way to do without an artificial ventilation system, but you can arrange it in one of the following ways:

a wall valve will connect the room with the street and provide an influx of fresh air. The design of such a device is quite simple. A manual regulator allows you to regulate the amount of supply air, and a primitive filter will protect against insects and large dirt particles. There is also a layer of thermal insulation and an external canopy to reduce noise;
A mechanical ventilator allows you to filter air coming in from the street using a carbon filter and a coarse dust filter. The ventilation process with such a device becomes more manageable, and the flow of fresh air is possible even when the conditions for this are not the most favorable. Some units can even preheat the incoming air;
breather is an even more advanced design. Equipped with a HEPA filter that filters the air from mold, allergens, spores and germs. Just like ventilators, they are equipped with a fan, so the amount of incoming air can be controlled;
Separate exhaust ventilation is rarely installed in a room, but if it is possible to connect the room to a common house ventilation duct, then it is better to do so. Exhaust ventilation will be made more efficient by special fans , which are installed instead of a conventional ventilation grille. of a hood will also be relevant ;
a supply and exhaust ventilation system with air ducts, fans, filters and a recuperator is an expensive and very voluminous structure, and it is used when installing a ventilation system for the whole house;
air conditioner with ventilation and air filtration function can also save the situation.

If there is a sliding partition, transom or window into the next room, the issue of ventilation may not be so acute.

Finally, we note that to illuminate a room without windows, for obvious reasons, it is better to use only energy-saving lamps, and then most of the disadvantages of this room can be leveled out, making it cozy, comfortable, bright and economical.

Tags:Apartment design

Ventilation in a bedroom without a window

In small rooms, which are most often bedrooms without a window, oxygen deficiency is more pronounced. To avoid this problem, attention should be paid to designing proper ventilation in a blind bedroom without a window.

When organizing a ventilation system for such a room, simple principles are followed to get the right result:

A competent calculation based on an analysis of the area of the room and its shape, as well as the number of people who are inside for most of the day.
The presence of supply ventilation, which allows you to avoid the “box” effect in the bedroom. This is achieved by installing ventilation ducts into adjacent rooms or by installing internal windows.
Creating a hole in the upper part of the room wall to allow the air inside to escape. If the bedroom is obtained as a result of redevelopment, then the walls enclosing it are made so that they do not reach the ceiling. This will ensure a constant flow of air into this area.

Important! If the above measures are insufficient, forced ventilation will be required.

At the moment, such a device as an airgiver is effective. It is mounted directly on the wall and allows you to maintain the correct microclimate in the bedroom from a closet without a window with effective air exchange. Install the aerogiver as low as possible so that the street air flow is sufficient for ventilation.

This type of ventilation is not suitable for every room and may not suit the owner. Another option is air conditioning, which is also responsible for the movement of air masses in the bedroom. But you should not abandon the forced ventilation system in order to avoid the presence of exclusively exhaust air inside the room.