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Lacking windows in your office? It can be an adjustment for us to be devoid of natural light.
We’re used to seeing the outside world it but sometimes we’ve got to do without!
Working in a windowless room could leave you missing the ambiance, openness, and natural lighting that comes with having a window.
That’s okay thought, sometimes we have to pony up when we find ourselves in situations where we have to work in a windowless room or turn a windowless space (like the basement) and remake it into something a bit more energetic.
This guide would help you transform your environment by offering both quick fixes and corrective construction tips.
Windowless Office Lighting
Artificial Lighting
Adequately lighting a windowless office goes beyond merely substituting artificial lighting for natural light. The type of lighting selected and how the lighting is used is very crucial to arriving at that quintessential office feel.
Strategically light the room up by lining the roof edges with string lights to keep the eyes looking upward.
Alternatively, you could put lamps (use full-spectrum light) in each corner of the room to make the space feel more open. However, a central lighting approach should be avoided as these make the area appear dim and closed-in. Work spaces with lots of vertical space can also put this height to good use by making use of chandeliers.
Mirrors
Large mirrors have proven to be effective in reflecting some light and diminishing claustrophobic wall planes by adding some depth perception to rooms where they are hung.
Consequently, mirrors have overtime been one of the most common ways of simulating the effect of a window in windowless spaces and lighting up the place.
Work Desk Positioning
The darkest and pint-sized office space can be turned into a beautiful workspace by selecting just the right decorations and position your work desk properly. And what’s more?
These decorations and decisive positioning can make the room feel bigger than it is.
Locate your desk strategically in the workspace such that the desk faces the door but is not directly in line with the doorway and is farthest away from it as possible.
This commanding position helps you keep an eye on persons entering your office and help you make the most of the available space. This arrangement is vital because most windowless offices are small-spaced.
Fake LED Windows or Window Stickers
The development of high-resolution imaged LED lighting fixtures have afforded windowless offices the chance to have the appearance of a real window.
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This is a simple solution for workspaces without a window or with limited lighting, and these fake LED windows can work in any office setting. They are usually very thin (about 2.5 cm thickness) and, as such, do not require any modification to be done to the wall before their installation.
They are also available in a variety of frames, have different images to select from and are delicately crafted. They find applications in closed spaces like stores, gyms, offices, hospitals, malls and so on.
LED Window Benefits
⦁ Lightens up dark spaces, especially those areas without a window.
⦁ Bolster the present lighting condition of the space
⦁ Reverses the adverse psychological effects of gloomy workspaces
⦁ Improves the internal architecture of the space
⦁ Improve individual psyche and work performance
Choosing a Window Frame
The frames for these windows are available in a variety of patterns and colors. The material, however, could be metal, wood veneer, or aluminum.
Installation
Installing the Fake LED window is very simple as little or no wall preparation is required. These windows are directly mounted on the wall (or ceiling surface) and screwed into place. It is also advised that these windows are surface mounted so that they appear to be embedded in the wall creating a more professional finish.
Plants for a Windowless Office
The importance of clean and high-quality indoor air cannot be overemphasized, especially in a windowless office.
And as research has proven, outdoor pollution isn’t often as harmful as indoor pollution.
However, plants can get rid of pollutants and airborne toxins like ammonia, benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and xylene in the home. They are a practical and straightforward way of improving the quality of indoor air.
Some plants that can be used in a windowless office for air purification include:
⦁ Cast-Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
This is a tenacious, sturdy, low-light plant that grows as high as 18 – 24 inches when fully matured and does well in ambient daytime temperature & moderate nighttime temperatures of around 50 ° C. This plant is very resilient and can survive in the harshest conditions like dust, damp foliage and even occasional owner neglect.
⦁ Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
This is a dashing, easy to maintain plant that thrives in low-light conditions. This plant’s leaves vary from dark green to light green and have silvery or grey streaks on them, depending on the variety. The size of this plant also varies from 1 to 3 feet.
⦁ Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
This plant gets its name from its spiky and stiff leaves, which makes it better tolerant to almost all light conditions and ambient temperatures. The snake plant is also drought resistant with deep green leaves and grows to about 4 feet at maturity.
⦁ Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
This plant blooms from time to time during the year, even at low-light conditions. Its sword-like deep green colored leaves make it easily adapt to the light condition, and at maturity, this plant should be about 2 feet tall.
⦁ Dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
This is an adaptable plant with a tree-like shape that grows as high as 8 feet upon maturity. It exists in several forms with different shaped leaves. It thrives best in uniformly moist soil and at ambient temperatures.
Other plants that would do well in a windowless office include Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae), Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia), English Ivy (Hedera helix), Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum), Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), Peacock Plant (Calathea makoyana), Peperomia (Pepperomia), Philodendron (Philodendron), Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura), Spider Plant (Chlorophylum eomosum), Staghorn Fern (Platycerium), and ZZ Plant (Zamioculcasi).
Other Things to Consider
⦁ White or Pale Blue Walls
Light blue colored walls and white walls effortlessly reflect light from different sources within the room. They create a fresh and scintillating ambience and simulate the radiance of natural sunlight, giving your workspace the best glow. It is also advisable that the same color is used for the ceilings and the walls to conceal the edges better. Remember only to use vibrant colors
⦁ Wall Drapery
You can create the illusion of depth and the effect of a window by adding a full wall drapery to your workspace.
⦁ Art Pieces
Art pieces, especially large ones, do just as good a job as mirrors in a windowless office. They add flavor to the workspace and bring the sparkle. And, the greater the amount of white background the artwork has, the more it serves its purpose in a windowless office. The general rule for selecting a piece of art remains only to choose arts that resonates with you. You don’t have to break the bank, get something you have an energetic connection to.
⦁ Air Quality
As adults, we are used to not always getting what we want; that’s something we have had to learn in life. But the appeal of a great view, well furnished, bright and aerated office cannot be overlooked.
These are a few features that make for a pleasant work environment and creates positive energy in the workplace. Worry not! You can still preserve that positive energy in your windowless workspace by boosting the quality of air within your space.
Aromatherapy diffusers can be considered in this regard as these purify the air and creates a vibrant atmosphere in your work environment. Peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, and orange essential oils are some oils you can use.
In Conclusion
We hope this helped you spruce up your working environment. If it did, let me know!
Thanks all 🙂
Conor
Hey everyone 🙂 My name is Conor. I'm passionate about technology, zen, and improving the quality of life so many of us share at a desk!