There's a common trend among office spaces where most lack any windows. When it comes to decorating, there's nothing worse than trying to figure out how to decorate a small office with no windows. Windows bring an environment to life and invite people to spend time outdoors. After all, spending time in fresh air and greenery is proven to reduce stress and improve moods. Therefore, you may feel less inspiration when trying to decorate a windowless space.

How do You Decorate a Windowless Office?

If your office feels bland, it's likely because you're disconnected from the natural environment. Don't worry, there are ways to fix this without installing a window. It's not as difficult as it seems to decorate a small, windowless office and give it vibrancy. From paint color to adding live plants, there are techniques that can brighten an office environment and create a faux window effect.

Pick the Right Paint Color to Brighten the Office Space

The color of the office walls can influence the atmosphere of the space. Different colors have different effects on moods, whether we realize it or not. In fact, the right color can form the illusion that there is a natural source of light within the space.

According to color theory, each color produces a different emotion, which can be advantageous when choosing which colors to paint office walls. Pastels produce a freshness like spring by offering a calm and soft aura. These colors are great for creating a brighter, earthier environment. Colors such as neon red, neon yellow, and neon green produce an energizing feeling, which makes people more alert and active--although they can also cause stress.

The color blue produces a sense of calm and productivity at once; it's said to be the most productive color for stimulating the mind. Meanwhile, natural colors such as green, grey, and brown can generate a natural workspace by suggesting the outdoors.

The Right Office Lighting Solutions

Of course, the preferred lighting solution would be natural light. However, in a windowless space, it’s practically impossible to achieve natural light without extensive renovations. But, there are simple solutions to brighten an office space with no windows, and they come in the form of artificial lighting! The technology in artificial lighting can trick the mind into believing that there is a nearby window and fresh sunlight.

To create this sensation, avoid fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights generate a bright, cool white. While cool white makes a space appear larger, it's characterized as dull, uninviting, and empty. Instead, consider lights that produce a warm color. Warm lights mimic the sunlight, which, unlike fluorescent white, is a warm yellow-white.

A Couple Live Plants Go a Long Way

If you crave access to natural views, what better way to bring the natural environment into your office than through live plants? Plants, aside from delivering the natural world to indoor spaces, can induce multiple psychological perks.

The aromatic smell that flowers and greenery produce can fill a space with sweet or tangy scents, formulating a sensation that the natural world is encompassing the office. These plants create a calm and inviting space, which can boost mood, health, and productivity. Plants aren’t the only way to bring the outdoors indoors. Decorating with natural objects such as pond stones and quartz add a natural touch.

Add in a Mirror, TV, and Reflective Accessories

Reflective surfaces, such as mirrors and TVs, are an easy technique to create the illusion that a small space is large. These surfaces are also capable of mimicking a window, making a space feel brighter by reflecting and refracting light.

When choosing the best reflective surface, consider a wall mirror that spans from ground to ceiling. Mirrors offer simple but effective visual tricks: office occupants will feel that there is a window, or even extra space in the room itself.

The Right Furniture for a Smaller Office Space

When selecting small windowless office solutions, one of the best decisions a decorator can make is choosing the right furniture. Furniture doesn’t just add practical features to a room, like work surfaces and seating, but it alters how the space is perceived.

For smaller rooms, embrace what square footage is already available rather than focusing on its limitations. Design high, utilizing vertical space to simulate a larger environment. Tall shelving reduces the amount of horizontal space needed. Large drapes can mimic the appearance of a window and suggest more space on the other side.

Meanwhile, glass or light-colored furniture takes up less visual space and makes small offices feel much less cluttered. For best results, furnish an office with furniture that’s similar in color to the walls.

Indoor Windows

If you’re reading this article, you might work in a windowless office. Thankfully, indoor windows are always an option. Consider installing french doors with large window panes. This design choice will brighten the room and make it appear much larger than it seems.

Artwork, Wall Murals, and Biophilic Art Pieces

You might not have access to windows or natural lighting, but you do have access to your imagination. Artistic decor, like wall art or murals, induces the imagination, giving you a chance to view something that isn’t even there. You can create the sensation that there is a window through artwork, inserting a focal point of lush landscapes within the windowless office.

Better yet, biophilic art combines the imaginative spirit of artwork and the greenery of the natural environment, giving you a centerpiece that highlights the best of both worlds. To emphasize the outdoor impression, consider purchasing unique artwork from local farmers’ markets and vintage shops. These decorative pieces will brighten up your office, and are more pleasant to view than generic, mass-produced office art.

Create Your Own Natural Workspace

Do you have an office in Houston or The Woodlands in need of attractive-yet-functional design? Our team at Workspace Resource can help you find the best commercial furniture in The Woodlands and brighten up your windowless office space. You can start designing your office here or give us a call at (713) 564-0993. We’ll work together to achieve your ideal design goals!

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