Bringing Light to a Windowless Room: Creative Ways to Use Doors for Brightening Up Your Space

Bringing Light to a Windowless Room: Creative Ways to Use Doors for Brightening Up Your Space

Small and dark rooms aren’t the most attractive place in the world. Whether it is your home or office space, the last thing you want is to feel uncomfortable and throw off the whole aesthetic of your room. 

We get it. It’s not ideal at all.

The positive is, you don’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars reconstructing your entire space so that you can build in some windows or make sure the main room is north facing rather than south. 

Instead, have you considered how you use the doors around your space? Throw out your hardwood doors that shut your rooms, never to be invited in again. They trap the misery in a room and it can be difficult to get rid of it. 

With a glass door, you can borrow the light from other rooms or outside to lift that musty feeling and bring in the free-flowing air that blasts natural radiance around the room. 

In this post, we’ll go through the problems with windowless rooms and how glass doors can help save you money. 

Why are Windowless rooms so unattractive?

Apart from the obvious - they’re dark and dingy - there is a whole heap of reasons why windowless rooms for your office or home are best left in the past. 

• If you work in an office with no windows, it’s going to affect your productivity and how ‘awake’ you really feel. With a lack of natural light, your eyes can become strained with excess artificial lighting. At times, the artificial light still isn’t bright enough - meaning that your brain subconsciously thinks it’s time to go to bed. You’ll never be able to get work done if that’s how you’re feeling. 
• The other negative involves windowless rooms in your home. It is actually incredibly unhealthy for your sleep routine. Dangers include:
• Lack of fresh air
• Lack of ability to cool down
• A buildup of carbon dioxide
• Mold festers in the dark

With so many challenges associated with windowless rooms, it feels strange that they’re even still around. Before you consider renovating your entire space, we’ve got some great, more affordable options for you to try out. 

How Doors Fix Light Issues With Windowless Rooms

Adapting your space by using doors is fundamental to changing how you view your rooms. Not only are they hugely aesthetically pleasing, but they also have so many added benefits including how they allow free-flowing air, insulation and best of all, allowing natural light to enter. 

French Doors

Whilst incorporating French Doors into your space is the most expensive option, ranging between $2500 and $5000, they are heralded as the most aesthetic. 

In the world of design, the term ‘French’ doesn’t just refer to origin. In fact, it has become synonymous with sophistication, beauty and distinction. Although their significance dates back to the 17th Century, the influence of Roman Architecture during the Renaissance Period on French door design quickly caught on in Great Britain. 

The Renaissance period was famous for its focus on symmetry, proportion and geometry - all of which are great assets for beauty, aesthetics and maximizing space. It was this focus that influenced its use as windows that extended to the floor or lead onto balconies. 

Due to their construction and design, their primary purpose was to allow more light into the room than previous doors or windows ever could. They were especially useful for longer days, where the presence of natural light was especially needed - during the times when light switches hadn’t even been invented, it was the only way to maximize light in a room. 

The benefits of French Doors include:

• Allowing light to be let in from adjacent rooms or hallways - the glass design is capable of borrowing light from other rooms. The sun’s rays travel through the door rather than simply being reflected or blocked. 
• They work extremely well in smaller spaces - notably, a French Door is quite simple to construct, and are especially useful in maximizing space in smaller spaces. Not only do they allow more light in, but their design also allows the room to feel bigger and less compact. 
• One of the biggest benefits of French Doors is their insulation capabilities - they are able to keep heat in and cold out in the winter, and in the summer, they help to regulate temperature across the rooms. As the doors allow for light to be let in, the room is able to heat up substantially - removing the need for large energy bills. 

Glass-Panned Doors: $1000-$3000

Glass doors are a fantastic option for windowless rooms. Their ability to allow for light to enter coupled with their versatility and free-flowing air capability makes them a staple option in anyone’s home or office space. 

Firstly, they can effectively reduce noise from family members coming and going, providing a more peaceful environment for work or relaxation. But most importantly, glass-paned doors with high-quality glazing will allow for the maximum amount of natural light to flood into the room creating a gorgeously bright and welcoming atmosphere for both homes and businesses. 

In addition, they can create an optical illusion of more space, making them perfect for smaller rooms or apartments. They are much like a mirror in this regard, they are easy enough o fit and maintain, whilst allowing for a room to have a much bigger and more comfortable feel. 

But how much do they cost?

On average cost of glass doors varies depending on the style, size, and glazing used, but expect to pay around $500-$1,500 per door. But we think it is well worth the investment. By replacing traditional doors with glass-paned doors can give your space a modern and stylish look while creating an open and bright ambience.

In short, the benefits include:

• Allow natural light to flow into the room, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere
• Provide a more open and spacious feel, making the room seem larger
• Are versatile and can be used in any space
• Can create an illusion of more space, similar to mirrors
• Reduce the need for artificial lighting, saving energy and reducing costs
• Are easy to maintain and keep clean with just a simple wipe down
• Offer a modern and stylish look that can enhance the overall design of a space
• Can be more affordable than skylights while still offering similar benefits
• Come in a variety of styles and materials, allowing for more design flexibility.

Some of the challenges include:

• Privacy: Glass-paned doors may not provide enough privacy for some spaces, such as bedrooms or bathrooms. To address this, frosted or tinted glass can be used, but this may reduce the amount of natural light that enters the room.
• Safety: Glass-paned doors can be fragile and breakable, which can be a concern for families with young children or pets. Safety glass or tempered glass can be used to reduce the risk of injury in case of breakage.
• Insulation: Glass-paned doors may not provide the same level of insulation as traditional doors, which can lead to heat loss in colder months or increased heat gain in warmer months. To address this, double-paned or insulated glass can be used.
• Maintenance: Glass-paned doors can be more challenging to maintain than traditional doors, as they require regular cleaning to keep them free of smudges and fingerprints. Additionally, the frame and hardware may need to be cleaned and maintained to ensure proper functioning.
• Cost: Depending on the style, size, and glazing used, glass-paned doors can be more expensive than traditional doors. However, they may provide long-term savings in energy costs and add value to a home.

Sliding Glass: From $2000-$5000

Sliding doors are an excellent option for brightening up windowless rooms. Not only are they stylish, taking up minimal space, but they also create the illusion of larger rooms, making them perfect for small homes. 

By allowing natural light to enter the room, sliding doors create a positive atmosphere that can improve mood and productivity. Since natural light is often enough to illuminate a space, there is no need for multiple lights, which can reduce energy consumption and save on electricity bills. Forget having to go out and pay for additional light bulbs, or gulping at the large energy bill sent to your mailbox - with large sliding glass doors, your heating and lighting is taken care of you by nature. 

If you find yourself on a budget, glass-sliding doors make a great option. They are incredibly affordable, making them a great option for those with limited space and a tight budget. 

With an easy-to-use and stylish design, you can limit the space and shadows that other doors may take up. Not only will it make the room feel and look bigger, but also the entire space you have as a whole. No more clunky traditional doors taking up heaps of real-estate space, now more than ever, you have a whole range of options. 

It is because of this range of options that sliding doors are a practical solution for brightening up windowless rooms while also being stylish and functional. They are a perfect option for those who are looking for an easy way to incorporate more natural light into their home without breaking the bank. Working as a cost-effective alternative to skylights, they can be installed without any major renovations. The upfront cost may be slightly higher than a traditional door, but the long-term benefits of energy savings and increased natural light make it a worthwhile investment.

Benefits:

• Stylish and space-saving, taking up minimal floor space
• Allow for natural light to brighten up the room and create a positive atmosphere
• Can provide the illusion of a larger space, making them perfect for small rooms
• Easy to use and offer a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces
• Can be designed to match the aesthetic of any home, with a variety of frame and glass options available
• Offer energy savings by reducing the need for artificial lighting

Challenges:

• Privacy can be a concern, as glass sliding doors can be transparent
• Safety can be a concern for families with young children or pets, as glass sliding doors can be fragile and breakable
• Insulation can be an issue, as glass sliding doors may not provide the same level of insulation as traditional doors
• Can be more expensive than traditional doors, especially for larger or custom-sized doors
• Maintenance is necessary to keep them clean and in good condition, which may be more challenging for larger doors or doors in high-traffic areas.

Summary

At the end of the day, a dark and tightly cramped room is less than ideal for home and work. But, you shouldn’t have to agonize over reconstruction projects or even consider moving out. 

Instead, think about the entryways to your house or office space, and even more so, look at the doors within your own real-estate. They are a great way to allow natural light to pass through into any room, whilst simultaneously opening up your space. They even save you money on your bills, which during a cost-of-living crisis - sounds like a great decision.