If you work from home, a home office is proven to improve your productivity. And given the current situation, chances are that you are working from home and so, a home office would greatly improve your working experience. But do you really need a window in your home office? Does a Home Office Without Windows work? Let’s find out.
A home office is any space exclusively set up for your work and nothing else. It does not need to be an entire room. Just a desk set up specifically for you to work on can be a home office. The benefits of having a home office are so abundant that it is a must if you want to be productive and get things done.
But many people would advise you to make sure that your home office has windows. Here we will discuss how a window affects your productivity, its necessity for a home office, and additional details.
But before that, let us discuss the importance of a home office and what makes a good home office.
Why Should you Have a Home Office?
Working straight off your bed is a definite no when it comes to working from home. One way or the other, your brain will keep you from being productive when you are in a comfortable space like a couch or a bed.
Similarly, having too many distractions around will also lead to less efficiency when it comes to getting things done. So, to get work done as efficiently as possible, having a home office setup is ideal.
Plus, having a proper home office in the United States will help you with tax deductions as well. It is a win-win situation, no matter which way you look at it. But what is it that essentially makes your home office good? Let us find out.
An Ideal Home Office
An ideal home office is minimalistic and clutter-free. It has ergonomics as its basis, and everything is set up solely to help you work productively, and nothing else. So, a generic yet ideal home office would be a desk with your PC on it, along with some necessary files.
That is how simple it is. Of course, you would need a comfortable chair, have an electrical outlet nearby, sit at a comfortable screen angle, etc. But that just shows you how focused your working space ought to be.
Apart from this, the use of footrests, auxiliary keyboards, etcetera, all add to your home office experience, and it is recommended that you do not skimp out with your set up.
But does your home office need a window? Yes, and no. Let us explain.
Effect of Natural Lighting on Your Quality of Life
According to a study, employees whose workspaces were situated near a window had a higher quality of life and were more relaxed overall. This shows us that adequate lighting allows you to work better.
Studies also show that natural lighting is much more effective at increasing productivity than artificial lighting, stating that the students who studied in natural light had 25% better results in exams compared to those who studied by artificial light. More than 33% of employees report that not having enough lighting has an adverse effect on their quality of work and life.
Working in an office without windows can lead to 46 minutes less sleep per night. The main reason has to do with how our brain processes ambient lighting.
Our brains associate days with times to work and hustle. What is the major difference between night and day? Light. That is it.
In the absence of light, your brain is naturally wired to gravitate towards resting. In the presence of light, you have the natural urge to work.
Ever felt lazy on a drab rainy morning? Well, that is again due to the lack of light otherwise associated with an energizing sunny day. Similarly, lighting can affect your sleep patterns too. So, you are biologically wired to be productive when in proper lighting.
Adequate lighting also protects you from unnecessary strain on your eyes, which keeps you from getting tired. This why good lighting is so important for productivity, whether in the home office, study room, or for general chores.
And the recommendation of windows for your home office is based on this very principle.
Is a Window Necessary for your Home Office?
Strictly speaking, no. A window is not vital to your home office, but it might be so if you want a good home office experience. You can still manage without a window in your home office without losing much functionality.
But the quality of life associated with a windowless home office is definitely not on par with one equipped with a window. So, although not necessary, a window in your home office is always recommended.
You can try to make sure that your set up is near a window to take full benefit of natural lighting and bring a bright addition to your home office.
More inot you can find in our article SHOULD MY DESK FACE THE WALL?
Benefits of Having a Window in Your Home Office
Now that you know that having a window in your home office is great, let us look into the details of why. Here are some great benefits of having a window in your workspace.
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It boosts energy levels during the day
As discussed earlier, you experience increased energy levels at day. It keeps you from experiencing eye strain and exhaustion. It also keeps you focused, shakes off any mental fog, and get down to work. Having a window in your home office will definitely boost your energy levels throughout the day.
See our article WHY IS WORKING FROM HOME SO EXHAUSTING?
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Reduces Job Stress
According to a study, people who are exposed to more than 3 hours of daylight each day experience less stress as compared to those who do not. Stress can be taxing and obviously affects the quality of work you wish to carry out. So having some daylight shining on your whilst your work will keep you from getting stressed.
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Improves Overall Happiness
Just having the option of looking out your window when taking a small break from work brings a smile on our faces. It surely will to yours too. So, to keep things from getting too grim, a window in your home office will help improve your mood.
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Keeps You in the Now
Having a window in your home office will prevent you from getting disconnected from life in general. The positive psychological effect of having a window through which you can see the world outside helps you work in a more relaxed and control manner. Plus, having a little break now and then to see outside never hurts.
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Regulate Your Home Office Temperature
Sunlight coming in from windows can naturally warm your workspace to make it comfortable to work in but not too cozy to make you dose off. So, save some bucks by having a home office with a window!
But What if You Just Cannot Have a Window in Your Home Office?
Well, essentially, a home office without a window does work, yes. But do we recommend it? No. But let us say you just cannot have a window in your home office. Now what?
Well, you can trick your brain into functioning similar to as it would at day by supplementing the lighting in your room through the use of artificial lighting.
Here are some tips that can help you when you can not have a window in your home office:
8 Tips to Decorate Your Office When There Are No Windows
The lack of windows in your office can make it feel dull and gloomy, but there are ways to improve this without making any major changes.
From using color on the walls to adding plants, here are eight tips to decorate your office when there are no windows.
1) Hire good interior designers
The first thing you should do is hire an interior designer. While not everyone can afford it, even a small fee will give you a professional’s input on what kind of lighting and artwork will help your office feel more like home.
A few personal touches also go a long way: from plants to family photos. This is your workspace, so don’t be afraid to make it reflect who you are! It’ll make you happier in your workplace.
It’ll bring energy into any space, no matter how dull or drab it might look now.
2) Add Light
One of the best ways to make your office feel bigger is to add light. A room with a lot of natural light instantly feels brighter and more spacious than one that is dimly lit.
Consider adding lots of accent lighting above desks and tables. Also try installing some smaller lamps near where you’ll be working.
Remember that added light can help you see better (and keep your eyes healthy), but it can also impact how much energy you need to use air conditioning or heating in different parts of your workspace. Take care not to install so many lights that they will cause an excessive spike in your electric bill!
3) Use color palettes
Color has a big impact on your mood and energy level, so when it comes to choosing wall colors, make sure you choose a palette that inspires you. Think about what types of images you like looking at: if you like mountains and greenery, a forest green might be for you.
If you prefer ocean scenes or cityscapes, opt for blues or purples. The point is: your color scheme should match up with your personal preferences so it feels inviting and energizing.
Regardless of what palette best suits your tastes and workspace requirements, balance is key . Choose one intense color (like a royal blue) paired with three lighter shades from that same hue family (such as periwinkle blue) for an instantly calming look in any room.
Or go bold by putting all five colors within reach of each other in a complementary palette on your walls, desk, and other flat surfaces; vibrant hues can complement each other well when they’re put together. Just make sure to avoid using full-on neon lights!
A little bit goes a long way when decorating with strong colors; keep them contained to small accents or limited spaces. These touches will help keep everything else in check without overpowering them.
4) Look at Windowless Spaces Like Bathrooms
Do you have a windowless office in your home? Turn one room into a gorgeous space that’s worthy of showing off to friends, by decorating it like a bathroom.
A windowless bath can feel cramped and dull, but with proper design and some creativity, it can be transformed into something warm and inviting.
So if you’re looking for ideas on how to decorate your windowless office or any other small room that feels drab and boring, get inspired by other rooms in your home that do not have windows.
From furniture arrangements to color schemes, these windowless bathrooms are ready for showtime! Get inspired today!
5) Create Temporary Windows
Part of decorating an office when there are no windows is creating a visual openness and letting light in, but one way you can do that without actually adding a window is by hanging white sheets or another light material from your ceiling.
You’ll want to ensure it doesn’t block any major parts of your ceiling or anything else crucial in your office. As long as you don’t obstruct walkways or anything, these sheets can create a temporary opening for sunlight—or just brighten up a darker area.
Try using lighting with different shades if possible. Or hang florescent bulbs behind thin curtains made out of fabric; it will be easy on your eyes while still giving off plenty of light.
This trick works best in larger rooms because most ceilings have sloped arches around them anyway; trying to make a room feel more open when its small might not work as well since much of that open space would be wasted.
In smaller rooms where ceilings are flat and flush, like those found in smaller offices, there might not be enough room to suspend something like a sheet or cloth that easily covers most of it unless you raise the whole thing above eye level first (more on that below).
6) Incorporate Large Artwork
One of my favorite tricks is incorporating large artwork in areas where you’d usually put a window. It could be a poster, a painting, or even something as simple as displaying family photos on a wall.
It can provide natural light when there isn’t any and can boost your spirits during those dreary days that never seem to end.
If you don’t have enough natural light coming into your office to begin with, consider installing some interior lights that highlight your artwork even more.
It may seem unconventional, but try putting up decorative lamps around your office as well—it’ll keep you from feeling claustrophobic. Don’t forget to vary sizes and styles too! You might not have windows, but that doesn’t mean your space has to look like an office. Have fun with it!
7) Diversify Your Paint Colors
If you don’t have any windows in your office, choose bright colors and dynamic patterns that will cheer up even a windowless space. Think about complementing color combinations—in other words, adding one warm tone (think yellow) with one cool tone (blue).
Or you can combine opposing tones, like green and red or purple and orange. Play around with different variations; by doing so, your office won’t just look good but feel good as well.
If you’re not sure where to start, find some inspiration online; many Pinterest boards offer design tips for offices of all kinds. If nothing else, print out some pictures and post them near your desk; they may spark some ideas.
You can also ask friends and family members for help; no matter what, try not to let your lack of windows hold you back from an interesting decor. After all, sometimes limiting yourself is an advantage.
Many people assume an office needs tons of light exposure to be functional—but when there aren’t any windows to speak of, you’re likely better off using lower-light hues instead (for example, deep blues or teals). In general, paint colors are more powerful than most people think.
8) Source Inspiration from Outside Spaces.
Unless you have a window, it can be difficult to source inspiration for your office. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! If you have access to something like Pinterest or Instagram, check out how other people have designed non-window offices.
You can also look online and see what other spaces are doing with accent pieces in order to create fake windows. Don’t forget about drapes, lighting and mirrors.
Each of these items can help trick your mind into believing there are windows in your space as well as bring more light into your office. It won’t be quite as natural but using these tricks will make it feel just like an outside workspace.
Conclusion
We said it twice, and we will say it again, yes, a home office without any windows works. But if you ask us, we would not like to be working in that claustrophobic space. Given the benefits of having a window in your home office, it seems like a no-brainer to have a window in your home office.
So try your level best to include a window in your home office. But if you just cannot, use artificial lighting to amplify the ambient lighting of your home office and try to trick your brain into working as you want it to.
We hope this article gave you an insight into what a home should be, its importance, and the importance of a window in your home office. We hope you found the information useful and wish you good luck in setting up an ideal home office!
Also read our article HOW TO TURN A CLOSET INTO A HOME OFFICE?
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