Designer Tricks to Make a Windowless Bathroom Brighter
No view? No problem. Here are five ways to open up a bathroom when natural light is lacking and not a window is in sight
tidgboutique
14 June 2021
Toronto Interior Design Group is a trusted one-stop-shop residential interior design concierge boutique-style firm crafting timeless interiors.
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When planning the interior architecture of a home, whether it’s a cosy house, a slick condo, or something in between, usually the bathroom is one of the last places to get precious window real estate. That leaves many of us with a windowless bathroom that feels a little boxed in. Luckily, designers have lots of tricks for brightening up bathrooms. Here are five tried and true ones.
1. Embrace white
White is one of the best ways ((if not the best way) to reflect light through a space. It’s even more powerful than a mirror.
White is one of the best ways ((if not the best way) to reflect light through a space. It’s even more powerful than a mirror.
Keep in mind that white can also be introduced through accessories, and not strictly walls. The paint here carries a hint of colour, but the room still feels fresh with all the hits of white introduced via the breezy chair, petite rug, tiles and fixtures.
Check out the pros and cons of white tapware
Check out the pros and cons of white tapware
2. Learn to love glass
If you don’t have a window letting light in, then you won’t want something that takes light away. Polished metal, glass and mirror are great materials for adding interest and drama without absorbing light. The space will feel uniform, even if there’s very little colour.
If you don’t have a window letting light in, then you won’t want something that takes light away. Polished metal, glass and mirror are great materials for adding interest and drama without absorbing light. The space will feel uniform, even if there’s very little colour.
3. Get a leggy vanity
A leggy, open vanity will admittedly provide less storage, but if you can tuck bathroom items in a cupboard, the longer sight lines of an open vanity will help you feel less boxed in. I use this style often in compact bathrooms.
A leggy, open vanity will admittedly provide less storage, but if you can tuck bathroom items in a cupboard, the longer sight lines of an open vanity will help you feel less boxed in. I use this style often in compact bathrooms.
An airy vanity can also include a towel shelf (also usable for baskets of smaller items) and still feel very light. Again, white, metal and glass will help it appear to float. A front rail will provide a place for a small towel.
4. Have multiple mirrors
Mirrors in unexpected places really help to expand the space, especially near the ground, where they let the floor stretch out (you can also create the look by using mirror for bathroom toe kicks or cupboard doors).
Also notice how this bath and the one in the previous photo have glass doors instead of a curtain for maximum openness. A fixed glass panel with a swing door is one of my go-tos, even with a standard tub installation.
See these statement-making mirror styles
Mirrors in unexpected places really help to expand the space, especially near the ground, where they let the floor stretch out (you can also create the look by using mirror for bathroom toe kicks or cupboard doors).
Also notice how this bath and the one in the previous photo have glass doors instead of a curtain for maximum openness. A fixed glass panel with a swing door is one of my go-tos, even with a standard tub installation.
See these statement-making mirror styles
A full wall of mirror (or at least extending to the vanity) really goes the extra distance to double the space visually. Here some antique character helps to bring warmth back in.
You can even layer a second mirror (or just a frame) over the large panel to create a focal point, added interest and a more intimate mood.
5. Layer your lighting
Windows bring in horizontal light to counter overhead lights. Without a window, all you’ve got is vertical light coming straight down – not flattering. Wall fixtures will bring back that glow to your face (and your space).
Windows bring in horizontal light to counter overhead lights. Without a window, all you’ve got is vertical light coming straight down – not flattering. Wall fixtures will bring back that glow to your face (and your space).
Layering lighting right over the glass is a great solution in a small bathroom.
You can create the look with a hanging plug-in pendant when cutting an existing mirror isn’t an option.
Take a look at these bathroom lighting ideas
Take a look at these bathroom lighting ideas
6. Fake it
Consider adding elements to make the room feel like it has a window. I’m sure the window in this space is real, but can you tell? Ultimately a bathroom shade is usually closed, so adding one in front of a blank wall (with a cool-running light behind it) will create the illusion of a window and a diffused glow.
Consider adding elements to make the room feel like it has a window. I’m sure the window in this space is real, but can you tell? Ultimately a bathroom shade is usually closed, so adding one in front of a blank wall (with a cool-running light behind it) will create the illusion of a window and a diffused glow.
Read more:
How to Perk Up Windowless Bathrooms
Tell us:
How have you made your windowless bathroom brighter? Let us know in the Comments below.
How to Perk Up Windowless Bathrooms
Tell us:
How have you made your windowless bathroom brighter? Let us know in the Comments below.
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When we had our 50yr old kitchen and bathrooms updated, I asked the contractor about adding a skylight in the windowless hallway bathroom. He said we would have to remove roof and joist, then rebuild roof support because of the way our modular home was constructed. They also could not add an exhaust fan to the master bathroom; at least it has a window.
I like my small windowless bathrooms. I feel more secure in small spaces. I have more privacy in a room without a window. These ideas are great for adding a light brightness to those spaces: mirrors and lucite are my favorites. With white toilets so commonplace, I feel like white will be one of the colors I have in every bathroom. But I depart from the article here. I like my floors to blend, so I would like my floor to be the same medium neutral as the neighboring bedroom. A light or bright color, as long as I love it, can fill the remaining space and I prefer one that exists in the adjoining bedroom or nearby family room/hall. I choose continuity to create a sense of spaciousness. Then my concept of space isn't reduced to the room I am in, as much as the room plus the adjoining one, and even the outdoors.
For our interior bathroom, we “borrowed” light using clerestory windows, from an adjacent hallway on one side, and a walk-in closet with a window on the other side. One clerestory was frosted (hallway side): it faced a laundry room with a window across the way - we put in a glass door to the laundry to allow daylight to filter through. On the other side, the clerestory was high enough that no one could look in, so we left it clear. While there is never direct sunlight shining into the bath, there is always enough daylight that you don’t have to turn on a light. And you can sense the weather or time of day by the way shadows and light change.