Look, falling asleep, at the starry sky or, opening your eyes, rejoice at the light clouds dissolved in the rays of the sun. But not everyone has this opportunity. In a high-rise apartment, it is technically impossible to cut a window in the ceiling. And even residents of cottages with an attic do not always decide to do this, since there is a risk that the double-glazed windows will leak during rainfall and melting snow. But you don’t need to give up your dream; you can make a fairly realistic false window on the ceiling. Then a beautiful view is guaranteed, and there will be no dripping from the roof on your head.
Types of false windows
The modern design world offers several options for artificial or false windows. Let's talk about the eight most commonly used types of false windows, these are:
- Poster sticker
- Illuminated poster
- Illuminated box
- Mirror instead of glass
- Frame with curtain
- "Window" on the ceiling
- Ready light box
About each type of false windows in more detail
Versatile and practical design
The dining room is not always a separate room with an exclusive design. Most of us limit ourselves to creating a small dining area or kitchen corner, preferring functionality over visual appeal.
This is almost becoming a pattern with the growing popularity of open floor plans. In such cases, small skylights can significantly improve the aesthetics of a space without changing its structure. A simple round hatch above the dining table picturesquely illuminates the interior and visually separates it from the living room.
A circular skylight with stained glass adds to the aesthetics of this modern living room.
Highly artistic interior of the dining room, complemented by a mini-gallery on the wall and a ceiling composition in a Christmas style
Small windows are very convenient to install between existing roof structure parts. You can install several compact electrically operated skylights to control the amount of daylight and outdoor coolness. Another fashion trend is a long skylight running along one of the walls. It amazingly transforms the interior, creating a bizarre play of light and shadow on all surfaces.
An innovative ceiling is the centerpiece of this dining room.
The retractable glazed roof creates a romantic mood in a small space
Skylights at the junction of the wall and ceiling add extraordinary mystery to the interior of this open living room.
A skylight in the kitchen makes the dining area more attractive
An ingenious combination of diverse textures in the interior of an eclectic dining room
Sticker, poster
A sticker or poster is the most budget option for a false window. A poster with any view “from the window” can be ordered at any printing house, on Aliexpress, and so on. Modern methods of creating and applying images allow you to create 3D effects that are as close to reality as possible. So, an ordinary poster or sticker of the required size with an image of absolutely any “view from the window” will become inexpensive, but quite similar to a real window.
Rational size and shape of windows
- Registration: Jan 2009
- Posts: 406
Answer: Rational size and shape of windows
I was just recently dealing with this issue. This resulted in four types of windows. The main component, unfortunately, was not technical at all, but purely design. The size and number of windows and the shape of the windows greatly influence the appearance of the house, which is where I started dancing. In general, with a height of more than 1.8 m and a sash width of more than 0.6 m, there will already be difficulties with opening. The height of the window depends solely on the height of the ceilings. With 3-meter ceilings, a window less than 1.6 meters in height does not fit.
Illuminated poster
A backlit poster will be a little more expensive than the previous version, but it will add additional lighting “from the window” to the room. This “window” looks like a narrow box (to hide an LED strip or other lighting). And along the perimeter of the box the image of the “window” itself is attached. Here you can already add a cornice with a curtain for a greater “resemblance” to a real window
Where to apply?
In addition to offices, such lamps are planned to be used in hospitals and nursing homes. Doctors say that for sedentary and sick people, such illusions of sunlight and a blue sky directly above their heads help them cope with depression very well and shorten the rehabilitation period.
Everything is good about a product like this, except the price. The basic version with a remote control costs around $6.2 thousand.
Devices with automatic parameter changes are even more expensive – $6.8 thousand.
For this price, you can paste over the ceiling with cheap LCD TVs and imitate anything with them. At least flying butterflies overhead.
In our realities, no employer, of course, will go to such expenses to ephemerally improve the mood of its employees. Anyone who buys such a thing can massively move their employees into basements.
And what? Now you won’t need to spend money on renting an expensive office somewhere on the top floors of a skyscraper. It's enough to invest well in lighting.
Illuminated box
A backlit box is essentially the same box as in the previous version, but without attaching an image. In this case, instead of an image, it would be good to mount matte plastic or acrylic. Matte to hide the light source itself, but still allow light to shine through the “window”. The curtain in this option will also add effect.
Ideas for a wooden house
Small country houses and cottages often have low ceilings - this is a necessity, since fewer resources are spent on heating. Therefore, the task of visually increasing space is especially relevant here.
Most of the techniques described above are suitable for wooden houses, but a number of other nuances are also taken into account:
- For finishing, use light-colored wood - this will expand the space. Dark shades steal a few centimeters and make the room cramped and uncomfortable.
- Accessories must match the color of the walls. Wooden furniture of the same shade is most appropriate.
- The walls, in turn, are covered with a slightly darker varnish or wax than the ceiling, so that against their background it appears lighter.
- Coffered ceilings are often installed in a wooden house. This is a volumetric finish made of perpendicularly located beams that form cells. The beams are painted a darker color or made lighter in comparison with the base. Due to the contrast, it is possible to visually increase the height of the ceiling.
There are also more radical methods that require certain skills in the construction and repair of such buildings. For example, you can lower the floor. They do this as follows:
- Remove the floor covering.
- Remove old logs. The part may extend into the area of another room, so maximum care is needed.
- The holes formed in the walls are sealed with mortar.
- Cut holes for new logs so that they are lower than the previous ones by a maximum of 25 cm. Install the parts.
- If necessary, insulate the floor. Then the rough coating is laid, then the finishing coating.
Another way is to change the headliner. This option is suitable if the load-bearing beam system is hidden under the finishing material. In this case, the old coating is dismantled and a new one is installed just above the beams. The process consists of the following steps:
- Remove the old finish and dismantle the sheathing.
- Damaged ceiling beams are restored or replaced. The structure is treated with impregnations against fungi, rot and pests. Surfaces are opened with varnish, wax or paint.
- The space between the beams is finished with wooden lining or other decorative materials. First, a layer of thermal insulation is attached to the roof truss structure, on top of which a new ceiling is hemmed.
"Window" on the ceiling
A false window can be made not only on the wall, but also on the ceiling. But there are no longer many options for placement on the ceiling. To make the window look like a real one, which is “built” into the ceiling, lighting, a blue or starry sky, and overhanging tree branches will be necessary. Otherwise, the effect of the presence of a window cannot be achieved.
Let there be light!
Recently, it has become fashionable to take a classic idea as a basis and translate it into a current, fresh image. Glass is an integral component of all such renovations, so merging a glass wall with a skylight seems quite logical.
And it is not surprising that homeowners decide to carry out appropriate reconstruction even in those fragile buildings that can rightfully be considered an architectural heritage. A ceiling window allows you to increase the amount of daylight, highlight the beauty and elegance of a glass wall without making major changes to the structure of the facade.
The lush vegetation in the garden became part of the dining room interior thanks to the presence of a glass wall.
A huge aquarium can be a great backdrop for a dining area
Dining rooms with glass doors and skylights invariably cause delight, as in this case nature itself takes on the functions of the designer. And it's not just the sunshine, but the magnificent sights and sounds that change with the seasons. These dining rooms become transitions between the backyard and the rest of the house, while remaining a living space with four full walls.
A skylight can transform an old-fashioned interior into a modern, airy space.
Amazing visual symmetry of the interior of a dining room in a country house
During the daytime, this lamp acts as a sculptural addition to the decor.
An abundance of daylight transforms the kitchen breakfast nook into a stunning dining area
Traditional dining room with indescribable English charm
The ceiling and wall of glass combined the dining room interior with the environment
False window for a room without windows
Below is a selection of various design incarnations of false windows:
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