Tiny Dark Spare Room
Hi,
I’ve recently been viewing a potential new flat which has one of the darkest rooms I’ve seen! The window looks directly onto the back of wall (staircase) and is also bricked up to the left hand sized. The room itself is pretty small too. If this was my main bedroom I wouldn’t consider it but as it’s a spare room I’m giving it some thought.
I think it could only be used as a very cosy guest room which embraces the darkness with dark wall colours - and would probably need to have one side of a doubld bed against a wall (unless the bed was a petite double). A guest room fits my needs and would very rarely be used - it would be ideal if it could be a place to work that doubles as a guest room with sofa bed but I think it would be just too grim with the light situation.
Does anyone have any tips on improving the light? Or making use of the room? I considered glass panelling in the door but in the photos all the doors are open and it is still dark. Would you run a mile if someone asked you to stay over in this guest “prison” room?
Thanks!
Comments (8)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoI take it you can’t touch the outside wall? If not, I’d hang a voile roller blind and maybe add some (suitable) hanging plants. You can obviously find nice planters, was just trying to find an image where you couldn’t see outside!
im not sure I’d go dark on the walls tbh even though I like dark colours! Just thinking you could paint the shutters in a cheery colour. A botanical type wallpaper might be nice too if that’s your thing. I’m not sure on your budget but maybe pull up the carpet and paint the original boards white which should bounce some more light.
what’s opposite the entrance door?
- 5 years ago
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If you can touch the wall then maybe a living wall outside instead if that would work? I’m useless at gardening but looking at how bright the room next door is I’m sure there must be a number of plants that would be fine there (?!). Or go fake 😂 I think getting rid of the carpet will help, it’s probably adding to the gloom.
- 5 years ago
Depends on whether you're buying or renting.
If buying, you could add some glazed panels between the two rooms to borrow light from the bigger room or you could remove the wall entirely and replace with sound proofed folding partition wall. That way you get to use the whole space when you don't have guests.
If renting there are many new "false window" products on the market. If you are tech savvy you can even make your own out of old PC monitors. They could help get rid of the prison feel.
You can get them with "views" already printed on them like the ones above or you can get them as plane white panels like these ones from IKEA I believe...
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
Thanks!
Plants would definitely improve the view outside. Worth investigating if any can survive but it is very dark - the room next door is still basement level but not directly behind a floor to ceiling wall like this one unfortunately is. I think it appears brighter in the photos thanks to modern cameras! The image showing both rooms at the same time of day is probably the most realistic view of the light (or lack of)
Yes it would be to buy so adding in more glazing is an option. Along the other room wall would add more light but I think it would then be problematic for sleeping. Maybe a window can be added above the door and a glazed door used too. Like this:
I’m not sure on the fake windows - they could be ok but I’d have to see them in person.
Thanks macbroom! That seems like a good idea !
- 5 years ago
macbroom