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I don’t have windows and I hate the fluorescent lighting so I bought 3 floor lamps and keep them on instead of the bright lights. It’s so calm and peaceful in my room. All my admin always comment how great he ambiance is!
I got the floor lamps at Walmart. They were like 14/piece
Great for science demonstrations because it gets really dark. No distractions for students looking out of windows
You can create a window (paper and craft supplies) and change out the scene based on the season. Or put up one of those mirrors that look like a window to make it feel like it has a window.
I did that too with curtains. My corner behind my desk looks as if we are looking outside
1. No distractions
2. The environment can be whatever you make it
3. Extra wall space
I hung up 5x5 square mirrors around the room, in groups of 4, and dressed them up like windows. I placed windowsill woodwork around the mirrors to make them homey.
Elements of light (lamps with sunlight bright lightbulbs, bright pillows in reading area).
Also, eliminate clutter in small spaces to make the space look and feel larger
Thank you for the great ideas :)
I prefer it! My window was always a distraction. I use string lights (indoor from target) and lamps (Walmart has standing ones for 14!) This creates a soft, relaxed atmosphere and the students love it!
Yep, been in a room with no windows for 4 years. Every year I’ve made a small change. I’m adding more “warm” lighting for this year. I’m planning to keep the fluorescent lights off. I’ve strung indoor/outdoor “Edison bulbs” around my room (got them discounted at Meijer in the patio furniture section). I also have two nice floor lamps and a table lamp. I think this will help make my room more inviting/less harsh than in the past
Yep. I've done this for 20 years. I do have one window on a side door that is up high but no view. I've kept my room because it is large and the air conditioning is consistent, not true for the other rooms in the building.
I have colorful bulletin boards and I include posters with nature images. Also, I will often use my smart board to project music/nature videos from the internet, like a window of sorts. Students love this.
If your district will allow you to paint, project a pretty scene through a window, trace around it with pencil then go back and paint a wall mural.
Instant view!
I actually have an artificial tree with a 3-bilb lamp that sits in the floor (corner) behind the tree. the bulbs periodically change colors, so it very much resembles the changing if the sun. I have a door, but no window. However, this year my door view is getting a brand new brick wall in front of it. Oh, add some plants. If you can't see the outside, bring in the outside. Lol Good luck. As you, I also have a truck load of lamps. I use LCD bulbs, so there isn't a strain on power.
When I was in middle school I had a class that had no windows. My teacher made windows and had the seasons be the background.
One of the things I did was bring in speakers that were connected to Bluetooth where I could play classical music and bring in Old TV's and put up YouTube videos and pictures of outside or clouds and suns and things like that
These are all great suggestions! I just finished my first year in a no-window room, and I didn't think it would effect me much, but I did find it wearing on me a LOT during the long winter months. I started trying to get outside during my lunch even for just 10 minutes and it did help! This year I'm going to add additional floor/rope lighting and an Ott lamp for my desk.
the Ott lamp is amazing. I honestly think it was one of the things that got me through the winter that year (new England winter's)
I taught in a windowless classroom for 3 years.
1. No outside outside distractions.
2. Wall space
3. And whenever I was asked what the weather was like I could go🤷🏻♂️
Lamps and/or string lights to help make it cozy, so you can turn the lights off and students can still see to work. Everyone needs a break from the florescent lights.
I work in a small, small room. It’s right in the center of the school with not a single window! I’ve found that using lots and lots of white to decorate with has really lightened the area. AND, PLANTS!! I have several Snake Plants and Pothos which can survive off zero natural light. I also have several fake plants which also help. They really bring some life to the classroom!
Extra lighting is important. My room had no windows and I got several lamps, including a salt lamp, to supplement. I hate florescent lights so it made a difference. Also, make sure to take a walk on your prep or at lunch to get some sun and fresh air, and consider a vit d supplement. I actually had to go on prescription dose vit c to get my body back where it needed to me. I also feel like it made me a bit depressed to be inside all day.
Try diffusing essential oils
We're not allowed!!! My room last year was kind of out of the way so I used to sneak it but I don't know if I will be able to get away with it this year. It's so helpful for the kids!!!
soft light lamps, fairy lights, curtains across large blank portions of the wall ...it can end up looking very nice!
Put some battery powered “push lights” on each wall, for the rare occasions when you lose power. Keep a flashlight in your desk. Place a few mirrors in the room to help create the illusion of windows