How to Improve an Apartment with North-facing Windows: Tips from Professionals

Tip #1: Compensate for Natural Light with Artificial Lighting

Provide multi-level lighting in an apartment with north-facing windows: ceiling, wall, floor, and table lamps, as well as built-in fixtures. The more light sources in the apartment, the easier it is to create a comfortable atmosphere depending on the time of day.

Tip #2: Go for White Color

Color largely determines the overall perception of interior design. Dark shades visually reduce space, while light colors make it appear more spacious and obviously brighter. Therefore, white finishing is the best choice for an apartment with a northern side. The Scandinavian style is ideal, where white is the color constant. Scandinavians are very sensitive to light in their homes, so they have much to teach us. Create a calm Nordic atmosphere – believe it or not, it will look more harmonious in a poorly lit apartment than classic beige tones.

Tip #3: Try to Do Without Curtains

It's not worth decorating windows with heavy fabric. Ideally – do away with curtains entirely, but if you still want to maintain a sense of privacy, choose roller or lightweight semi-transparent sheer curtains. Remove all unnecessary items from windowsills: potted plants, stacks of books and magazines. Nothing should hinder the sun's light from entering the room unhindered.

Tip #4: Don't Overload the Apartment

Choose light furniture configuration, preferably low and with light finishing. Solid wardrobes and sofas along all the room's perimeter will create a feeling of cramped space and oppressive walls, which is exactly what you don’t want in a poorly lit apartment.

Tip #5: Place a Mirror Opposite the Window

Only mirrors reflect white light. The larger the mirror, the more light it reflects. Place a large round mirror directly opposite the window to achieve maximum lighting effect.

Tip #6: Add Warm Colors

If you're planning a renovation or want to improve your home by letting in more light, prefer warm tones when choosing finishing materials and furniture. Repaint the walls or apply wallpaper. The latter can also feature bright patterns: they create a sense of more space in the room.

Tip #7: Use Natural Materials

Wood in decor, flooring, and interior elements create an atmosphere of warmth and coziness. You can design the interior in any style, but it particularly harmonizes with Provence, eco-style, and Scandinavian.

Tip #8: Choose Wall Colors in Natural Light

Apartments with north-facing windows suffer from a lack of direct sunlight. From autumn to spring, the room is filled with gray tones, and in summer – with a blue spectrum. Therefore, overly light walls can look gloomy. I recommend choosing color shades on-site in such rooms. If it's paint, make test patches. If it's wallpaper, bring the catalog into the room and look at it there. Also, I suggest experimenting with rich, complex warm tones.

Tip #9: Direct Lighting Into the Window

Another trick that helps make a room brighter is to install lighting directly into the window. It should definitely be daylight-colored and pleasant light. Then it will seem as if the room is always bright, and it’s not a north-facing one at all – but very sunny.