Can A Living Room Have No Windows?

House hunting often reveals unique layouts, especially in older houses divided into rentals or repurposed buildings. But what if you encounter a living room with no windows? Is that acceptable?

According to our research into various municipal building codes, the answer is yes.

A space can be designated as a living room, even without windows, as long as it’s at least 70 square feet, has a standard doorway, and a ceiling height of at least 7 feet.

Keep reading to explore how to make the most of such spaces, including decoration and lighting tips.

How Windows Affect Your Living Space

Windows do more than just make your space look good; they let in natural light and offer an extra way out in case of emergencies.

In emergencies like a fire, it’s reassuring to have additional exit options. But to qualify as an egress, windows must fully open, offering at least five and a half square feet of clearance and a width of at least 24 inches.

Airflow is another important service that windows provide. If you’ve ever noticed how large the windows are in older homes, most were built before air conditioning was widely available.

Larger windows, when opened, allow a current of air to constantly circulate inside the building, cooling it down during the warmer months. 

There are some downsides to windows, though. Older ones can let heat escape during the winter, and although heavy drapes might help a bit, they don’t completely fix the issue.

They’re also a lot more fragile than the walls of your home, as parents of children with baseballs might understand.

If your living room doesn’t have windows, don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to make it look bright and inviting, which we’ll get into later in the post.

Overall, the benefits of having windows, like their safety features and the way they enhance the look of a room, usually outweigh the negatives for most homeowners.

What constitutes a room in real estate?

According to real estate standards, what determines a room or not are mostly size factors.

Square footage and ceiling heights are the most important here, and room dimensions will determine your limited space.

Kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms aside, a legal room must contain at least 70 square feet. So, if the space is less than that, it wouldn’t qualify as a living room or bedroom.

Also, the space must have a minimum ceiling height of seven feet (eight in some states) for a living room; at least half of the room must have seven-foot ceilings to be considered a bedroom.

The latter makes it possible for a loft space to be legally considered a bedroom so long as it meets minimum square footage and egress requirements.

Can a living room be used as a bedroom?

Legally speaking, any room can be used as a bedroom so long as certain requirements are met:

• The room needs two means of egress—a door and a window, or in many states, a skylight can also serve as one of the exits.
• The room must also be at least 70 square feet. The smallest living rooms are this size, so you wouldn’t need to worry here.

Contrary to popular belief, a room doesn’t need a closet to qualify as a bedroom. But if the room you want to use as a bedroom is without a closet, you’ll need to find some way to store your clothing.

We found this wardrobe as spacious as most standard bedroom closets.

How do you decorate a living room with no windows?

Creating the illusion of a window in the room might be your best option. Select a large mirror or two and place them where you ordinarily see a window.

This will create more light while giving the feeling that the room is larger than it is. If you have the right mirror, you can also consider window treatments for it.

Consider adding curtains around the mirror to strengthen the illusion.

Use light colors like whites, creams, and tans on walls and ceilings to brighten the space, and opt for higher-watt bulbs that don’t cast a bluish tinge like fluorescent lights.

Choose furnishings in lighter colors to avoid making the room feel smaller. If your furniture is dark, brighten the space with colorful throws, pillows, and area rugs.

A large, brightly colored area rug can significantly lift the ambiance, even over dark flooring.

How can you brighten up a living room?

If your room has windows, consider keeping the blinds up and curtains open during daylight hours. Avoid planting trees and shrubbery that might interfere with the sun’s rays.

Go for lighter-colored window treatments, and keep furniture away from windows to help open up the space.

The colors in your living room make a difference, too. So stick with neutral wall and ceiling colors if you’ve got darker floors.

A complementary area rug can lighten things up if you have dark hardwood floors, and choosing furniture in lighter shades can make the whole room feel brighter.

Adding some plants can also freshen up your space and improve the air quality. Just place them where they’ll get enough light without blocking the windows, making your room feel livelier and more inviting.

In Closing

If the room you want to use as a living room is windowless, it can still be considered a living room. Unlike bedrooms, living rooms only need one method of egress.

While decorating a windowless living room can be a challenge, there are many actions you can take to make this room seem larger and brighter with mirrors and lighter colors.

If you found this post on living rooms to be informative, we believe you’ll enjoy reading the following post:

Can You Convert A Garage Into A Living Room? [Top Factors To Consider!]

Can You Raise A Sunken Living Room Floor?

Where To Place A Floor Mirror In The Living Room?