One of the principles of interior design that can help create great-looking rooms is having balance in the space. In the same way that the size of furniture and the colors should be evenly distributed in a space, a good balance in the placement of windows contributes to a visually pleasing room.
In some cases, a room may be lacking in balance in this aspect, or have no windows at all. One solution is adding faux windows using a window frame and a mural, poster, mirror, or stained glass.
Faux windows create the appearance of openness and depth. They may add light to a room if backlit, or if constructed using a mirror that reflects natural and artificial light. Faux windows also add color and enhance the theme of the room de´cor through the scenes created and the type of window frame used.
Where to Use Faux Windows
The basement and bathroom are examples of rooms commonly designed with little or no windows. Adding a faux window brightens the room and makes the de´cor more interesting. In other rooms, adding faux windows on one side of the space can provide balance to a fireplace or large painting placed on the other side of the space.
Kinds of Faux Windows
Mural: From beach scenes to Tuscan landscapes to mountain views, you have a wide variety when it comes to selecting the picture for your faux windows. A quick and inexpensive way to create a faux window is to paste a landscape poster on your wall, and mount the window glass and frame over it.
Alternatively, you can purchase a watercolor painting or hand-paint a mural on the wall itself. Trompe l’oeil paintings are particularly ideal as a faux window scene. This style of painting gives the illusion that the picture is three dimensional, giving depth to the scene.
Photo: Somewhat more realistic, photos blown up to your ideal window size allow you to create faux windows that offer a more personal and unique view. Some people take scenes from their backyard, while others have a favorite landscape photo to use. The advantage of using photos is that you can change them regularly according to the season or when the mood strikes.
Backlit and LED screen: To make your faux window look more convincing, install fluorescent lighting inside the top frame of the window. The window frame will have to be attached to the wall with sufficient space to accommodate the light box.
To create a translucent effect, transfer your image onto a transparency and attach onto the window pane. An LED screen is another way to achieve a luminous effect.
Mirror and stained glass: Faux windows can be created using a mirror instead of glass, attached to a window frame and mounted onto the wall. The mirror reflects light and adds depth to the room.
Decorating the window with curtains, shutters, or other window treatments adds to the look and can help it blend in with the rest of the room. Stained glass faux windows that are backlit also make a beautiful statement in a room.
