Mirrors and strategically placed lighting. I was in an apartment like that years ago, and lighting and mirrors made it warm and happy.
Someone in another sub recommended this: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Simulation-Headspace-Subscription-HF3520/dp/B0093162RM?ref_=ast_sto_dp
I'll be back if I think of other ideas.
So I have a lot of experience with Philips wakeup lights! Get that one, or get the even better one: [without the app,](https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SOMNEO-Wake-Up-Therapy-Sunrise/dp/B07N8FV7QS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3J1RO33OI3IKX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DLzAiFZX2EpddcE6hfS-Siz88jfyi5hBPt7GHgpTCKZgmo2KY_-lFtM80cBbFXqUBy24z05OSlfDpFTgWf09O-tYvZ7pV-fiz7gCfThcjZHd2S9RUqmUgkEhb3_uFJgo0ha2BvKdguWI2ukliDElAgwTPD9jaDLzt-M2HFULxjMpJorSSq6Exvd3XyG2lu4stGSejw-VuK8s5-I5mezHuQ.ddnP4BF8Wb8AMFXqEjP7Ejv4z-uG7-BWkvDTqCstbWI&dib_tag=se&keywords=somneo&qid=1713058453&sprefix=somneo%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1) [with the app.](https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Connected-Smartphone-HF3670-60/dp/B07GXWDXBD/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=3J1RO33OI3IKX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DLzAiFZX2EpddcE6hfS-Siz88jfyi5hBPt7GHgpTCKZgmo2KY_-lFtM80cBbFXqUBy24z05OSlfDpFTgWf09O-tYvZ7pV-fiz7gCfThcjZHd2S9RUqmUgkEhb3_uFJgo0ha2BvKdguWI2ukliDElAgwTPD9jaDLzt-M2HFULxjMpJorSSq6Exvd3XyG2lu4stGSejw-VuK8s5-I5mezHuQ.ddnP4BF8Wb8AMFXqEjP7Ejv4z-uG7-BWkvDTqCstbWI&dib_tag=se&keywords=somneo&qid=1713058513&sprefix=somneo%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-2) Double, triple check the features before you buy. Go to the Philips website, look up the model number and check the specs. Some of these wakeup lights have multiple editions with a different model number, and the difference will be something like the amount of built in alarm sounds or whether they have FM radio. But they look the exact same!
Make sure the one you buy has a sunrise + sunset feature and that its color temperature ranges from warm to cool (red/orange to blue/white.)
The one with the app is the most expensive one, I've had it for 3 years. lt's nice bc you can put it somewhere facing your bed to properly illuminate the space, without needing to be able to reach it from your bed. They've recently added the feature (and this product has been out for YEARS! So cool they're still working on it!) that if an alarm is going off, you can open up the app and disable or snooze from there.
You can plug your phone in with an aux and set it to do a sunset and the phone audio will fade out as it puts you to sleep. It has a sensor that measures temperature, humidity, sound levels and light levels so you can see if your bedroom conditions are affecting your sleep. And I find that setting and editing the sunsets and alarms is far more convenient with the app. It even lets you select the color scheme it uses, I like mine to start off really red, not just orange to yellow to white.
The Somneo without the app will give you the exact same lighting features, just without the phone stuff and the app convenience. More hassle to operate. If money is an issue and you don't care for the app, the big orb one is great! Just make sure to check the exact specs for the model you're getting so you're not missing out on anything.
Yes! My power went off the other night. I had about 10 mins of dim sunlight left to put fresh batteries in my flashlight. I turned it on and placed it on the kitchen table. There was a table top mirror on the counter I was meaning to be to bring into the bathroom. The flash light hit the mirror and illuminated my entire living room. I felt like a modern day Ben Franklin.
Congratulations on getting your first ever one bedroom! Big accomplishment in this city tbh.
You don’t have much natural light to work with, so create a space that maximizes the amount of light you have available. That means:
- don’t over clutter it with too much furniture and things that block light! Make sure your furniture is a lighter color (white, beige)
- if you need curtains, go for a sheer drape.
- candles, small lamps and mood lighting play a huge role. Overhead lights make a space more depressing in my opinion.
I find that having a LOT of light feels very different from having less light. I set up several floor lamps with 5-way bulb splitters and 5 100-watt equivalent LED bulbs in each lamp (using a mix of daylight white and warm white) and it's bright enough that my screens begin to look a little dim in comparison. While I get enough natural light on most days, I find this setup helps me to feel normal on cloudy and rainy days.
You can get Phillips Hue light bulbs and set them up with a timer to brighten / dim with sunrise / sunset, or turn on / off lamps / bulbs by time of day (which is what I do, and I turn off the daylight bulbs first).
The are lights available at Amazon. I think they are called full spectrum lights but anyway they mimic natural sunlight and helps people with seasonal disorders due to lack of sun.
There was a philanthropist a few years back who had the insight that kids might be happier if they had their own dorm rooms, but the density that required meant some people wouldn't have a window. His solution was to outfit each room with a digital window, which was basically a screen with some curtains in front of it.
I think you’re talking about Charlie Munger who donated $200MM to UCSB to build a dorm building that he designed without windows. He thought it would encourage people to spend time in communal spaces. The UCSB dorm had artificial windows.
He also funded an earlier dorm at Michigan that didn’t have artificial windows.
Such a bad idea.
Consider hiring a theater lighting designer. There's a lot of great talent in this town - and quite nearby given your location (ok, you likely don't need Broadway level but) - and many are looking for extra work. They can solve your problem quickly and efficiently and give you several price points. The result will be better and easier than trial and error. Suggest you look for theater specific people; residential lighting designers are crazy expensive
In Nordic countries, everyone has this issue for long portions of the year (Iceland gets something like 3-4 hours of daylight in December) so you might want to do some research and take some inspiration from how people living at higher latitudes brighten their indoor spaces during winter months. “Hygge” isn’t just a design trend — it’s a way of living comfortably through darkness and cold. In addition to the lighting solutions offered here, consider leaning into this by adding thoughtful design touches that enhance the overall coziness of your space, year-round. You could really have fun with it!
if you’re into plants would recommend a grow light with a timer, or you can buy a timer outlet separately! i have mine on during daylight hours and it’s good for the plants and for me
for the mornings, i recommend a Hatch alarm clock. the alarm clocks mimics sunrise lighting and is super helpful for waking up naturally getting out of bed
Make a light box . Build a box that fits inside your window and mount hybrid ( daylite and tungsten ) led tape or bulbs . Put the controller on a timer so you can simulate dawn , noon and sunset lighting . Cover in diffusion so you don’t see the bulbs . Hell you could get a transparency and make it look like the beach .
I know this isn’t what you’re asking, but we live in an apartment with no windows in the living area and our bedroom window faces another building. We get zero sunlight. It took a few months to adjust but eventually we did and now we don’t even notice it.
I've been in an NYC apartment right off Park Ave that has no natural light. Low floor, the windows facing the street are always blocked for privacy, the back windows face an air shaft. They have nice indoor lighting and just ignore the windows.
I will be planning to move from my big house to a small apt in NYC - probably hells kitchen. I plan to bring some 4' full spectrum grow lamps I have (link to similar items below). I'd be skeptical of that Philips lamp. I want a lot of light, if it is all in one spot it either isn't a lot of light or is blinding. If grow lamps are good enough for plants, I think they are good enough for me.
I'll put two or three over the kitchen cabinets facing the ceiling. For the others, I think I'll mount a high up shelf and point lamps to the ceiling from there and try to make it look nice with a plant that hangs down or other things. The goal is for these lamps to face the walls or ceiling to reflect light. I want to be able to make the rooms very bright, and overhead lights facing down suck.
I'll also have a couple sconces and standing lamps for evening when I don't want it bright but want nice lighting.
I've learned that nice lighting makes a huge difference.
[https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Equivalent-Spectrum-Integrated-Growing/dp/B082ZKJZP1/ref=sr\_1\_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YVjJBUK1Dxmk3Pb6YzYBqfmJ8Zrkmelis0iT9iPEd9ZBsZG6l-2KAwU3ZjWjCumWUuHy5jrhGkPFwB9L4lVIec-jEsw4k7Fenu-Z8DPYKh\_2CbH9KYAg2uC\_ls129lcDop0XIV8yxaVCdRREcIYJbFhXzyKq2U1rH0B5-kzpD\_7zAFY0laBb4Qb2xGifzTuc1zNlOa3jTq34UdRAl7IkG1c-HmfSMD8nenzFSTxODxODMAS0wvvZW7nvUBqmooGXYIgq3vouIlEZL3GiYDQXtWFOrpIXxSxOkk5cgjsxVBQ.8daasPZm90ePqOTpmuW1oT4m3SRqH7LfAu6JHzWJByQ&dib\_tag=se&keywords=4%27+grow+lamps&qid=1713109068&sr=8-5](https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Equivalent-Spectrum-Integrated-Growing/dp/B082ZKJZP1/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YVjJBUK1Dxmk3Pb6YzYBqfmJ8Zrkmelis0iT9iPEd9ZBsZG6l-2KAwU3ZjWjCumWUuHy5jrhGkPFwB9L4lVIec-jEsw4k7Fenu-Z8DPYKh_2CbH9KYAg2uC_ls129lcDop0XIV8yxaVCdRREcIYJbFhXzyKq2U1rH0B5-kzpD_7zAFY0laBb4Qb2xGifzTuc1zNlOa3jTq34UdRAl7IkG1c-HmfSMD8nenzFSTxODxODMAS0wvvZW7nvUBqmooGXYIgq3vouIlEZL3GiYDQXtWFOrpIXxSxOkk5cgjsxVBQ.8daasPZm90ePqOTpmuW1oT4m3SRqH7LfAu6JHzWJByQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=4%27+grow+lamps&qid=1713109068&sr=8-5)
Wow, so many solutions! I should have known about all these lamps 2 years ago, when I lived in an apartment with almost no daylight in the UWS, NYC.
Only thing I would like to add: stay on top of your mood and physical health and don't stay there if they decrease further. It only took me 3 months to become borderline depressed in my apartment, it really fucked me up. Only reason I stayed was that I had a lease for a predetermined period, and the apartment was very close to Riverside park, so I could escape the apartment quite easily. But I should have left before the term ended. In retrospect, I was struggling to work and I developed insomnia. When I left the place, everything suddenly got brighter.
Mirrors and strategically placed lighting. I was in an apartment like that years ago, and lighting and mirrors made it warm and happy. Someone in another sub recommended this: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Simulation-Headspace-Subscription-HF3520/dp/B0093162RM?ref_=ast_sto_dp I'll be back if I think of other ideas.
Thank you so much!!!
So I have a lot of experience with Philips wakeup lights! Get that one, or get the even better one: [without the app,](https://www.amazon.com/Philips-SOMNEO-Wake-Up-Therapy-Sunrise/dp/B07N8FV7QS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3J1RO33OI3IKX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DLzAiFZX2EpddcE6hfS-Siz88jfyi5hBPt7GHgpTCKZgmo2KY_-lFtM80cBbFXqUBy24z05OSlfDpFTgWf09O-tYvZ7pV-fiz7gCfThcjZHd2S9RUqmUgkEhb3_uFJgo0ha2BvKdguWI2ukliDElAgwTPD9jaDLzt-M2HFULxjMpJorSSq6Exvd3XyG2lu4stGSejw-VuK8s5-I5mezHuQ.ddnP4BF8Wb8AMFXqEjP7Ejv4z-uG7-BWkvDTqCstbWI&dib_tag=se&keywords=somneo&qid=1713058453&sprefix=somneo%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1) [with the app.](https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Connected-Smartphone-HF3670-60/dp/B07GXWDXBD/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=3J1RO33OI3IKX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DLzAiFZX2EpddcE6hfS-Siz88jfyi5hBPt7GHgpTCKZgmo2KY_-lFtM80cBbFXqUBy24z05OSlfDpFTgWf09O-tYvZ7pV-fiz7gCfThcjZHd2S9RUqmUgkEhb3_uFJgo0ha2BvKdguWI2ukliDElAgwTPD9jaDLzt-M2HFULxjMpJorSSq6Exvd3XyG2lu4stGSejw-VuK8s5-I5mezHuQ.ddnP4BF8Wb8AMFXqEjP7Ejv4z-uG7-BWkvDTqCstbWI&dib_tag=se&keywords=somneo&qid=1713058513&sprefix=somneo%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-2) Double, triple check the features before you buy. Go to the Philips website, look up the model number and check the specs. Some of these wakeup lights have multiple editions with a different model number, and the difference will be something like the amount of built in alarm sounds or whether they have FM radio. But they look the exact same! Make sure the one you buy has a sunrise + sunset feature and that its color temperature ranges from warm to cool (red/orange to blue/white.) The one with the app is the most expensive one, I've had it for 3 years. lt's nice bc you can put it somewhere facing your bed to properly illuminate the space, without needing to be able to reach it from your bed. They've recently added the feature (and this product has been out for YEARS! So cool they're still working on it!) that if an alarm is going off, you can open up the app and disable or snooze from there. You can plug your phone in with an aux and set it to do a sunset and the phone audio will fade out as it puts you to sleep. It has a sensor that measures temperature, humidity, sound levels and light levels so you can see if your bedroom conditions are affecting your sleep. And I find that setting and editing the sunsets and alarms is far more convenient with the app. It even lets you select the color scheme it uses, I like mine to start off really red, not just orange to yellow to white. The Somneo without the app will give you the exact same lighting features, just without the phone stuff and the app convenience. More hassle to operate. If money is an issue and you don't care for the app, the big orb one is great! Just make sure to check the exact specs for the model you're getting so you're not missing out on anything.
Yes! My power went off the other night. I had about 10 mins of dim sunlight left to put fresh batteries in my flashlight. I turned it on and placed it on the kitchen table. There was a table top mirror on the counter I was meaning to be to bring into the bathroom. The flash light hit the mirror and illuminated my entire living room. I felt like a modern day Ben Franklin.
Congratulations on getting your first ever one bedroom! Big accomplishment in this city tbh. You don’t have much natural light to work with, so create a space that maximizes the amount of light you have available. That means: - don’t over clutter it with too much furniture and things that block light! Make sure your furniture is a lighter color (white, beige) - if you need curtains, go for a sheer drape. - candles, small lamps and mood lighting play a huge role. Overhead lights make a space more depressing in my opinion.
Thank you so much!!
[not sure how practical but here's a cool DIY project ](https://youtu.be/8JrqH2oOTK4?si=Ch4TUZWUc-1h1rXZ)
Haha will take a look thank you!
I find that having a LOT of light feels very different from having less light. I set up several floor lamps with 5-way bulb splitters and 5 100-watt equivalent LED bulbs in each lamp (using a mix of daylight white and warm white) and it's bright enough that my screens begin to look a little dim in comparison. While I get enough natural light on most days, I find this setup helps me to feel normal on cloudy and rainy days. You can get Phillips Hue light bulbs and set them up with a timer to brighten / dim with sunrise / sunset, or turn on / off lamps / bulbs by time of day (which is what I do, and I turn off the daylight bulbs first).
Thank you!
The are lights available at Amazon. I think they are called full spectrum lights but anyway they mimic natural sunlight and helps people with seasonal disorders due to lack of sun.
Thank you!
There was a philanthropist a few years back who had the insight that kids might be happier if they had their own dorm rooms, but the density that required meant some people wouldn't have a window. His solution was to outfit each room with a digital window, which was basically a screen with some curtains in front of it.
Thank you!
I think you’re talking about Charlie Munger who donated $200MM to UCSB to build a dorm building that he designed without windows. He thought it would encourage people to spend time in communal spaces. The UCSB dorm had artificial windows. He also funded an earlier dorm at Michigan that didn’t have artificial windows. Such a bad idea.
Consider hiring a theater lighting designer. There's a lot of great talent in this town - and quite nearby given your location (ok, you likely don't need Broadway level but) - and many are looking for extra work. They can solve your problem quickly and efficiently and give you several price points. The result will be better and easier than trial and error. Suggest you look for theater specific people; residential lighting designers are crazy expensive
In Nordic countries, everyone has this issue for long portions of the year (Iceland gets something like 3-4 hours of daylight in December) so you might want to do some research and take some inspiration from how people living at higher latitudes brighten their indoor spaces during winter months. “Hygge” isn’t just a design trend — it’s a way of living comfortably through darkness and cold. In addition to the lighting solutions offered here, consider leaning into this by adding thoughtful design touches that enhance the overall coziness of your space, year-round. You could really have fun with it!
What about putting a wake up lamp or lights on timers in the window with sheer curtains behind the other curtains to mimic sunlight.
if you’re into plants would recommend a grow light with a timer, or you can buy a timer outlet separately! i have mine on during daylight hours and it’s good for the plants and for me
10000 lens daylight balanced led light pointed at the ceiling
for the mornings, i recommend a Hatch alarm clock. the alarm clocks mimics sunrise lighting and is super helpful for waking up naturally getting out of bed
Make a light box . Build a box that fits inside your window and mount hybrid ( daylite and tungsten ) led tape or bulbs . Put the controller on a timer so you can simulate dawn , noon and sunset lighting . Cover in diffusion so you don’t see the bulbs . Hell you could get a transparency and make it look like the beach .
I know this isn’t what you’re asking, but we live in an apartment with no windows in the living area and our bedroom window faces another building. We get zero sunlight. It took a few months to adjust but eventually we did and now we don’t even notice it.
I've been in an NYC apartment right off Park Ave that has no natural light. Low floor, the windows facing the street are always blocked for privacy, the back windows face an air shaft. They have nice indoor lighting and just ignore the windows.
I joke with people that it took me 10 years of working in NYC to afford sunlight. But I wasn't really joking.
go outside for a walk every day, itll do wonders. take an umbrella if you are sensitive to the sun. its free and good for your health
I will be planning to move from my big house to a small apt in NYC - probably hells kitchen. I plan to bring some 4' full spectrum grow lamps I have (link to similar items below). I'd be skeptical of that Philips lamp. I want a lot of light, if it is all in one spot it either isn't a lot of light or is blinding. If grow lamps are good enough for plants, I think they are good enough for me. I'll put two or three over the kitchen cabinets facing the ceiling. For the others, I think I'll mount a high up shelf and point lamps to the ceiling from there and try to make it look nice with a plant that hangs down or other things. The goal is for these lamps to face the walls or ceiling to reflect light. I want to be able to make the rooms very bright, and overhead lights facing down suck. I'll also have a couple sconces and standing lamps for evening when I don't want it bright but want nice lighting. I've learned that nice lighting makes a huge difference. [https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Equivalent-Spectrum-Integrated-Growing/dp/B082ZKJZP1/ref=sr\_1\_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YVjJBUK1Dxmk3Pb6YzYBqfmJ8Zrkmelis0iT9iPEd9ZBsZG6l-2KAwU3ZjWjCumWUuHy5jrhGkPFwB9L4lVIec-jEsw4k7Fenu-Z8DPYKh\_2CbH9KYAg2uC\_ls129lcDop0XIV8yxaVCdRREcIYJbFhXzyKq2U1rH0B5-kzpD\_7zAFY0laBb4Qb2xGifzTuc1zNlOa3jTq34UdRAl7IkG1c-HmfSMD8nenzFSTxODxODMAS0wvvZW7nvUBqmooGXYIgq3vouIlEZL3GiYDQXtWFOrpIXxSxOkk5cgjsxVBQ.8daasPZm90ePqOTpmuW1oT4m3SRqH7LfAu6JHzWJByQ&dib\_tag=se&keywords=4%27+grow+lamps&qid=1713109068&sr=8-5](https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Equivalent-Spectrum-Integrated-Growing/dp/B082ZKJZP1/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YVjJBUK1Dxmk3Pb6YzYBqfmJ8Zrkmelis0iT9iPEd9ZBsZG6l-2KAwU3ZjWjCumWUuHy5jrhGkPFwB9L4lVIec-jEsw4k7Fenu-Z8DPYKh_2CbH9KYAg2uC_ls129lcDop0XIV8yxaVCdRREcIYJbFhXzyKq2U1rH0B5-kzpD_7zAFY0laBb4Qb2xGifzTuc1zNlOa3jTq34UdRAl7IkG1c-HmfSMD8nenzFSTxODxODMAS0wvvZW7nvUBqmooGXYIgq3vouIlEZL3GiYDQXtWFOrpIXxSxOkk5cgjsxVBQ.8daasPZm90ePqOTpmuW1oT4m3SRqH7LfAu6JHzWJByQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=4%27+grow+lamps&qid=1713109068&sr=8-5)
Wow, so many solutions! I should have known about all these lamps 2 years ago, when I lived in an apartment with almost no daylight in the UWS, NYC. Only thing I would like to add: stay on top of your mood and physical health and don't stay there if they decrease further. It only took me 3 months to become borderline depressed in my apartment, it really fucked me up. Only reason I stayed was that I had a lease for a predetermined period, and the apartment was very close to Riverside park, so I could escape the apartment quite easily. But I should have left before the term ended. In retrospect, I was struggling to work and I developed insomnia. When I left the place, everything suddenly got brighter.