If you’re looking for the perfect location for your home office, you might be wondering whether or not it should have a window.
The short answer is “Yes”, but there’s a lot more to it.
Does A Home Office Require A Window?
A window isn’t an absolute requirement for a home office but there are far more benefits to having one, including well-being, psychological, and being more productive.
There’s also the side benefit of being able to look at something other than a blank wall when working from home.
Anyone who has ever worked in a windowless office knows what that feels like…and the mental health issues that come with it.
But there are downsides too.
So, let’s take a look at the yays and nays of having a window in your office.
The Pros and Cons of Having A Window In Your Office
Advantages
Natural Light
Having a window in your home office allows lots of natural light to enter the room. And natural light has a ton of really important benefits:
Mood enhancer – sunlight triggers our brain to produce and release the hormone Serotonin, which basically makes you feel happier.
Overall health – our skin converts sunlight into Vitamin D3, something essential to your overall health.
Eyesight preservation – using natural light instead of artificial light actually helps preserve your eyesight.
Perception of size – natural light can make a small room feel much bigger than it actually is, especially if you choose a bright color scheme.
Fresh Air
Air conditioning is fine for staying cool but nothing beats a cool breeze coming through an open window on a hot summer’s day. Fresh air is also more environmentally friendly and it’s also completely free.
And if you have a small home office workspace, then cool fresh air on a warm day can feel like you won the lottery. It’s the little things that mean the most, right?
Noise Control
Noises from the outside world can be distracting but they can also be a reminder that you’re not living in total isolation, something which a lot of at-home solopreneurs and office workers suffer from.
A window allows you to tailor the amount of ambient noise in your office – it can be as much or as little as you want.
Your neighbor’s lawnmower might become music to your ears because it reminds you that you’re still human.
Physiological and Psychological
It’s recommended that you take a 10-15 minute break from looking at a computer screen every 60 – 90 minutes.
You can do this by staring at a blank wall, or even better, you can stare out your office window instead.
Pro tip: To help refocus your eye muscles look at distant objects or even clouds.
Then there are the many psychological benefits of being able to look out through a window, including absorbing natural sunlight, giving your brain a chance to unwind, providing a mental gap for coming up with new ideas, etc.
Pro tip: You’ll also have to decide where to put your desk which we explain in our blog post on where to put your desk in a home office with a window.
Disadvantages
The idea of working in a windowless home office isn’t exactly appealing, but there can be some fringe benefits.
So, let’s find out what the potential downsides are of having a window in your home office.
Distractions
The distractions surrounding your home can be a great way to take a break from your screen, but they can also become too distracting.
I love watching my neighbors walk their dogs, but I do know that it distracts me. And every time I get distracted I know that it costs me 15-20 minutes of productive time. I can make that time up later on, but that means working a longer day overall.
How can you combat these distractions?
A blind or curtains can help, or even some temporary window frosting/privacy sheets that you can use when you need to focus.
Air Pollution
If your home is near a main road, car, and truck exhaust fumes can come floating in through your open window. You might not even notice these, but they can be harmful to your health.
Another risk is if your neighbors use a solid-fuel fire, firepit, or outdoor BBQ regularly. Again, smoke coming into your home office means you’re inhaling it.
Note: One of my neighbors burns their household waste in their fireplace, and it often contains plastic. So there are ascertain times of the day (summer and winter) when I have to keep every window in my home firmly shut.
Noise Pollution
You might normally love the sound of dogs barking or kids playing. But if you’re having a bad day, are under a lot of stress, or are just not in the mood, then you might wish you worked in a room without windows.
What If You Can’t Have A Window In Your Home Office?
This can happen for any number of reasons, including the design of your home, proximity to a neighbor’s home, local zoning laws, or some kind of HOA (Home Owner Association) nonsense.
For those of you who have now decided that you’re happier in a home office without windows, then you’re all set.
But for everyone else, here are some ways to hack the process.
- Cheat – use something like a Lumie Vitamin L light therapy lamp – this simulates natural light. So even if you’re stuck in a room without a window, you can trick your body into thinking it’s getting natural light, with all the benefits that come with that.
- Decorate your office workspace in a very light color or color scheme – think whites and creams instead of dark colors. This will allow the simulated light from a Lumie to “bounce” off the walls and make your home office feel bigger.
- You could also hire an artist to paint a mural of a window (or another scene) to make it feel like you have a home office near a window. Can an image of an open window have the same positive psychological impact as an actual window? Not quite, but it’s 100x better than just staring at a blank wall.
If you don’t believe me, here’s how to test this idea. The next time you’re angry, open up Google and find an image of a cute puppy or kitten. Your brain automatically releases two “feel good” chemicals when you do this (here’s a study that explains how that works). A mural can have the same impact on you.