Create A Renter-Friendly Fake Window With LED Strip Lights

Is window envy a real thing? It could be if you're living in an apartment without much natural light or you have a dark closet that makes it difficult to see your clothes. How do you avoid letting a bare wall and low-lighting kill your room's vibe? You can't cut a hole in the wall to make a real window, but one creative hack you can try is building your own fake window using LED strip lights and a few accessories. It's simple, easy, affordable, and best of all, no landlord approval is needed.

With this hack, you'll use simple LEDs like Govee white LED strip lights. Adding battery-powered fixtures, like Comzler rechargeable wall sconces, amplifies the lighting. You'll also need a pair of curtains for the basics to create the illusion of a window in your tight space. The strip lights will run up the borders of the wall with the wall sconces placed in the center to create faux sunlight. Add the curtain to this, and you've got yourself a fake window that's very convincing. Plus, you can use it as hidden storage by placing pinboards behind the curtains. 

Building your own little fake window can be a great idea if you're limited on space and need sufficient background lighting. Or, perhaps you just want to dress up a blank wall in a windowless space with fancy drapery or one of the many beautiful window treatment trends that are here to stay, such as sheer curtains or vibrant roman shades. It's easy to customize the project based on the window treatments you choose. You can expect to spend no more than $100 on this super simple project, and you can get it done in about an hour or two. 

The best way to make the most of a small closet is to maximize its space and incorporate light. Exploring different ways to create the illusions of space, non-existent windows, or other room aspects can help in smaller spaces. For this easy DIY, start by deciding on the size and location of your window. A short wall in a closet is ideal, but you can use any blank wall. Then, adhere your LED light strips around the border of the area. 

Next, cover part of the wall within the light boundary with pinboards to create storage potential. You could also install small hooks, corkboards, or other thin storage solutions. The curtains hide the stored items, yet they stay easily accessible. Then, install one of your wall sconces about 8 inches below the top of your window treatment and one near the bottom, centering them both. Afterward, install a curtain rod or use a tension rod if the faux window is between two walls, and add your curtains to the rod. You want the curtains to overhang the lights to hide them.

Customize this hack by painting the wall a different color or just painting a strip for a cute accent. For even more visual depth, consider swapping the pinboard for a white or blue painted piece of cardboard or art paper. This will give the illusion of a blue sky and help to create more illumination when the curtain is closed. It offers the same effect, and it can be easily taken down without damaging the wall. Pair this with four solid-colored square frames behind the curtains to give the illusion of window panes. You can also try different window treatments like vertical blinds. For more illumination, consider white or light-colored blinds.

This fake window DIY allow you to add a layer of coziness to your small closet, and it's a minimal closet idea that won't overwhelm your space. Given the size of the space, it's important to avoid overheating it when taking on this project. While LEDs don't get as hot as incandescent bulbs, they can still generate some heat. Arrange your window treatment so that it's at least a few inches away from the LED strips and wall sconces, as you don't want them to overheat and create safety issues. Also, check the walls for the nearest outlet to make sure the LED light cord will reach, or choose a battery-powered version for more flexibility. 

Before placing anything on the wall, ensure that it's clean and free of obstructions, such as nails or any objects that may get snagged on the LED light strips or the pinboards. Washing the wall first and letting it dry fully can help the LED strips stick. Keep in mind that the LED strip adhesive can pull paint off of walls, so use with caution. Take note of the type of battery needed, if any, for the wall sconces. Having a backup battery or two keeps your window glowing.