Best way to light an attic dormer window

[brantmacga]

I need to backlight an attic dormer window with blinds.

I was thinking about putting two keyless fixtures with A19 LED lamps, but with no room behind it to reflect the light, I'm worried it may be too dim.

I'm thinking maybe put a flood lamp holder a few feet behind the window and shining directly at it.

Anyone else tried this before?

Pic of the window attached ....

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[mgookin]

I've seen a lamp on a table. It looks nice.

 

[brantmacga]

I've seen a lamp on a table. It looks nice.

Well if that's enough maybe I'll just hang a box down center of the window and put a keyless on it.

We can always change it if it doesn't work,


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[Dennis Alwon]

Led Tape Light

 

[brantmacga]

Wrap it around the window frame? Have you tried that? I was looking for a uniform light from behind the window so it looks like an inhabited space .


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[hbiss]

... so it looks like an inhabited space.

Then you're probably going to have to do a little more than provide a light source. You don't want people looking up through the window and seeing the roof framing or looking from away and seeing the unfinished attic. So some kind of window treatment or backdrop is going to be needed- then you can decide how to light it.

I've seen this done before and quite creatively but I can't recall where.

-Hal

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Yeah follow the contour of the window. You can probably save money and use rope light

 

[mgookin]

Then you're probably going to have to do a little more than provide a light source. You don't want people looking up through the window and seeing the roof framing or looking from away and seeing the unfinished attic. So some kind of window treatment or backdrop is going to be needed- then you can decide how to light it.

I've seen this done before and quite creatively but I can't recall where.

-Hal

You can't see past a light. You can only see what's between you and the light. A lamp on a table works fine. It's been done that way for 100 years.

 

[hbiss]

After re-reading the OP I see there will be blinds, so a table lamp may work fine. Hopefully this window is accessible from the attic, not permanently closed in so you can try different methods. I disagree with rope lights or a spot light. How is that going to look natural?

-Hal

 

[kwired]

I'm thinking maybe put a flood lamp holder a few feet behind the window and shining directly at it.

Flood light is the way to go, seen that done to light up stain glass windows many times - this should work pretty similarly.

 

[brantmacga]

Flood light is the way to go, seen that done to light up stain glass windows many times - this should work pretty similarly.

That's kinda what I had in mind also.


Yes the window is accessible; it's wide open attic space behind there, that's why I'm worried a simple lamp may not reflect well behind it and will look dim.

Thanks everyone


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[Electric-Light]

What are you wanting to do exactly?

I'd like to know if you need the view to outside.
Do you want the window to look lit up from outside or only inside?
Does it have to be soft white?

One thing you could do is a white curtain or plastic blade that glows to UV then hit it with an F15T8 or F20T12 blacklight and the entire curtain/blind blades will light up nicely.

 

[kwired]

What are you wanting to do exactly?

I'd like to know if you need the view to outside.
Do you want the window to look lit up from outside or only inside?
Does it have to be soft white?

One thing you could do is a white curtain or plastic blade that glows to UV then hit it with an F15T8 or F20T12 blacklight and the entire curtain/blind blades will light up nicely.

I believe he has a window in an attic dormer - all unfinished inside, but the desire is to somehow make that window look from the outside like it is an occupied room. So probably some sort of curtain that would be typical in an occupied room with normal looking light source for an occupied room illuminating it from the inside.

 

[Electric-Light]

I believe he has a window in an attic dormer - all unfinished inside, but the desire is to somehow make that window look from the outside like it is an occupied room. So probably some sort of curtain that would be typical in an occupied room with normal looking light source for an occupied room illuminating it from the inside.

Well, white curtain should work. The black light would make the curtain itself glow without lighting up the inside much. It should go with a timer switch that introduces a bit of irregularity so it doesn't stay on dusk to dawn or come on/off at exactly the same time every day.

 

[brantmacga]

Ended up putting a single LED flood lamp behind it; put on a single switch by the front door to keep it separate. Waiting on shades to go in but I think it will look ok.

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[Little Bill]

Ended up putting a single LED flood lamp behind it; put on a single switch by the front door to keep it separate. Waiting on shades to go in but I think it will look ok.

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I think it will look fine once the window blinds are up.

Now that drywall finish around that 4-gang switch plate is another story!

 

[JFletcher]

I think I may have chosen a lower location and uplighting however as long as the customer is happy that's all that really matters. W/o shades the spray foam will be infinitely more an eyesore than the light illuminating it.

 

[brantmacga]

I think it will look fine once the window blinds are up.

Now that drywall finish around that 4-gang switch plate is another story!

soooooo many problems with the wall finish here. The owner, who is my good friend, has made them repaint the house three times already. I could go on all day about how poor the paint and finish has been; its been a very disappointing experience for them.