Pretty sure a room that is intended to be used by a human must have windows according to the (U.S.) federal building code. This all came about because when the flood of European immigrants came to NYC in the late 1800s/early 1900s, landlords sectioned off long rooms into small tenant rooms meant to have multiple families reside in said long room via each sectioned off space. Problem is that the room would only have a window on one end, or if lucky, on the opposite of the long end. Well, the middle divided rooms housed many people and people quickly found out that sunlight is necessary to disinfect air and windows are necessary to circulate the bad air. Massive, massive bacterial and viral epidemics that kept sweeping through these sort of dwellings until the government stepped in and forbade landlords from this practice. (There was an issue of bad factory air and no central sewer system or access to clean water (but the air quality was one of the factors in the spread of certain epidemics). It's hard to keep your small space clean and disinfected when you work 16 hour days along with your kids and need to haul up buckets of murky water five floors just to clean a space when all you want to do is collapse. I don't know how our ancestors did it. They're stronger than us.
@@ImNotaRussianBot You're correct about the law afaik. That said, I've lived in or visited/seen nearly as many residential spaces that didn't meet code as ones that do, so it's still a very real issue. (Not that you necessarily implied otherwise! I'm not arguing so much as piggybacking off your comment.) Of course we can safely assume my roughly-equal-proportions anecdotal exposure is not at all reflective of actual distribution across the country, & of course it has a lot to do with the socioeconomic strata I jive with ... but considering that I've lived around Denver nearly all my life & that it's a relatively-young-&-wealthy USian city, & considering that I've spent a good deal of time transient so my sample is quite large, as a big public health geek I gotta say I still find my observations pretty alarming. I have criticisms of some housing codes (for cryin' out loud we need to stop mandating flush toilets in a post-composting-science world omg) but I sure would love to see their enforcement/the safety of housing taken seriously. Relatedly but tangentially, have you read The Ghost Map? I know a fellow epidemiology nerd when I see one lol, I highly recommend it if you haven't checked it out yet
Oh my gosh totally fixed my problem!!! I was thinking, how do I make my work area more awake when it’s just too cozy? I literally just moved my portable rechargeable lamp to be above the bookshelf, so it reflects off the wall and oh my gosh what a freaking difference.
Cliff could make a shoebox feel like an inviting reading nook for us and a friend. It's still not an ideal room but I think it's important to see how we can improve a less than ideal situation. TY :) I feel this could also be good for workspaces that are interior offices too.
This is so true. I have 7ft ceilings in my bedroom. It is not on a sun facing side, so no direct light. The over head light just seems harsh, lamps make it cozy and my favorite room.
Same, I live in a Ford Explorer right now & am turning a 6'x8' cargo trailer space into a tiny living space/office, & I'd love to learn more of his general environmental tips like this lighting one. It's pretty much impossible to find content about feng shui/general quality-of-life-flow-in-the-space for mobile & other ultra tiny spaces, but it still applies to us (I'd argue it's more important the tinier a home is) & there are always subtle improvements we can make!
I'm glad he consistently points out lighting. My friends don't understand why I prefer lamp lighting instead of overhead lighting. It's for these exact reasons -- overhead lighting is DEPRESSING!
yes!!!!! that's why in my bedroom there's 5 bedlights, 3 display leds for figures, 1 smart ledstrip beside the bed, and occasionally 1 starlight projector
I hate overhead lights that are harsh. If they are muted, and indirect, they are fine. I much prefer lamps on tables because the light is so much more pleasing, and you are right, more cozy/hygge. ⭐️
I hate that so many of us are stuck living in these tiny, single rooms, with either no windows, or shitty windows that open into a shaft 🙃🤷♂️ Thank you feng Shui guy for helping lol
This was my pet peeve at university. Each dorm room had this harsh fluorescent ceiling light. I only turned ours on if I needed more light to find something, but our neighbors had theirs on all the time. It was like looking across the hallway into hell.
As someone with autism with sensory issues, I would love to have a completely windowless rim. I do have one it’s the bathroom, but I would actually love to have a some sort of almost a bedroom that doesn’t have any windows no harsh lights in my house
I'd love you to do an attic room with lower ceilings! I'm looking at an older house that has a charming attic room, but the ceiling is angled and a bit low.
Hey cliff I was thinking about putting a LED pannel on a wall in a space like this and covering the wall with a white curtain to diffuse the light and make it look like a window. Thoughts?
I believe there is a fire safety requirement for bedrooms to have at least 1 window. Depends on where you live of course, but my guess is this wasnt originally intended to be a bedroom.
Low lighting is only possible if you have smooth walls. For uneven sloppy rough walls in a room that kind of lighting makes walls look depressing and like from a horror movie.
Lamps are important to create ambience, but... I HATE a room without overhead lighting. It hits the corners you need to see when you want to find things...
All bedrooms must have a secondary exit for fire safety. Usually this is a window that can open and is large enough to crawl out of, but could be a second door. Without a window, it is likely not legal as a bedroom.
Current apartment had no windows in 2/4 and i drew the short stick. Even with these tips and some decor, it's really depressing. Because of that, it's not allowed by building code, I'm not sure how my landlord can legal list my place as a 4 bedroom.
Can you explain why you always put things behind the sofa? I have noticed in many of your floor plans you and the sofa at the foot of the bed, you put a desk behind it. I'm intrigued.
Yep! Look into color theory and buy his book as well! I’m an interior designer and I have to say, the new way I chose my color palette due to feng shui has made all the difference
It isn’t a bedroom if it doesn’t have any windows. By the section R310, a bedroom must have a window to act as a second meaning of egress. So a room without window should not be a bedroom, simple as that.
How about window less dining room small but it has a high ceiling and no chandelier only dinning table and 8 chairs and room to walk behind every chair.
![James Fridman Photoshop Trolls [2020]](/img/n.gif)
He's like a flight attendant for Feng Shui ❤️
Feng Shui Flight Attendant is a good band name
Spot on!
Best comment by far, such a good laugh reading this early in the morning before work.
nice advice, but room without window is still a sad and depressing room. especially if the room didn't have good air circulation
How about add a plant?🤔
Pretty sure a room that is intended to be used by a human must have windows according to the (U.S.) federal building code. This all came about because when the flood of European immigrants came to NYC in the late 1800s/early 1900s, landlords sectioned off long rooms into small tenant rooms meant to have multiple families reside in said long room via each sectioned off space. Problem is that the room would only have a window on one end, or if lucky, on the opposite of the long end. Well, the middle divided rooms housed many people and people quickly found out that sunlight is necessary to disinfect air and windows are necessary to circulate the bad air. Massive, massive bacterial and viral epidemics that kept sweeping through these sort of dwellings until the government stepped in and forbade landlords from this practice. (There was an issue of bad factory air and no central sewer system or access to clean water (but the air quality was one of the factors in the spread of certain epidemics).
It's hard to keep your small space clean and disinfected when you work 16 hour days along with your kids and need to haul up buckets of murky water five floors just to clean a space when all you want to do is collapse. I don't know how our ancestors did it. They're stronger than us.
@@ImNotaRussianBot You're correct about the law afaik. That said, I've lived in or visited/seen nearly as many residential spaces that didn't meet code as ones that do, so it's still a very real issue. (Not that you necessarily implied otherwise! I'm not arguing so much as piggybacking off your comment.)
Of course we can safely assume my roughly-equal-proportions anecdotal exposure is not at all reflective of actual distribution across the country, & of course it has a lot to do with the socioeconomic strata I jive with ... but considering that I've lived around Denver nearly all my life & that it's a relatively-young-&-wealthy USian city, & considering that I've spent a good deal of time transient so my sample is quite large, as a big public health geek I gotta say I still find my observations pretty alarming.
I have criticisms of some housing codes (for cryin' out loud we need to stop mandating flush toilets in a post-composting-science world omg) but I sure would love to see their enforcement/the safety of housing taken seriously.
Relatedly but tangentially, have you read The Ghost Map? I know a fellow epidemiology nerd when I see one lol, I highly recommend it if you haven't checked it out yet
@@ImNotaRussianBot that's not always guaranteed in a house though.
@@nojena37 a real living plant needs light. In a windowless room it would need a growlight. I don't know how much that would really improve things.
I really love the interpretive dance narration. I hope we get more of those!
Came here to say this! Though I think you've said it best. 😁
Oh my gosh totally fixed my problem!!! I was thinking, how do I make my work area more awake when it’s just too cozy? I literally just moved my portable rechargeable lamp to be above the bookshelf, so it reflects off the wall and oh my gosh what a freaking difference.
It feels like magic right???????? i love this guy
Look at that interpretative feng shui dance ❤
Now we know.....that the feng shui guy is JACKED!
Cliff could make a shoebox feel like an inviting reading nook for us and a friend. It's still not an ideal room but I think it's important to see how we can improve a less than ideal situation. TY :) I feel this could also be good for workspaces that are interior offices too.
This is so true. I have 7ft ceilings in my bedroom. It is not on a sun facing side, so no direct light. The over head light just seems harsh, lamps make it cozy and my favorite room.
This looks like interpretive dance, and I love it! You could redo all the movements on a bare stage to music, and it would be art!
the type of lighting tutorials i was looking for! thank you!
I just love his voice how he says "so now you know!"
I've always turned on the lamps on mine and my husband's bedside tables and turned off the overhead light. I've always liked low light better
Lights can change any room into anything.
Ohhhhhh I’m ready to cosy into the corner and get some reading done. Thank you, dearmodern! ☺️💖
You explain lighting really well in a way I am finally able to grasp. Very tangible and real. Thank you 🙏🏻
I live in an RV and would love to hear your take on a space that feels so unchangeable
Same, I live in a Ford Explorer right now & am turning a 6'x8' cargo trailer space into a tiny living space/office, & I'd love to learn more of his general environmental tips like this lighting one. It's pretty much impossible to find content about feng shui/general quality-of-life-flow-in-the-space for mobile & other ultra tiny spaces, but it still applies to us (I'd argue it's more important the tinier a home is) & there are always subtle improvements we can make!
this is my current dilemma under the bunk bed so thank you for this tip!
Redoing my room the way I've always wanted, all new furniture etc.
Thank you
I'm ready for my next moves in life
king that understands the importance of lighting. he’s literally so cute☺️
I'm glad he consistently points out lighting. My friends don't understand why I prefer lamp lighting instead of overhead lighting. It's for these exact reasons -- overhead lighting is DEPRESSING!
I felt the change
Now I know why my room kinda feels depressing 😂
Am I the only one who finds this man adorable?
yes!!!!! that's why in my bedroom there's 5 bedlights, 3 display leds for figures, 1 smart ledstrip beside the bed, and occasionally 1 starlight projector
thank you cliff for all you do for our homes and inhabitants. glad to be able to get the book!
I hate overhead lights that are harsh. If they are muted, and indirect, they are fine. I much prefer lamps on tables because the light is so much more pleasing, and you are right, more cozy/hygge. ⭐️
I hate that so many of us are stuck living in these tiny, single rooms, with either no windows, or shitty windows that open into a shaft 🙃🤷♂️
Thank you feng Shui guy for helping lol
Thanks for the advice!
I learned this when the overhead light over my desk died and I had to improvise by pointing a desk light straight up. REALLY changed the vibe
My upstairs study has low ceilings and I couldn't figure out what to do, this'll make it so much nicer to read in!!! Thank you!!
Subscribed because so love how animated you are
Casual flex at the end there. Damnnn
I asked you about this! More on dark rooms, please!
This was my pet peeve at university. Each dorm room had this harsh fluorescent ceiling light. I only turned ours on if I needed more light to find something, but our neighbors had theirs on all the time. It was like looking across the hallway into hell.
I didn’t know how much I needed you in my life
Ikr
Welcome back! Long time no see Cliff!🥺❤
YOU are THE best
Great tip! Never new this 🙏
As someone with autism with sensory issues, I would love to have a completely windowless rim. I do have one it’s the bathroom, but I would actually love to have a some sort of almost a bedroom that doesn’t have any windows no harsh lights in my house
Genius ideas
Suggestions for study rooms? Imagine studying at night for hours and you are all “🙁 wanna go to bed”
Yeah, I can't stand overhead lights! Mirrors can help too, if they are in the right places
I could not agree more! Overhead lights are only used when searching for something 😂
Interpretive dance design
Hahahaha no manny….. luv it!
Even Cliff can’t convince me on this one. As far as I’m concerned, a windowless room is called a “cupboard”.
I'd love you to do an attic room with lower ceilings! I'm looking at an older house that has a charming attic room, but the ceiling is angled and a bit low.
Could you do a video on how employ Feng shui in Harry potters cupboard under the stairs
Please make a concept video in harry potters cuboard under the stairs 😂❤
Love the mini lamp! is there a link to buy it?
As my roommates and I always said: "Big Light Bad"
I Loooooove your accent ❤ now you Know ❤
To me, that light made the room look even smaller and shorter.
But lowkey his body looks good tho😮
You inspired me
Wow 😮. That’s such a good tip
Use more mellow yellow-ish lights too
A cieling that low, no matter the lighting, would give me a panic attack
My guy has got some guns 😏
Hey cliff I was thinking about putting a LED pannel on a wall in a space like this and covering the wall with a white curtain to diffuse the light and make it look like a window. Thoughts?
I believe there is a fire safety requirement for bedrooms to have at least 1 window. Depends on where you live of course, but my guess is this wasnt originally intended to be a bedroom.
Low lighting is only possible if you have smooth walls. For uneven sloppy rough walls in a room that kind of lighting makes walls look depressing and like from a horror movie.
I want a light that points up at the ceiling
What do you do about shadows? While eating, for example?
Lamps are important to create ambience, but... I HATE a room without overhead lighting. It hits the corners you need to see when you want to find things...
Suggestions how to arrange a low ceilings apartment?
Is there a way to make such room brighter?
That room would be my smoke den 😂😂
Wish I had a windowless room.
I have an overhead light in my bedroom but almost never use it. Lamps indeed.
Feels like in isolation room
All bedrooms must have a secondary exit for fire safety. Usually this is a window that can open and is large enough to crawl out of, but could be a second door. Without a window, it is likely not legal as a bedroom.
Plus, you can make hand puppets, to remind you that, not only do you not have a window, but you don’t have any friends. So, now you know. 😂
Current apartment had no windows in 2/4 and i drew the short stick. Even with these tips and some decor, it's really depressing. Because of that, it's not allowed by building code, I'm not sure how my landlord can legal list my place as a 4 bedroom.
Can you explain why you always put things behind the sofa? I have noticed in many of your floor plans you and the sofa at the foot of the bed, you put a desk behind it. I'm intrigued.
Check out Cliff's published book.
@@nannette994 what's it called?
Feng Shui Modern by Cliff Tan, et. al., available on Amazon and other booksellers.
Does feng shui have rules about colours of rooms too?
Yep! Look into color theory and buy his book as well! I’m an interior designer and I have to say, the new way I chose my color palette due to feng shui has made all the difference
What's that light called. Where can I find one?
Bicoca Marset
He's building up to telling Harry Potter how to design the cupboard under the stairs
Use a taller lamp shade than that one.😊
My room is more like a mental asylum, I have evenly distributed cool white lights, that light up the room evenly.
Just the way I like it.
I felt sad either way 😂
This looks like an interpretive dance
Where can I get that lamp?
did you ever find it?
@@fabulousfab101 nope
Like sign language on TV 😅😅
It isn’t a bedroom if it doesn’t have any windows. By the section R310, a bedroom must have a window to act as a second meaning of egress. So a room without window should not be a bedroom, simple as that.
I like the depressing vibe of the first lighting
I have always disliked overhead lighting. My house has many lamps
Feng Shui ballet.
Finally someone talking about the ugliness of overhead lighting
What if you have high ceilings?
How about window less dining room small but it has a high ceiling and no chandelier only dinning table and 8 chairs and room to walk behind every chair.
Maybe sconce lighting or swag a chandelier and hang up big artwork to give the feeling of windows
Daaaaang those GUNS!
This is also a reason why I don't like downlight
why is he kinda fine
Right ??
That actually makes it smaller 😅
How high is too high for ceiling height?
this dude sounds like Jar-Jar Binks
He is ripped
I KNEW I WASNT CRAZY FOR HATING OVERHEAD LIGHTING!!!
Now I know 😊
Hey, it's my room!
Is this why I hardly see any lights on the ceilings in american homes?!😅 Or is it the ceiling that can not hold a lamp?!😅😂