Ideas to improve a basement kitchen window view without losing light

[Decisionsdecisionsdecisions2026]

My kitchen is in a basement and the view through the window isn’t great. I don’t want to block any light but I want it to look nicer. I’ve tried plants but they are hard to reach and they die. I would like lights or something else but don’t want it to look like Christmas. Have considered stained glass film for window but worried about losing light any ideas?

I'd avoid a mirror unless as the sun's rays bouncing off a mirror can be a fire risk.

I agree with removing the plants inside and look at outdoor plants that like shade, such as ferns and hostas. The large pots are a good idea, maybe glazed blue ones to add colour.
If you can attach a small solar panel higher up at the street level you could also have a small water feature.

And dangerous for birds . I'd love a mirror in the bit of our garden that is block paved and surrounded on three sides by wall/fence . But birds fly onto them apparently

Into them

I’d use a mirror too. I can’t see how it would be an issue in that position. It’s different if it were in a normal ground level garden. I take everything away from around the window. I’d keep it simple outside - just a couple of pot plants. You could add mirrors to the wall that are right next to your window to help bounce the light around. Try ai to give ideas.

I would add some bird feeders and a bird bath - love watching birds coming into the garden.

This what ChatGPT suggested...

Sorry, photo fail. https://chatgpt.com/s/m_6a85ac644bbc8191bff93214fdf9e8e0

i like a bit off the wall things but i would paint a nice mural on the wall. something cheerful to look at maybe a garden scene or perhaps an archway making it look like it goes somewhere not a wall.
if you can cope with them i agree with plants on the steps and some nice colourful lights. i am not one to have conventional pots that you can buy any garden centre but maybe use unusual containers you have lying around?

I would consider removing all.the plants from the windowsill and finding someone to paint a colourful mural on the wall.
It could be a sunset, a beach scene, a jungle, an animal menagerie, underwater scene etc.
If you are artistic you could try it yourself.

That looks lovely!

I wouldn't do a mural personally, although I'm not generally averse to them indoors/on larger walls. I just think the simplicity of what @bangingmyheadonabrickwall suggested is more classy in this situation.

When was your camellia last repotted? It could just be starving or root bound. Leave it for a month and then put a bit of work into it.

https://gardenerspath.com/plants/ornamentals/troubleshoot-camellia-container/

I would leave your windowsill and window frame pretty much bare and focus on the outside.

The chatgpt suggestion looks nice but I don't think an olive would do well there, they like sun. Maybe a japanese maple (I'm an addict)?

Thank you

Never reported so maybe that’s something. I need to do. If has flowered in the past but nothing this year

The walls tend to get damp in winter and get green algae growing so it’s hard enough keeping on top of that and repainting etc but I will try

Agree with previous poster though, if your courtyard is not a suntrap then a beautiful Japanese Maple is likely to do better than an olive.

Spraying Wet And Forget might kill the alga and save you re-painting