A home that is filled with natural light feels warmer and more inviting. Alongside, it makes us work better and improves our health. This is why so many people want to learn how to let more natural light in home.
Adding more natural light to a room also makes the colors stand out more. The decorations look more striking and bright. Besides, light, bright houses are more appealing to buyers than dark ones.
So, in this article, we will provide you with some of the best tips to increase light in your home naturally. By the end of the read, you will be amazed to discover how easy it can be to bring natural light to your home.
Why Increase Natural Lighting for Your Home?
The practical and aesthetic benefits of allowing more natural light into our homes are comparable to the health benefits. You can change the mood and tone of a room without being too obvious about it by letting in more natural light.
Welcoming natural light means you are welcoming direct sunlight into your home. Nothing beats the feeling of the sun on your face. It definitely makes your day better. But it is more than just a nice feeling.
Natural light boosts serotonin. It is the hormone that controls mood and well-being. So when it increases, it brings peace and calm.
Besides, exposure to natural light increases energy, making people more productive at work and at home, as many studies have shown. By switching to daylight, you can avoid the eye strain caused by smartphones and artificial lighting. This is because daylight production boosts dopamine, which is important for healthy eyes.
Hence, it is not a surprise that bringing in more natural light is such an important part of both exterior and interior design.
9 Best Tips to Increase Natural Light in Home
Maybe you did not think about natural light while building your home. But does that mean you will be deprived of the light forever? Absolutely not! There are many ways to increase natural light in your home, from adding windows to decorating with white or mirrors. Here are the nine best tips to do so:
Keep the Walls White
Painting your walls white is the best way to let natural light into your home. Light bounces off of white walls beautifully and chases away the darkness. Having dark walls in a room can make it feel small and squished.
The more white walls there are, the brighter the house will be. The white walls will significantly increase the amount of natural light that comes in, no matter how small the window is.
Not wanting white walls? Do not worry about it. Bring out the pastel or lighter neutral colors. These are going to keep the brightness high and meet your color needs.
Paint the Home’s Eaves White
Painting your eaves white can also improve natural lighting in your home. Your roof’s overhangs are known as eaves or soffits, which may be open or covered. This part reflects light from the outside and brings it into your home.
You can still paint your eaves white even if the outside of your house is a different color. It won’t affect the curb appeal. This is because eaves are mostly seen from the inside.
If you can not paint the eaves, you can lighten things up by cleaning them. Get rid of the dust, dirt, spiderwebs, and other unwanted things that make the eaves look darker.
Reconfigure Your Furniture to Create Brighter Spaces
This is a simple one: make sure your furniture fits the room’s size.
It is also not always the best use of space to push sofas and chairs against the wall to make room in the middle of a room. If the middle of the room is only used for walking, there is no point in creating that space.
Also, lighter-colored furniture will always make a room look bigger, especially if there is not much natural light in the house. Light furniture also means furniture that is “visually” light. That means it is not heavy and does not get in the way of movement or natural light.
Reconsider Window Treatments
Different types of window coverings let different amounts of light in. Curtain or drape liners keep out the cold, but they also block the sun. Sun shades can be a fantastic option here. They are made of a material that reflects heat and sun but still lets some light through. During the warmer months, you might want to use sheer curtains by themselves, over shades, or under drapes.
However, windows may not need coverings if you do not need privacy, live on a high floor, or have a great view.
Add Clerestory Windows to Maximize Natural Light
If you can not give up privacy or get planning permission for full windows, a clerestory is a great way to let light into the room.
The solution is basically a high-level window strip that runs just below the ceiling to let light into rooms. They are common in barn conversions, first-floor bathrooms, and loft conversions where neighbors do not want to see upstairs.
Use Mirror and Glass to Bring More Light
Mirrors can brighten a room if positioned properly. For natural light diffusion, full-length mirrors are best. Putting mirrors in hallways in a smart way can also make dark rooms look bigger by reflecting light into them.
Installing glass blocks in parts of the outside walls that are not part of the structure is another quick fix. Some areas would not get any natural light before the blocks were put up, but now they will.
One more smart thing to do is to put in skylights. They let in soft, diffused sunlight that bounces off of clouds. You can also use doors containing glass inserts to bring more sunlight into a home.
Use Glass Or Highly Reflective Tiles
If you want to make your kitchen or bathroom backsplash look like a mirror, glass tiles are a close second. When the light is just right, glass tiles reflect almost all of it back into the room.
For almost the same reflective effect as glass, put down highly glossy ceramic tiles. Contrast a trendy low-reflection backsplash material like concrete or pallet wood with a regular white subway tile backsplash. You will see the difference.
When it comes to reflecting light, subway tile is better than a lot of other materials. Plus, it is a lot less expensive—just a few dollars per square foot. To increase the light even more, put in metallic backsplash tiles for the best reflection.
Right Flooring
Both natural and artificial light can bounce off polished surfaces well. You can choose materials like stone, wood, or ceramic. If they don’t have a sheen to them already, you can glaze or polish them to get the finish you want.
Floors that are shiny will reflect light and make it brighter. Pick rugs and carpets with lighter colors if you like matte finishes and want to keep the room feeling open.
Go for Tall Ceilings
Having tall ceilings is another great way to let more natural light in home. That being said, this can not be added to a house that is already there unless you want to remodel it.
But if you are looking for a new home, make sure the living room and other rooms have high ceilings. Note that this trick will only work if the ceiling is painted white or a color that closely resembles natural light.
Conclusion
Artificial lighting might have added elegance to modern life, but it can never take the place of natural light. Light from nature provides health benefits and lifts the overall mood of the whole house.
With a few clever tweaks, you can fill your home with such light. Focusing on white and light tones can be a great idea. Besides, reconfiguring the furniture and opting for glasses and mirrors can be helpful. The right adaptation of the floor and windows will also welcome lots of light to the home.
Still unsatisfied? Then remodeling is the option you must choose. And with Black Dog Homes as your partner, your dream house will become a reality in no time. With a well-structured renovation process, we will make your home brighter and more enjoyable. Contact us today to explore our services.