A bright home is a happy home. Natural light has been shown to improve mental well-being and reduce instances of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as well as reduce the need for artificial lighting that can be costly to run.
In this article, we’re going to look at several ways to increase the amount of natural light that enters your home. From simple interior design tips to major renovations to your property, there’s something here for every home.
Use Reflective Surfaces
While reflective surfaces don’t admit any more light into your home, they can drastically increase the effect of any light that comes in. A mirror hung opposite the main window, pieces of art with a glossy finish, or polished metal accents strategically placed around the room can do wonders to reflect the light, making your room feel brighter with little effort on your part.
Place Your Furniture Carefully
If you have large pieces of furniture in your room, try to avoid placing them in front of the window. High-backed sofas, sideboards, and tallboys can block out a lot of the natural light. Try rearranging the room so that the space by the window is taken up by a coffee table or some other lower piece of furniture to maximise how much light can make it in through the window.
Paint Your Walls White
A popular visual trick to make your home appear larger and brighter is to use white paint on your walls and ceilings. The effect isn’t entirely illusory. While bright white paint can make even the smallest rooms seem bigger, it also acts as a reflective surface, bouncing any natural light off the walls and making the room seem brighter.
Introduce Solar Tubes or Skylights
Solar tubes and skylights require a little more effort than rearranging or redecorating your room, but the results are well worth it. Strategically placed by a skilled designer, they can let in vast amounts of natural light. Solar tubes are the more cost-effective of the two, though skylights admit more light.
Enlarge Your Windows
This one stands to reason: if the object is to allow as much light as possible into your home, then increasing the size of your windows is a sure-fire way to achieve it. Quite aside from letting in more light, by replacing your windows, you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, saving yourself money on your heating bills into the bargain.
Build an Extension
One of the best ways to add value and natural light to your home is by building an extension. Of course, not just any old extension will do; you need one that allows the maximum influx of natural light, such as a conservatory or an orangery. These beautiful structures combine stunning design with large panes of glass to let in as much light as possible, as well as giving you a whole new room linking your home and your garden that you can enjoy year-round.
Increase Natural Light in Your Home: Final Thoughts
If you’re a resident of Hampshire and hoping to increase the amount of natural light in your home, get in touch with DLP Associates (Buildings) Ltd today. Our team of experienced and professional builders can assist you with many of the options listed here, such as fitting larger windows, solar tubes, or skylights. We specialise in orangery design and installation across the county, producing unique and attractive orangeries for our valued customers in the region. We also offer new build and high-quality building services. Call us on 01256 474 617 or 07836 375 133, or send an email to tonygawn@dlpassociates.co.uk, to arrange a free consultation.
