Main menu

How to Bring More Light into Your Home

11th Dec 2017

Latest surveys show that one of the most important elements homeowners look for in their new homes is lots of natural light. This feature tops all requests list, coming before a large garden and open-plan kitchen/dining room.

Natural light makes a home brighter, lighter and more spacious. It’s beneficial for our health as lots of natural light in closed spaces improves our concentration and mood, promotes healing and increases productivity. If more light is what you’re after, here are several tips how to achieve it easily in your home.

Light colours on walls

Lighter colours on walls can make a space seem bigger and brighter. Remove statement wallpaper and dark, dim colours and swap them for softer shades of white, beige or light grey. You can add more warmth by combining these colours with rich neutrals, such as chocolate brown, warm rust or camel tan. Make sure you still add splashes of vibrant colours to create interest and texture, such as painting a ceiling or a trim in strong blue or green. You can even go lighter with the ceiling and create an illusion of height and spaciousness. If you choose paints with satin finish, they’ll reflect even more light than regular matt paints.

Windows and doors

We rely primarily on windows to bring in the natural light, so make sure they are thoroughly and regularly cleaned in order to let in as much light as possible. If you can afford it, replace your old windows with larger ones.

Using glass panels on your doors is an excellent way to get more natural light into your rooms so you don’t only depend on the windows. If you need more privacy, use frosted or tinted glass which is translucent enough to allow light in. This look is a fantastic decorating trick since you can find various designs and patterns that will give your glass door a new look.

Using bi-fold doors is a great way of connecting your rooms and having enough light in both of them while still being able to separate them when needed. Their advantage is that they’re very flexible and allow you to open or close a space as it suits you, and if they are made with glass panels, even closed, you’ll have a lot of light coming in from the outside.

Furniture and accessories

Having furniture and accessories with reflective surfaces can help immensely in diffusing light around the room. Accessories with a metallic gloss or mirror surfaces make the most of the available light while at the same time, they give the room a touch of elegance and style. For example, you can have glass table tops, acrylic chairs or large wall mirrors. Glossy surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens with shiny countertops will increase the light factor and make the room appear bigger and brighter.

Flooring

Consider lightening up your floors using lighter paint, rugs or tiles. Floors take up a lot of space in homes, so this change can be just the right uplift. Ceramic, stone or wooden flooring with polished finishes will reflect much more light than carpets. If you still prefer to have carpets and rugs, go with neutral colours and you’ll achieve a feeling of both warmth and brightness.

Artificial lighting

Natural light is always the best choice, but you can also boost brightness using artificial lights as well. Light from the windows can’t always reach every awkward corner, nook and corridor, so use the help of artificial light fixtures. Add recessed light if you can. They will light up dark wood panel ceilings and add dimmers that allow you to have more control over how space is lit.

By carefully adding soft lighting in strategic places, you’ll be able to create a pleasant mood without fumbling in the dark. You can easily adjust your lighting needs with pendant lights, and concealed lights in built-in shelves or under the cabinets, without ruining the overall mood. You can also explore options like neon lights (Shop Now different lighting fixtures online) which can improve indoor aesthetics and create a peaceful atmosphere on a busy and stressful day when you want to rest and focus on self-care.

Natural light is an important factor in homes that helps us stay in tune with our biological clock. Less exposure to it means we’re not in sync and that can lead to fatigue, irritation and depression. Whatever the configuration of your home is, with these tips, you can easily find creative ways to maximize the natural light and benefit from its healthy effects.

Comments are closed.