How much natural light do you get in your home? Each home will receive a different amount of natural light depending on the location, season, weather, etc. In the UK, it can feel like there is a distinct lack of natural light to go around. While some might be luckier than others and have homes bathed in glorious sunshine, meaning directly through larger windows, others have to get more creative with their lighting and interior design to maximise the light they have.
Embracing the transformative power of natural light in your home can bring about a multitude of benefits, from uplifting your mood to enhancing your sleep quality and boosting your productivity. This focus on natural light can be the catalyst for a significant improvement in the look and feel of your home, inspiring you to make the necessary changes.
If you're finding yourself feeling like you're living in a dark cupboard of doom rather than a gloriously well-lit home, regardless of how you boost with artificial fighting, these tips can be helpful in increasing natural light.
Roof Lights
Instead of simply adding new and bigger interior lights to your home, look at places where you can fit a roof light. A roof light is a pane of glass that sits flush with the roof for improved aesthetics and light within the home. Typically, roof lights don't open unless you opt for skylights; however, you can find a range of different rooflights online to help you enhance any areas of your home, increase artificial lights, and create a focal point.
Add Reflective Surfaces
If you want to get creative, adding reflective surfaces in darker rooms is a great way to boost natural light in your home. This means using glossy furniture that can reflect light, such as a glass coffee table or a mirrored wardrobe, or using gloss paint on walls. You can use mirrored decor pieces or add mirrors to walls opposite windows to reflect any natural light coming through. You can even use metallics in the room to further reflect your natural light sources and brighten up the room.
Reconfigure Furniture
If you have a smaller room with bigger, heavier furniture, it can sometimes feel like it's absorbing any light entering the room. Instead, you want to configure your room so that the bigger items are away from the window so light can enter and not be blocked or swallowed up by your pieces. The opposite applies to larger rooms, which can feel darker because you don't have windows to feed the room in light. Arrange your furniture in areas that are well-lit to maximise the lighting options you have and enjoy the sunlight.
Clear Windows
An easy way to increase natural light in a space is to ensure that the window delivering the light into a room is clear. Make sure the windows are clean and not collecting layers of dirt internally and externally. Remove any heavy window dressings that might be blocking parts of the window even when open. Also, ensure that no external landscaping is blocking the window, i.e., tree branches or ivy encroaching on the window. This gives the light a clear path to travel through your home, maximising its reach and brightness.
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