If you are here, you are one of the people who like natural and abundant light in their homes.
Sunlight is the natural source of light that makes our rooms and homes look plentiful and airy. While some people prefer dark rooms with no light, others like their times full of sunlight and fresh air. If you are from the latter, this is the right place to find out how to make it easier for sunlight to enter your home.
But does direct sunlight give us any benefit? It has both health and financial benefits for homeowners. Let’s find out below:
Firstly, it improves your mood when direct sunlight comes from windows and doors into your home. And with that, you have a regulated sleep cycle and get quality sleep than the ones who do not get enough sunlight. It also improves productivity. Sunlight has abundant vitamin D, improving people’s focus and concentration. Therefore, you have a better performance in completing tasks.
Moreover, vitamin D strengthens your bones, improves your immune system, and provides additional health benefits for everyone in the home. And then the financial benefits include reduced energy costs by allowing direct natural light instead of using electricity.
There is another benefit of natural light, which is different from health and financial benefits, and it is the increased aesthetic of the house. The natural light that falls in from the windows increases the home’s visual appeal as it improves the textures, colors, and architectural features. Nonetheless, you will find out easy ways to increase natural light in your home through expert recommendations that will make your life easier.
Use Light-reflective paint colors:
Getting light reflective paint colors is the first thing that comes to mind for abundant natural light. If you are a beginner in home decor, you may be unaware of the colors reflecting light better than the rest. Therefore, a detailed guide of colors that are best for reflecting light is given below for you to understand.
White:
The first and easiest color to reflect light is white. It reflects the light most and makes the room bright, airy, and spacious. It is also a classic color, but if you do not want white, you can try shades of white, including ivory, off-white, and cream.
Nonetheless, you can try different colors to know which one you like the most.
Yellow:
The next color that has a highlight reflection is yellow. Yellow is a cheerful color, and you have noticed it in most buildings. The bright color yellow is welcoming for natural light as well. These are basic colors that are light reflective for your home. But if you want interesting and unique hues and tones for your home, we have different options below.
Other colors:
Light blue, light gray, and pale pink give depth and texture to your room walls along with light reflective properties. If you are looking for a relaxing and elegant option for your walls, these are beta choices for natural light. You can choose from light shades of gray, powder blue, sky blue, baby blue, blush pink, or rose colors for your walls.
These colors voice light rays when they hit a wall instead of absorbing light (dark color properties). If you want a warm feeling in your home, then choose white, yellow, or beige. Otherwise, cooler tones of blue and green create a calming effect in your home.
Benefits:
Do you want to know the benefits of these colors now that you have decided on a light color for your walls?
Such colors naturally increase the room’s brightness as they are reflective of light. You will feel like you have a bigger room with more space when choosing from these hues.
Then apart from the improved aesthetic of your home, you will also save energy. This is because your home will require less artificial lightning when it has a better natural light source and light-reflective colors.
Your home will have a modern and sophisticated appeal with these colors. Moreover, you can also use semi-gloss or high-gloss paint for a light reflective effect if you like colors other than the ones mentioned above.
Increase mirrors to reflect more light
Using mirrors is another simple trick to increase light in the room, but it takes practice to get better results. Firstly, you have to test different angles with mirrors to test which angle reflects more light.
And you can start by identifying the natural light spots in your rooms to place the mirrors. Otherwise, another excellent trick is to place a mirror where there is less light so that it is distributed evenly across the room. You should try floor length mirror if space is not an issue for your room size.
Another hack is to use a mirror with textured frames. For example, if you choose mirrors with dark wood frames, they will absorb light instead of reflecting it. Therefore, select mirrors with a metallic finish or a light color frame for optimum results.
Have you ever wondered why people fill their walls with picture frames or mirrors? It is because it creates patterns that are easier for light reflection. So, you can also create a mirror gallery in your room, hallway, or lounge to get the best results and light reflection.
Why avoid heavy curtains and blinds?
As we mentioned, dark colors absorb light instead of reflecting it. Similarly, if you have blinds of dark and heavy curtains across your doors and windows, it is hard for light to enter your room.
Therefore, we are here to explore different options for you to get the best out of natural light by trying these simple options. Heavy curtains with dark colors or blinds on windows block natural light passage into your rooms. Therefore, if you are a fan of spacious and airy rooms, then switch to light color and sheer curtains for the best light.
And if you have blinds in your home, then choose the one with wider slats. It will allow the light to pass easily during the day.
Window films:
Another winning hack for windows and curtains is to use window films. These block heat and glare from the windows and only allow natural light to pass through. This is another top trick to let natural light in your room.
Nonetheless, if you are comfortable removing curtains or blinds, you can remove them altogether for abundant natural light. Lastly, removing curtains will give your home a modern, minimalistic look and decor. Moreover, you will enjoy natural light from windows better than before.
Install skylights or solar tubes
Are you familiar with skylights? These roof windows free up your wall space and let natural light pass through the roofs. Similarly, solar gives are also tabular skylights that direct the sunlight into your home.
You can get the best out of a skylight by determining its best spot. You have to install light in the direction of the sun. Otherwise, the opposite direction will block the light from entering your home. Then choose the right size for the skylight and solar tube to enter your home.
Caution:
One disadvantage of this is that it may increase the overall temperature of your home because of the direct sunlight.
If you are unaware of this phenomenon, getting professional help is best. A professional will assist you in finding the accurate spot. Moreover, they will also recommend glazing or adding blinds or sharing to the skylight, so it does not increase the inside temperature of your home.
Re-design Your Room Layout
Positions and arranging your furniture to face the natural light can improve light reflection in the room. Moreover, if you have set your furniture to block your windows, change it. Because the furniture, such as racks or closets, is blocking the natural light resource. You can also use reflective and metallic or polished fur pictures to reflect light.
Another similar solution is to use a light reflective floor for your home. Glossy finish, reflective floor material, and light-colored floors (tiles) are the best way to get more light and neutral floor finish. Overgrown trees are other problematic issues that can block your natural light passage into your home.
Examples:
For example, if you have a garden or kitchen garden with shrubs and trees in front of your windows, consider trimming those trees.
And once you are done, the light passage is easy on the windows and doors. You can also install new doors and keep your (wood) doors open during the day for more natural light in your home.
Remarks:
The article highlighted common and unique ideas for you to make your home full of light, bright, and airy with simple tricks. Therefore, try these to get the best result, save your energy bill, and get healthy and aesthetic benefits.
Homes with dark-colored walls, dark furniture, and small windows are gloomy and block natural light passage. So you can change your wall and floor planning to make your home feel more inviting and have a bright feel for your home.
Apart from that, installing a mirror wall gallery, cutting trees and shrubs regularly, choosing light reflective flooring, installing skylights, and removing heavy curtains from your home is a secure way to let sunlight pass and make your home spacious.
