Natural light plays such a critical role in our health and well-being and improving the natural lighting in your home is an easy way to improve the entire design. Our entire bodies are wired around natural light. We wake up and are more alert when near a bright window than we ever can be near artificial lights.
Not every home is naturally open and bright, however, which is why it’s important to know the tips and tricks to control lighting and to improve the illusion of lighting in your home.
Start First with Your Window Coverings
Privacy is a must in modern living but overdoing it with blinds and curtains can mean that you unintentionally crowd out the light and make it darker in your home. When placing heavy curtains, always make sure that they rest on the wall next to the window and not in front of the window itself.
For a more modern, sleek look that gives you privacy control and light control, then there are many shutter options – including statement barn door shutters – that you can custom install with Sunburst Shutters.
The point is to keep heavy, dark fabrics away from your windows and to give yourself a simple, easy method to control light levels and privacy levels in your home. Do this, and you can easily bring in the light whenever you need it.
Reflect and Bounce Light
Ensuring you have control over the light levels from the windows is step one. Next is to reflect the light that does come in to make your home as naturally bright as possible. Light-colored walls, reflective surfaces, and mirrors are going to be your best friends with this.
Light Colors
You don’t need to paint your walls white and only own white or cream furniture, but it is important to at least have a few light-colored items throughout your home. For example, a single white chair can add a pop of brightness to a dark corner.
Of course, if the entire room is relatively dark, even with the new window features, white walls are going to be your best friend.
Reflective Materials
Reflective surfaces are going to bounce light naturally. Picture frames, varnished surfaces, ceramic sculptures, and vases – the options are truly limitless. The important thing is to be mindful when choosing new décor for your home. While more reflective surfaces can brighten a room, they can add glare, so you need to mix and match matte and glossy décor to suit your style.
Mirrors
There are many ways that you can bounce light throughout your home with a few well-placed mirrors. When it comes to mirrors, then know that big, statement mirrors will make the biggest difference to the overall light ambiance of your home.
When to Add a New Window
When it is appropriate or a good investment to add a new window, the simple answer is easy – whenever you have the means, the inclination, and the opportunity. Skylights, in particular, can brighten a home, as can replacing a door with a glass wall into your garden. These large, big-budget updates also tend to improve your home’s value and appeal, allowing you to recoup your investment later on when you sell your home.