Letting more natural light into a home can help to make it feel brighter and more spacious. It can also help you to get your fix of vitamin D – this important nutrient from the sun is important for healthy skin and a healthy mind. Here are just a few different ways in which you can let more sunlight into your home.
Open the curtains
Throwing open those curtains is the most obvious way to let in more sunlight. On top of letting in light, you’ll also let in heat on a cold day (although you’ll want to shut them at night to prevent heat loss). If you’re worried about privacy, but want to let light in, it could be worth hanging up some net curtains or switching to blinds. This could help to distort the view inside while allowing sunlight to pass through.
Install extra windows
An expensive but effective option – installing extra windows could help to provide more points of access for sunlight to enter. If you haven’t got any available walls for installing windows, you could consider adding a skylight into the ceiling. Glass doors can also help to let in light if you haven’t got space to install windows. You should hire a professional company to install your home windows. Building permits may be required in certain instances – this is worth researching into before you start any work.
Remove outdoor obstructions
Obstructions outside such as trees and plants could be blocking sunlight from entering your home. Where possible, consider removing or trimming back these obstructions. Removing a tree will likely require planning permission and you should always hire a tree surgeon to ensure the job is done safely. Don’t forget to also consider indoor obstructions such as unruly houseplants, large windowsill ornaments or inappropriately placed furniture that could be blocking your windows.
Reflect sunlight with mirrors
Mirrors and shiny surfaces can be used to help reflect sunlight, helping to brighten up the inside of your home. This can be useful for brightening up a poky bathroom or gloomy bedroom. Mirrors can be incorporated in all kinds of creative ways including mirrored wardrobes and mirrored cabinets, as well as putting mirrors on the backs of doors. This could be useful if you don’t have an available wall for placing a mirror on. Reflective surfaces such as chrome steel, laminated wood and polished stone could also help to reflect sunlight.
Opt for a bright color scheme
Bright colors are much more effective at reflecting light. For maximum light reflection, consider opting for a white or off-white paint scheme. Glossy paints will help to further increase reflectiveness. Choose light-colored woods for furniture and flooring and opt for light-colored fabrics for upholstery as this will also help to reflect sunlight.
