Most of us have probably spent countless of hours indoors over the last two years, missing out on vital natural light and all its benefits.
Natural light is not just integral to our health and well-being but also offers advantages for the home and the workplace. It can improve your space’s energy efficiency, which, in turn, can save you money. It also prevents mold and mildew growth, and it can increase your home’s resale value. Additionally, natural light helps make a space look and feel more welcoming, which can do wonders for your mood.
Natural light isn’t just for photographers or modern offices, and there are plenty of ways to channel it into your own space so you can enjoy its benefits. Here are some creative ways to spruce up your home and let more natural light in. Let there be light!
To get insights on ways to let in more natural light in home, we contacted Arctic Star Windows, one of the window companies in Winnipeg that specializes in providing high-quality, energy-efficient custom uPVC window installation, window replacement,as well as customized solutions for every home.
10 Ways to Add More Natural Light to Brighten Up Your Space
1. Opt for a door with glass inserts.
One way to get more light into your space without doing any major renovations is to swap your existing door to one with glass inserts and/or iron grills. These can still allow you to keep your home safe and secure, but installing entry doors with glass inserts can let more light into your entryway.
Artic Star entry doors use premium grade 1/8-inch tempered glass for all glass inserts. Each door has an array of safety features such as heavy-duty wood jambs and heavy-duty ball-bearing hinges.
2. Add more windows.
You can have additional or even just larger windows installed as well to illuminate your home further. Aside from opening up your space and giving you a better view, they let in more light, enabling your home to become more energy efficient.
They can also keep your home cool in the summer and warm during the colder months because new windows today have triple-glazing, which acts as an additional protective layer. Moreover, aside from giving better insulation, the triple glaze helps with noise reduction.
Furthermore, these types of windows let in more natural light because they don’t have a middle division, unlike hung or sliding windows. They are more efficient in reducing energy costs and improving your home’s acoustic performance compared to double-glazing.
3. Consider adding patio doors.
Setting up patio doors is another great way to add more natural light, but be sure to opt for ones with minimalist designs so you can maximize glazing. Go for patio doors that have multi-chambered frames to enhance its strength, stability, and thermal performance.
Now, patio doors aren’t just for entryways leading to the garden. They can also be applied to extensions that you want to bring more light into.
4. Add a skylight to key areas of your home.
Adding a skylight to a key area in your home, such as the kitchen, can make a world of difference. Aside from giving the room a more dramatic look, it helps flood the space with lots of natural light during the day.
5. Clean your windows.
Sometimes, something as simple as cleaning your windows can help add more natural light to your home. All the dirt that has accumulated on your windows can keep natural light from entering.
The best thing about cleaning windows is it doesn’t have to cost much—all you need is water, a clean cloth (preferably microfiber to reduce streaks and lint residue), and some liquid dish soap.
When cleaning your windows, remove all the dust first before spraying them with glass cleaner or water. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck the dust from the window frame, sill, and tracks. Doing so will prevent the dust and dirt from becoming a muddy mess when it mixes with the cleaner or the water and dish soap. And, don’t forget to clean both sides!
6. Paint your walls white—or light gray, or lighter colors in general.
Brighten up your home by painting your walls a lighter color. While dark tones can add a bit of drama to your space, they tend to absorb more heat and light. Lighter colors reflect light, which can help increase the natural light that comes into a space.
While you’re at it, why not paint your ceilings a lighter color too? If you’re going for wall colors that aren’t white, go for a lighter color for your ceilings and opt for a matte finish to reduce glare.
White or lighter tones, in general, can make a room feel fresher and more spacious. Don’t like bright whites? You can try other shades such as eggshell, champagne, ivory, and yes, even light gray.
7. Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors!
One of the easiest ways to add more natural light into any space is by adding mirrors. Mirrors and other reflective objects are great at catching light and reflecting it back to a room. So, when you place them across windows or glass doors, they can create the illusion that more light is coming into a space.
For example, you can add a mirrored backsplash in the kitchen. For other rooms in the house, add metallic or glass accessories, which not only reflect more natural light but can also give the space a more stylish touch.
You can even opt to turn your walls into mirror-like surfaces by using high gloss or semi-gloss paint, which tends to reflect more light, effectively brightening up a room.
8. Choose your window treatments carefully.
Yes, your window treatments play a role in how much light can enter your home. Heavy or dark drapes and blinds tend to obstruct natural light. To increase natural light in your home, choose voile or sheer window treatments. However, these types of fabrics might not give you the privacy you want, so consider layering your window treatments. Doing so will give you better control over privacy and how much light can enter a room.
If you want to maximize the amount of natural light that enters your home, try using naked windows. Meanwhile, if you have trees or bushes outside of your home that block light, consider trimming them.
9. Play with your furniture arrangements.
Believe it or not, how you arrange your furniture can have an impact on how much natural light enter a space. Move dark furniture away from your windows and putt reflective or lighter-colored pieces closer instead.
How your furniture looks also impacts the brightness of a space. Lighter-colored furniture can make your room appear brighter because natural light bounces off their surface.
10. Less clutter = more space for light
While décor is a great way to showcase your personality, sometimes too much décor can make a space look and feel cluttered. Too much clutter can limit the amount of natural light that goes in your home. Now, this doesn’t mean that you should keep your home bare. You can still have a few plants or decorative items to still give your space a stylish touch.
Conclusion
Before making any major changes to your home, it’s always best to assess your needs and look for low-cost solutions. Something as simple as cleaning your windows or rearranging your furniture can dramatically change the amount of natural light that goes into your home.
If you’re going big, you might want to add more windows or go for old window replacement with larger ones. You can also add patio doors to increase more natural light in your home.