Whether winter is over in BC is a topic of debate. As we move ahead in the year, it is always a good idea to get over the winter gloom and get ready to allow more natural light into your homes. Natural light helps regulate your biological clock as it positively impacts your mood, concentration, health, and overall well-being. Large, light-filled rooms are desirable, as the natural sunlight adds warmth and uplifts our mood across seasons. We are happy to bring you simple design adjustments, such as using light-coloured walls, strategically placing mirrors, and keeping windows unobstructed, that can help brighten your space. These small but effective changes create a more inviting and uplifting environment year-round.
Maximize window space: Big, beautiful windows invite more natural light into your home while making your home feel more spacious. The unobstructed views and airflow can create a seamless indoor-outdoor living space while elevating your interior design style. Well-positioned windows can transform a cold and dark space into a warm and light-filled haven.
Declutter the space near windows: Carefully evaluate the space around each window in your home to ensure that there are no obstructions to the flow of natural light. Large furniture can obstruct the path of the sun’s rays and prevent adequate brightening of the space. Freeing up the area in front of and alongside the windows can make a significant improvement in the amount of light that enters the room. Instead of placing large, dark, and heavy furniture pieces near the windows, try arranging them against walls that do not face outside. This will create a more open and unobstructed pathway for natural light to flow into the room. Pale and minimalist furniture made up of light-toned materials like blond or white-stained wood reflects the light instead of absorbing it, thereby creating a sense of warmth and brightness.
Paint Light and Warm Hues: Light and warm colours for walls reflect the light and can make your home feel brighter, while dark shades absorb light. For a timeless and classic choice, you can consider painting your walls white, which creates the illusion of making your space feel larger. White sheer curtains or those with a glossy satin finish will reflect even more light and add a touch of elegance. Your walls will shine and reflect more with a higher gloss paint.
Harness the Power of Mirrors: Adding mirrors is a great way to brighten a room as they help by reflecting natural light. Consider placing a large mirror or a collection of small mirrors on a wall that receives the most daylight. You can also position a mirror directly across from a window to double the light in the space and magnify the reflections. Choose a mirror that matches the shape and size of the window to create a seamless, radiant effect, as it will make the room feel even more open and inviting.
Use Glass or Highly Reflective Tiles: Glass tiles can enhance brightness in a kitchen or bathroom, reflecting nearly all the light that hits them. Other than glass, highly glossy ceramic tiles offer a similar effect. Glass and reflective tiles are an affordable and sensible replacement as compared to low-reflection materials like concrete or wood. Metallic backsplash tiles offer the ultimate shine and can further amplify light, making the space feel even more open and vibrant.
Add Skylights or Suntubes: Generally referred to as the windows for the roof, skylights are an amazing and effective way to pull natural light into your home. Skylights bring in more consistent light than most windows because skylights are less likely to be shadowed by outdoor objects, and sunlight reflected off of clouds comes right into the house. While conventional skylights are created as an opening cut into the roofline and ceiling, sun tubes come with their own light shafts—tubes that snap together and can even work around attic obstructions.
Select the Right Lighting Fixtures: The right light fixtures will further accentuate the natural lighting in the room and make a big difference in brightening your home. Daylight-simulating bulbs help replicate natural light while being easy on the eyes. For the dim corners, mood lighting can help, as you can add subtle lamps that blend with your décor or bold statement fixtures. To create an even, shadow-free glow, opt for diffused lighting. Layering different light sources, like ceiling lights, floor lamps, and even LED candles or string lights, will create a cozy vibe in your home.
Maximizing natural light in your home helps create a warm and inviting atmosphere while reducing energy costs. Unlike artificial lighting, natural light provides a full-spectrum glow that enhances mood and boosts serotonin levels without adding to your electricity bill. While some homes may not be designed to optimize natural light, simple adjustments can help brighten spaces and make the most of available daylight. In case you are considering a renovation and swapping your current windows with bigger ones, talk to our expert team of designers, and we will be happy to create a 3D plan for your proposed renovation.
