Maximising natural light in your home
Light is an important element in any home. Depending on its use, light can set a specific mood and make or break the presentation of your property. Natural light is the best type of light to maximise in your home, as it reflects the sun’s beauty and displays a natural warmth and glow. Here are ways you can maximise the sun's natural light.
Expose your property’s windows
The main way natural light breaks into your home is through your windows. Ensure you have your windows cleaned on a regular basis, so they are always at their full potential of allowing natural light in. Ditch the heavy, dark curtains and allow the light to flood your home without restriction. As the sun's direction moves throughout the day, think about where the sunlight will fall in your home and potentially change your property’s internal layout to avoid minimising the exposure to natural light. Look outside and identify any trees or bushes that could be limiting your window time with the sun. Take the necessary steps and remove any blockages.
Lighten your home’s colour palette
The most obvious way to maximise natural light in your home is through your property’s colour palette. Keeping light, white colours throughout your home allows the light to reflect, giving it a fresh, airy feel. If you have a desire to add a pop of colour to your interior, ensure your ceilings and the majority of your walls are a white colour scheme, which will allow the paint to reflect the natural light, not absorb it. You can add colour by creating a feature wall or by adding colourful decor.
Utilise light furnishings and reflective materials
By incorporating light furniture and furnishings into your property, you can make the rooms feel light and fresh. Identify which materials create a light feel with natural and artificial light, so you can maintain the same feeling throughout the winter. Mirrors are a wonderful way to allow natural light to bounce around the room. Hanging mirrors where natural light falls can allow you to fill empty corners of the room, reflecting what isn’t there. Any materials that allow light to naturally bounce from them, such as glass, silver, or brass, are an excellent way to maximise the sunlight.
Understand the impact of flooring
Many homes use carpets in the majority of rooms, creating a cosy feel, but the new interior trend is installing hard stone or natural wooden flooring. Pull back your dated carpet and expose the beautiful wooden flooring hiding underneath, and after a quick polish and tint, you can bring the floor back to life. Depending on your home’s style of window or doors, the sun spends a lot of time shining onto floors, so changing to a material that doesn’t absorb the light and reflects it will increase the natural light in the space.
Rethink your home’s structure
Many homes have thick walls and small windows due to installation in the past, limiting their potential for access to natural light. Structural change may be seen as a last resort, but it truly is a long-term investment. Insert floor-to-ceiling windows or simple skylights to create a natural central light within a room. A home extension could be an option, opening your ground floor to new space and natural light. A conservatory is an excellent way to introduce new natural light and extend your living space. Consider fully exposed patio doors, creating the illusion of a large, glazed window wall that floods the home with sunlight.
Allow natural light to create an inviting home
A property filled with natural light creates the feel of a welcoming home, allowing you to relax and rejuvenate. Any of these changes will increase a property’s value, all while making your home appear more vibrant to friends, family, and potential homebuyers.
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