Natural light is more important than you think it is. We rely on the sun to stay healthy, regulate our sleep and to stay productive. However, it can sometimes feel as though we never see the sun, especially in the winter months. Not only does not seeing the sun dampen our mood, but it can make our houses and living spaces look more depressed too. It’s important to make the most of all available light in our homes. We’ve put together 7 affordable ideas on how you can add light to your home.
Light Touches
The first three tips are small changes which you can make in your home which can make a big difference. If you’re looking to lighten your home, but you’re on a budget, this is where you should start.
Mirrors, Mirrors, Mirrors
Mirrors are one of the best tools you can use to improve lighting in dark rooms. Their reflective surfaces can help to shift light into darker areas within enclosed spaces. Mirrors are a great tool if you have concentrated sources of light which you need to make the most of. Also, if you’re looking for decorating ideas on a budget, mirrors can be your best friend.
Colour Schemes
If you haven’t got a lot of light to play with, you should be keeping your colour scheme simple. White or neutral colours are always the best options to choose in light restricted spaces. White will help to reflect any light back into the room which should help to brighten it up. Don’t forget about the ceiling too! Your ceiling is just as important as the other four walls in helping to disperse light around a room.
Become a minimalist
If your home is filled with clutter, it can make your home look both messy and smaller than it really is. When it comes to decorating your home, less really is more. Swap a cluttered, unorganised room for a simplistic, minimalist design, with a few statement pieces which helps to focus the eyes and not cause confusion.
Refurbishment
Roof lighting
Roof lights are a great way of providing natural, direct sunlight into your home. Not only are they a great source of natural light, but they also provide more privacy than traditional windows. As the windows are in the direct line of the sun, they are able to generate natural heat. This will be a benefit to you when it comes to keeping those monthly heating bills as low as possible.
Windows
An obvious inclusion on the list, but it’s one of the most important. If your dark room doesn’t have access to any natural light, then it’s guaranteed to look depressed. Installing a glass wall to an exterior-facing wall is a long term investment to brightening your home for the better. On a new or existing window, it’s important that you’re decorating it correctly to make the most of the light. Consider swapping bulky curtains for softer textures which can be tied back away from the window during daylight hours.
Glass doors
Glass doors are one of the most affordable and effective methods of increasing the amount of natural light in your home. If you have a garden or balcony, you can quickly improve your internal lighting by swapping your old, inefficient door with a new glass door. Not only will this increase light, but it will also improve the heating and ventilation in your home.
Using splashbacks to improve lighting
Glass splashbacks and worktops can be an amazing way to not only improve the look of your kitchen, but to add a bit of light to the room too. Splashbacks are quickly becoming one of the biggest kitchen trends in recent years. Not only are they modern-looking and very affordable, but they’re more hygienic and longer lasting than traditional tiled surfaces. The reflective surfaces of the glass can also help to bounce all available light around the room too.
About the Author
Jamie Griffiths writes on behalf of Sky Glass , who are a leading provider of superior-quality structural glazing and a wide range of durable glass products.
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