Having an abundance of natural light in your home is every homeowner’s dream. A home that’s flooded with natural light is one that is welcoming and that makes us feel relaxed and rejuvenated. But unfortunately, not all homes are blessed with the ideal amount of natural light. So if you’re embarking on your renovation journey and need ideas on how to turn a darker room into a bright, fresh, and airy haven, here are some of our top tips!
1) Place mirrors in key corners of the room
Mirrors are a wonderful solution for adding light to your home, especially if you don’t have many windows (or no windows at all). A mirror on a wall looks like a window and makes the room seem bigger and brighter. You can also place mirrors on the ceiling, and they make rooms seem spacious. Try to position your mirrors directly opposite a window, and you’ll see how the amount of natural light will double.
2) Keep the walls white to let the sunlight in
The ideal wall colour is white because it allows natural light to bounce off the walls and creates a brighter feel. And contrary to popular belief, white doesn’t make a room feel cold or unwelcoming – in fact, it has a calming effect on the eyes. If white walls really aren’t your preference, use lighter neutral or pastel tones instead. These will keep the brightness factor high while meeting your colour needs.
3) Use glossy surfaces
On top of adding mirrors to reflect the light, you can take it a step further and use furniture with lots of glossy surfaces. This will not only reflect daylight but also create an interesting and unusual look for your home. Try to have one or two glossy surfaces in each room, such as a tabletop or chair. However, don’t go too overboard with this as it can easily overload your room. Offset it with matte pieces to create a balanced design.
4) Add skylights
If you don’t want to use mirrors or glossy furniture, you can always install skylights instead. This will not only add natural light to the room but also create an interesting and unique design feature. Skylights are the ultimate “light magnet” and not only let in sunlight, but will also grace your house with moonlight and a beautiful view of the sky. One thing to note is this is definitely a project you’ll want a professional to handle for you as you’ll need to cut a hole in the roof, site-build a skylight well and then install the skylight to fit perfectly without leaking.
5) Create an open floor plan
Open floor plans make most rooms feel larger, more inviting and brighter, as their large open spaces allow light to flow into them. So if you’re stuck with rooms that are small and dark, try to see if you can break down the walls and create an open floor plan. You will be amazed at how much lighter the room feels! Open floor plans also allow you to decorate with different styles of furniture and accessories, so it gives you a lot more flexibility to create a look you love.
In conclusion, there are a number of ways that you can add light to your home without breaking the bank. The result will be a brighter, more inviting, and welcoming home, and this is definitely one way to help make the most of your renovation project. We are not in control of how much natural light we have in our homes, but we can learn ways to make our homes more appealing!