As we’ve still got a few months left of winter, the temptation to retreat into our cozy home, pull the blanket over us and hibernate until spring is at an all-time high. And, especially if your home is lacking in natural light, it can add to that feeling of misery. Of course, we need to get out into the sun as much as we can, because that natural vitamin D does wonders for our frame of mind, and can contribute to fighting off minor ailments, like colds. But due to the designs of some houses, getting an adequate amount of natural light can be a very big challenge. So, how can you add more natural light into your home, not just so it benefits you, but makes your home look brighter too?
Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall…
It is simple science, the more shiny surfaces you can add to your rooms, the more light you will get by simple reflection. This means you can go overboard on anything shiny, not just mirrors, you can use brass lighting, silver photo frames, or even clear furniture can help. If you feel that adding mirror after mirror to your decor is a bit overkill, it’s important to get mirrors that work with the overall aesthetic of the home, you can use suppliers like www.uniquevanities.com that have many different styles to suit your decor. It’s not just about decorating your walls floor to ceiling with mirrors, but you can put mirrors in specific places to take advantage of the extra light. A prominent example is by putting a mirror at the end of a hallway, it helps to reflect the light, but it’s going to help the hallway look longer than it actually is. In addition to this, the thicker the mirrored glass, the more light you will get. Also, by putting two mirrors of the same size directly opposite each other, this creates a set of reflections to add infinite depth to any small room.
Get Some Treatment…
Window treatments can be a big drainer of natural light. If you have thick window treatments and curtains, you may as well bid goodbye to your precious vitamin D. By removing these dark or heavy set curtains, you will automatically see the benefits. In addition to this, by adding lighter colored fabrics, this helps to preserve the natural light in the room. In addition to this, a darkened window treatment with dark color walls means you aren’t going to get much light at all, so it’s important to look at suitable window treatments that match the decor, and www.draperystreet.com works well at light-colored treatments that don’t impact massively on the darkened room. But if you do have a dark room or the whole of your house looks like Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square, then you need to address the next point wholeheartedly.
In Living Color…
Remember, colors can absorb or reflect light. So, if you’ve got dark walls or wallpaper, this is going to take a lot of the natural light from your home. Instead of having deep dark colors, especially on the walls furthest from the windows, focus on getting lighter colors into your property, these will help to bounce the light around. It will also help to increase the feeling of space in the property. Some colors including mushroom gray, as well as camel tan and espresso brown, will add a sense of neutrality and richness to your rooms. Nobody wants to live in a house that is white from top to bottom, so, think about mixing your colors, especially when going for a natural contrast, such as having dark-colored floors, or if you have a lot of wood furniture in the property. But remember, your floor will make up the majority of your room, and if you’ve painted the walls a light color, but there is still a lack of natural light, you may need to bite the bullet and change the floor too.
A Touch Of Glass…
One simple way to get natural light back into the home is to have a lot more glass in the property. Depending on your security preferences, you could add glass to your doors, but your choices will depend on the style of the home. If you live in a built-up area, but still need the natural light, you can go for frosted windows or tinted glass to give you that added privacy. Skylights are a welcome addition to any home that is lacking in natural light, but beware; it is a very expensive addition. If skylights aren’t your thing, and you’ve got rooms that are seemingly untouchable by natural light, solar tubes have been the lifesaver for many people. Solar tubes are a way to bring light through the rooftop, via reflective pipes. Again, these can be a costly endeavor, but it’s definitely a welcome addition to small apartments.
The “Finishing” Touches…
Sometimes our style overrides our need for daylight in our home! Lots of people love dark kitchen cabinets and dark floors. To help offset the balance, you can add light and shiny finishes on these countertops, as this helps to break up the color which will help your kitchen to feel lighter and spacious. Shiny surfaces work wonders on dark fittings, and add this in addition to pendant lighting, which adds another layer of brightness. Copper pendant lighting is a great way to reflect light into the room, and they look fantastic in the kitchen setting.
And remember, if you have way too much darkness in your home; is it because of something blocking your window? Bushes and trees could do with a trim, especially if they are on the southern side of your home. We need more light in our homes, and while winter is replete with dark days and nights, you can look forward to the spring months when natural sunlight is at its peak. But also, you can look forward to the time when you are able to afford to decorate your home to include these wonderful and luxurious touches.
