Housely
One of the biggest complaints that people have about their homes is that there is not enough natural sunlight coming in. Sun is very important in our lives. Not only is the sun an excellent source of vitamin D, it can make you feel more happy and positive. When there is enough natural light coming into a room, there will be no need to turn on the lights during the day. This can save you a great deal of money on your electric bill. On a cold day, if there is enough natural light coming into the room, it can warm it up a bit, therefore, you won’t need to keep your heat turned up as high. This can save you money on your heating costs. If you don’t have enough natural light coming into your home, there a few tips and tricks that you can try.
Trim the Hedges and Bushes Outside
While the hedges and the bushes outside of your home may look nice on the outside, they can block the sunlight from coming inside. They may give you more privacy, however, the can make it darker in the home. It is a good idea to avoid planting trees on the south side of the house. During the summer, the sun will be too high for them to provide any shade and during the winter, they will block the warmth from the sun. When it comes to hedges and bushes, avoid planting them in front of the windows. If you must to make the area look aesthetically even, keep the bushes and hedges below the windows.
Take Care of the Windows
Clean Windows: Since the natural light comes in through the windows, they need to be clean. Dirty windows can block out a great deal of sunlight. If you have old windows, they can start to yellow or become scratched. This can also block out the sunlight. If this is the case, you should consider replacing the windows. More natural light is just one of the many benefits of replacing old windows.
Window Treatments: If you have dark curtains or heavy window treatments, you should remove them. These can block natural light from coming inside. You should replace these window treatments with light weight fabrics. Also, stick with light bright colors. These colors can brighten up a room. If you use blinds or shades, you should make sure that you open them up each morning to let the sun shine in.
Install a Window: If you have the money in your budget, you should consider having windows installed in areas that need light. If you need additional light in a room which requires privacy, you can install a window up at the ceiling. This will let the light in and give you the privacy that you need. High windows will also work great in a finished basement without any natural light.
Install French Doors: If you have a large space and a big budget, installing French doors in a windowless room will let in a great deal of natural light.
Install Skylights
If you don’t have the wall space to install new windows, you should consider installing skylights. As long as you have space on the rooftop above the room, you will be able to get a great deal of natural light with a skylight. Skylights come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a skylight that fits your home’s style and also that fits in your budget.
Solar Tubes
If you have no extra space for a window and if the room that you need the additional light is not on the top floor, you should consider installing solar tubes. They are twisty, reflective pipes that are installed on the roof and they can go down as far as a few stories. This will allow you to get the effect of a skylight on the bottom floor of your home.
Add Mirrors
Mirrors reflect light, which makes them a great way to add natural light to a room. Not only will they brighten up the space, mirrors will also make the room look bigger. Best of all, mirrors are not very expensive. If you are working with a very limited budget, mirrors are the least expensive way to add natural light to the room. When placing your mirrors, you should install a large one on the wall opposite a window. On the other two walls, you should place mirrors on each, facing one another. This will reflect even more light, and it will give the room an infinite look, making it appear much larger than it is.
Other Shiny, Transparent Materials
Mirrors are not the only materials that can reflect light. Shiny tiles, clear furniture, such as glass tabletops will make a room look brighter and larger. Also, gold, brass or silver doorknobs, photo frames, and artwork will all help to reflect light in the room, making it appear brighter.
Use of Color
Dark colors absorb light and bright colors reflect it. You should avoid using dark colors in areas that are furthest from the windows. Light colors will bounce colors around, which can brighten up the room. You should paint the walls in your rooms bright, light colors. Adding artwork with pastel colors is a great way to reflect light in the room. Finally, light colored floors can be great. If you are going with hardwood floors, use a light color stain rather than dark. If you are using carpeting, avoid dark colors. The same is true with tile. In a home without enough natural light, the lighter colors are always better.
Add Soft Lighting
Adding small dimming lights around the room is a great way to brighten up the space. You can install these lights under the cabinets in your kitchen and under shelves in the living room. Since these lights are small and relatively unnoticeable, they give the appearance of natural light.
Accessorize to Add Light
To give a room some extra light, you should use light colored rugs, throw pillows, towels, bed linens, and even hardware, such as switch plates and door knobs.
Brighten Up the Basement
As mentioned above, you can install a window near the ceiling in your basement to brighten it up. If you already have a window and it isn’t bright enough, you should consider adding an egress window. These are windows that are dug out like a well, right next to the foundation. They add more light into the basement than the typical basement windows can.
If you don’t have enough natural light in your home, you can easily add some. The best part is that it can be done on any budget.
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