How to Boost Natural Light in Your Home
Bring the sunshine inside with clever ideas designed to maximise the impact of daylight on your interior
There is nothing like natural light to add life and positivity to a home. While you’ll need to talk to an architect about lots of the ways you can do this, there’s nothing like a designer’s eye view to inspire ideas about the possibilities for your home. From planning a new extension to renovating your property, here are some top ideas for making sure your home grabs as much outside light as possible.
Install a light well
Stairs can be notoriously dark areas of the house, unless you’re lucky enough to have a large window. One way to combat this is to install a glass roof light like the one shown here. This adds height and drama to the stairway, and brings daylight down through the house.
Find an architect near you to plan your new extension
Stairs can be notoriously dark areas of the house, unless you’re lucky enough to have a large window. One way to combat this is to install a glass roof light like the one shown here. This adds height and drama to the stairway, and brings daylight down through the house.
Find an architect near you to plan your new extension
Experiment with glass
Another way to brighten up a stairway is to install glass balustrades. Toughened glass screening creates a bright, spacious, modern look and allows natural light to penetrate all areas of the landing and rooms below.
Another way to brighten up a stairway is to install glass balustrades. Toughened glass screening creates a bright, spacious, modern look and allows natural light to penetrate all areas of the landing and rooms below.
Make the most of extensions
If you have the opportunity to extend your home to bring in more space to a kitchen or dining spaces, then give a thought to a large roof light. Large, seamless windows in the roof have a huge architectural impact, but if you’re on a tight budget, a series of Velux-type windows make a great alternative.
If you have the opportunity to extend your home to bring in more space to a kitchen or dining spaces, then give a thought to a large roof light. Large, seamless windows in the roof have a huge architectural impact, but if you’re on a tight budget, a series of Velux-type windows make a great alternative.
Choose a wall that’s not solid
You don’t have to block out light when creating room divides. Crittall-style glass walls are a fantastic way of dividing a room while still letting the light through.
You can also use glass blocks as a dividing wall, which won’t let as much light through but will create more privacy. For bedrooms, consider the hi-tech option of switchable glass, which changes from opaque to translucent at the flick of a switch.
Considering glass doors? Check out what Crittall-style windows have to offer
You don’t have to block out light when creating room divides. Crittall-style glass walls are a fantastic way of dividing a room while still letting the light through.
You can also use glass blocks as a dividing wall, which won’t let as much light through but will create more privacy. For bedrooms, consider the hi-tech option of switchable glass, which changes from opaque to translucent at the flick of a switch.
Considering glass doors? Check out what Crittall-style windows have to offer
Open up to the elements
Large windows and doors that can open up to the sky or garden are a great way to let in daylight and, on warmer days, fresh air, too. This sliding roof light over the kitchen makes the space feel as if it’s part of a courtyard, but simple bifolding doors leading onto the garden are also very effective.
Take a look at more kitchen designs from across the world
Large windows and doors that can open up to the sky or garden are a great way to let in daylight and, on warmer days, fresh air, too. This sliding roof light over the kitchen makes the space feel as if it’s part of a courtyard, but simple bifolding doors leading onto the garden are also very effective.
Take a look at more kitchen designs from across the world
Add light-reflective materials
Think about the materials you use in your home and opt for ones that help reflect the light. Bright white walls and pale neutrals will bounce back daylight and enhance the calm, spacious feel a well-lit room provides. Here, the polished concrete floor also helps to rebound the sunlight.
Think about the materials you use in your home and opt for ones that help reflect the light. Bright white walls and pale neutrals will bounce back daylight and enhance the calm, spacious feel a well-lit room provides. Here, the polished concrete floor also helps to rebound the sunlight.
Go mad with mirrors
Mirrors are a great way to create a feeling of more space and light. Don’t just use them in the bathroom, but include the odd decorative one here and there throughout your home. In this kitchen, the mirrored unit doors become almost invisible as they reflect the light from above and the surrounding room.
Want to get creative with mirrors? Check out these smart ideas
Mirrors are a great way to create a feeling of more space and light. Don’t just use them in the bathroom, but include the odd decorative one here and there throughout your home. In this kitchen, the mirrored unit doors become almost invisible as they reflect the light from above and the surrounding room.
Want to get creative with mirrors? Check out these smart ideas
Create a light passage from sky to basement
This large glass roof creates a wonderfully bright room. The glass floor also means that some of the light can be transferred to an otherwise dark basement below.
Read more:
A Guide to Lighting Your Home
These Homes Know How to Control The Sun
Tell us:
How have you boosted the natural light in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
This large glass roof creates a wonderfully bright room. The glass floor also means that some of the light can be transferred to an otherwise dark basement below.
Read more:
A Guide to Lighting Your Home
These Homes Know How to Control The Sun
Tell us:
How have you boosted the natural light in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
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Basement rooms are in danger of seeming dark and dingy, but don’t let a lack of windows spoil the atmosphere. Here, a long thin pane in a cathedral-style ceiling lets in light from above. This light reflects off the white wall and bounces into the rest of the room.
A similar technique can be used for rooms higher up, too, by introducing a strip of glass floor that allows light in from the room below.