How to bring more natural light into your home

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how beautiful your home decor is, the only thing that can change the feel and look of a room is by increasing the natural light that enters it. This can be done by strategically placing decor or choosing the right colours, as well as more practical changes. So here are some of our top tips for how to bring more natural light into your home.

Strategically place mirrors

One of the easiest, and most likely cheapest, solution for increasing the natural light in your home is to hang mirrors where they are best able to reflect the light around the room. Placing a large mirror next to a window is not going to cause light to be bounced around the room any more than not having the mirror at all. 

Consider placing the mirror on a wall opposite the window so the light is directly reflected back into the room and therefore makes it brighter. The mirrors don’t need to be large or wall covering- it is better to have a well placed, smaller mirror than a large one that has no effect on the light of the room whatsoever. 

Consider your decor

Look around the room that you think needs more natural light. What is the decor like in that room? If it has darker walls and furniture, this could be a good place to start making changes. Light coloured walls with a glossy finish reflect much more light than dark, matte colours. 

If you don’t want to replace your furniture, you could always make the much cheaper purchase of a throw or blanket to put over your sofa, or a tablecloth for your dining table. These changes can’t be simple and inexpensive, so you don’t have to worry too much about your budget when bringing in more natural light to your home. 

Trim those trees

You’re wanting to bring a bit more of the outside into your home, but the outside could be exactly what is hindering your efforts. Look out of your window, and if you can see any trees, bushes or even climbing plants on the side of your house, consider if they are blocking the natural sunlight. Removing anything that blocks sunlight is a longer lasting solution to bring more natural light into your home.

This has the added benefit of increasing your curb appeal or garden aesthetic by having well trimmed shrubbery- so not only the inside of your house looks better, but so does the outside!

Wash your windows

Cleaning your windows doesn’t isn’t limited to an annual spring clean. In fact, regular cleaning of your windows can make a difference in the natural light of your darkest rooms. You wouldn’t think it, but the dust and dirt particles that cling to the outside (and inside) of your windows can block quite a bit of sunlight. This is likely to be quite an issue for those of you who live near busy roads, as the dirt from the road is kicked up with every passing car. 

If you are not able to reach the windows on higher floors, consider hiring a professional window cleaner to get the job done. You might be surprised to see how much more light is let in. 

Install larger windows

Now this is a tip that for many would be a potential last resort. If the room that you would like brightening with natural light has a small window, increasing the space that this light can enter is a great way of doing so. However, this can be very expensive and time consuming so is not an option available to many. 

As well as your budget, you also need to consider if you would need planning permission to change the size or placement of your window, depending on the style of house you own. It could also become more costly if you decide to have a new style of window installed rather than match the ones already in place- you may then wish to change the other windows to match the new one. 

Always remember to get multiple quotes for the job to find the right fit for you, and this includes builders and glaziers.

For more information on our glazing services, please contact a member of the team today!