Natural light is an interesting element of good home design and decoration because while it gives so much to a space, it is a finite resource that cannot be bargained with and will change from day to day. It’s not as if we can run to the local home furnishing store and bring home natural light from the sun. Of course, lamps and other lighting fixtures can help a home become brighter and more inviting, but there’s something about making the most of natural light in a property that truly elevates it and helps it seem natural and fresh. A combination of both of those options, then, is worthwhile, with the former supplementing the latter.
That said, not all homes are geared to access large reams of natural light. It might be that in a suburban environment, the best angles of natural sunlight as it arcs across the sky may be blocked from view. Perhaps our windows or other room fixtures prevent it from traveling so well. In this post, however, we’ll discuss a few home installations, decorative efforts and maintenance techniques you can use to improve access to natural light in your property, for the best possible and most reliable results.
Consider Curtains/Blinds Installations
Of course, our natural need for privacy can lead us to cover our windows from time to time. For instance, a ground-floor bathroom is unlikely to have an open window leading to the exterior unless the window is specifically placed higher up on the wall to block sightlines.
In this case, using a fixture that can prevent someone from looking in, but not the sunlight from being able to penetrate the space is key. A set of worthwhile privacy blinds that can be adjusted during the day should provide this functionality, and aid you in feeling more comfortable to that degree.
Elsewhere in the property, you may have the same problem. Perhaps you have many expensive media entertainment devices within your living room and you’d rather this wasn’t seen and coveted by passing thieves. Installing mid-toned shaded curtains, such as light purple, can block the light from being able to give a cohesive image from the outside, where looking through double glazing glass and a curtain may not provide a clear image at all, but will give you a very clear view of the outside thanks to how bright the lighting is. That in itself can be truly worthwhile.
Proper & Regular Window Cleaning
Of course, no matter what kind of blinds or curtains you have placed against your windows, none of this will matter if the glass is filthy. For this reason, a list of essential window cleaning do’s & don’ts is needed, because not many people know how to properly clean their windows, or neglect to do it in the first place. Professional window cleaning can be so thorough that it will decrease the frequency by which you may need to have them cleaned again.
It’s hard to understate how well a cleaned window can let in the sunlight. It’s as if an entire filter has been removed. Even a relatively bad autumn or winter and dusty summer can leave your windows dirtier than you may imagine. Even rainfall, which you may imagine could wash your window, can dry and leave your glass less clear than it otherwise may be. This is a gradual process,so you may not notice it as time moves on. But clean them regularly, and your home will always be conducive to sunlight. It will also look wonderful from the outside, too.
Image Source: Unsplash
Light Tones & Decoration
So far you’ve fixed your curtains or blinds, have cleaned your windows thoroughly, and now you have a room filled with possessions waiting to make the most of this sunlight. But the truth is that decorations and tones present in the room may also dictate how this sunlight travels, and how well it shows up.
Rooms with dark colors present will often absorb the lighting, which is how these colors achieve their hue on a light frequency scale. This isn’t to say a black pillow will totally suck all the light out of the room, but it does prevent that light from bouncing back, thus leading a room to seem less bright than it could be. Of course, you don’t have to paint everything white or only ever decorate with overly bright colors.
It’s about managing your decoration and making sure that it feels bright, airy and inviting as opposed to oppressive. This is why more and more people save the dark painted colors for a feature wall as opposed to painting an entire space in a darker hue. Lighter base decorations will also help the possessions in the room, like ornaments, seat cushion covers, sofa colors, electronic devices, rugs and more contributing to a less cluttered feel provided you balance this visual cost well.
Furniture Orientation
Now the windows, window fittings and decorations are sorted out, perhaps you think the job is over. Well, it’s also worthwhile to consider how furniture orientation will contribute in making the most out of the natural light.
Ideally, it’s good to keep large furniture as far away from the window as you can. A large wardrobe right next to or even in front of the window in some cases will, of course, prevent any light from getting in or may block it from cleanly traveling from certain sections of the room. In some cases this might be helpful, as it could block glare when watching television during the day. That said, orienting your furniture as necessary is key to making sure your home feels more inviting and bright. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments as necessary, while also improving the navigable space of a room on top of that.
With this advice, we hope you can improve your access to natural light within your property without having to spend overly on a fitting solution. Remember, that sunlight has traveled an incredibly long distance to occupy our home. It’s only fitting to accept it properly.
*This is a collaborative post