Renovating
Illuminating Ways to Boost the Natural Light in Your Home
Bring the sunshine inside with clever ideas designed to maximise the impact of daylight on your interior
Summer’s here and it’s time to think about how you can make the most of the long days and enhance the natural daylight in your 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.
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.
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 side return extensions
Many Victorian houses offer the opportunity to add side extensions, which often become large kitchen and dining spaces. You can enhance the natural luminosity of an extension by installing 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.
Many Victorian houses offer the opportunity to add side extensions, which often become large kitchen and dining spaces. You can enhance the natural luminosity of an extension by installing 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.
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.
Avoid window treatments
If you have large glass bifolding doors and are lucky enough not to be overlooked, make the most of the natural light they let in. Don’t install curtains or blinds but instead let the doors make a statement on their own.
If you have large glass bifolding doors and are lucky enough not to be overlooked, make the most of the natural light they let in. Don’t install curtains or blinds but instead let the doors make a statement on their own.
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.
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.
TELL US…
How have you boosted the natural light in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
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.
Check out a reconfigured period home packed with light-boosting touches, including a window like this one