How to bring more natural light into your home

With the Autumn nights drawing in, a lack of natural light can be a common problem for many home owners, especially those who are living in an apartment on one floor where space and light is therefore limited. I on the other hand am very lucky that my living room has four big windows bringing in lots of natural light and making the room feel and look a whole lot bigger. If you need to create more natural light in your home, just in time for the earlier nights, follow my simple interior solutions below.




Install new windows

There are so many different window options out there: bay windows, roof windows and sun tunnels to name a few, all come with different costs, but if you really want to make a big difference to your natural light problem and can afford to change them, then why not? 

If you are specifically looking for roof windows for a loft conversion or a conservatory/extension,Velux are specialists in these, allowing natural sunlight to pour into your home from the best place - the top! Their windows come in four different sizes, control options and finishes to help you find the most suitable product for your home. Velux top hung roof windows in particular have many benefits including that they can reduce noise, bring in more light plus fresh air and rotate 180 degrees making them easier to clean from the inside.



Window Treatments

Once you have your new windows or even if you're keeping your current ones, you will want some privacy in the day and nighttime. Therefore you will need some kind of window treatment, if you currently have dark curtains or blinds in front of your windows change them! As these will dramatically reduce the amount of light.


Unlike curtains, blinds offer a more minimalist, modern look for your home, and can be raised to the top or side of the window. If you choose blinds with a wide-slat design they will allow the natural light to stream in, whilst also offering privacy. If you choose blinds that are raised, in the daytime then you may want to have a sheer and lightweight net curtain which will allow lots of natural light to flow through your room but make it more private especially if your room is road facing.  

If you still want to opt for curtains for night time, just make sure they are a light shade and that the curtain pole is bigger than the width of the window, this will ensure that you’re not covering up valuable glass with fabric.




Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Being a girl who loves her clothes and beauty I have plenty of mirrors in my home, full length and square sized. They are a great way of reflecting natural light and create a focal point in the home. The trick is to place a mirror on a wall adjacent to a window or opposite a window where they will mimic the window and reflect light. I recommend IKEA for a whole load of different styles of mirrors including mirrored furniture.



Use white or pale colours

If your decor is currently quite dark, why not give it a makeover with white and pale colours which will not only create a blank canvas for decorations but also reflect light a whole lot more than darker shades. A top tip is to use a satin finish instead of matte paint as this will also contribute to a lighter room. After focusing on the walls you will want to pay attention to the ceiling, this should be painted a couple of shades lighter than the walls to create the illusion of height and space.


Keep lights and windows clean

This solution is the most simple, give your windows a thorough clean to ensure as much light as possible can filter through the glass and into your home. If you have a limited amount of time like myself, hire a window cleaner to come every couple of weeks save me doing the job myself.

*This post is in collaboration with Velux but all thoughts are my own.

Do you have any other tips for letting light into your home?

Liz x

3 comments

  1. The mirror trick is really clever and it's a great idea to clean the windows regularly to let more light in. That's so simple yet I don't know if I would've thought of that myself.

    Julia // The Sunday Mode

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  2. I never really thought about adding mirrors to add more natural light! Great idea!

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  3. Loving it! Natural light is such a game changer... Thanks for the inspo

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