We all know how important it is to allow as much natural light into the home as possible.
Homes with inadequate natural light can pose a threat to both our mental and physical health – sunlight boosts vitamin D production, helps our circadian rhythm function properly, and can even make us feel happier. And the best part? These all-encompassing benefits can be enjoyed even if you’re indoors!
Indeed, natural light’s positive physical and psychological effects are many.
Should you be keen to boost your natural light intake, then firstly, there’s no better way to enjoy some sun than by taking yourself outside. Incredibly, research published by Cornell University in 2020 found that even 10 minutes in a natural setting can lessen the effects of both physical and mental stress.
But with working from home on an unstoppable rise and global restrictions keeping many of us indoors for prolonged periods, you might also be looking for ways to increase the flow of natural light in your home, for those times you’re indoors. Well, you’ve come to the right place for doing just that; here are the best ways to allow more natural light into your home.
INSTALL LARGER WINDOWS
An abundance of natural light…it’s perhaps the most coveted piece of real estate out there and people will pay a premium price for it, with a 2018 survey suggesting that homeowners would pay upwards of £20’000 more than the asking price for a property flooded with the stuff.
To boost both your happiness and the value of your property, then the quickest path to natural light is through perhaps the biggest job; installing larger windows.
Not a quick fix, we realise, but the results of such a project are plain to see. Literally; your visibility will be much improved by introducing more natural light, and the bigger your windows, the more will get in through them. It’s not rocket science but it’s something that people overlook.
Of course, having new windows installed, and bigger windows at that, can be expensive. But considering the average cost of replacing a window in the UK ranges from around £400 to £1500, doing so could well represent a worthwhile investment. It should be noted, however, that enlarging a window rather than replacing one may cost significantly more.
INSTALL A SKYLIGHT
Skylights are certainly an option to consider if you’re focused on letting more natural light into the home but the installation of replacement windows isn’t feasible.
In some instances, it may be structurally impossible to get access to more light via the sides of the home, but having natural light pouring in from above can make almost as much of a difference. There are a whole host of skylight solutions out there, including ventilating, fixed, tubular, and even polycarbonate roof domes, the latter of which do a particularly good job of maximising sunlight.
Go further; regularly cleaning your polycarbonate roofing is essential for maintaining its clarity, appearance, and the beneficial natural lighting it provides. Endeavour to do so with regularity to ensure the flow of natural light is maximised.
SWITCH TO LIGHTER WINDOW TREATMENTS
If you’re looking for a more affordable way to brighten up your room, then have you considered just how big an impact window dressings or treatments can have on the illumination within?
If you use lighter window treatments in your home, you’ll find that you’re able to make more of the natural light coming in through the windows. Even when the curtains are not drawn, they’ll block out some of the light at each of the sides.
Instead, opt for blinds or shutters, the latter of which allows you to fully expose the windows when needed by simply folding back the shutter panels, providing maximum natural light whilst still retaining a certain level of privacy and glare management. Alternatively, the high functionality of Venetian blinds makes them a prudent choice, too.
USE GLASS BLOCKS INSTEAD OF SOLID DIVIDING WALLS
If you’re looking to do change up the layout in your home and natural light is a priority, then consider replacing solid dividing walls with alternatives that let more light through them.
This is something that can be done perfectly with the use of solid glass blocks, which let light flow through the home keenly, preventing light getting blocked.
DON’T BLOCK THE WINDOWS
Obstructing any natural source of light from the inside is a bad idea, so make sure that you don’t have anything in your home office directly in front of your windows as they can obstruct light and make the room feel dingy.
This doesn’t only apply to that stack of books you can’t find a home for, but also to bulkier pieces, such as furniture, desks and computers. Clearing visual room can go a long way to making your room look more spacious.
TAME SOME TREES
In some instances, the lack of natural light entering your home may be caused by external forces, namely, the trees and hedges surrounding your home and blocking the flow of light through your windows. In such cases, you might want to consider getting some of these removed or at least trimmed back. This is particularly the case in late spring and summer, when trees are at their most voluminous.
Of course, if it’s your neighbour’s trees or hedges blocking the flow of light into your home, you’ll have to consult with them first, prior to any pruning.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The flow of natural light in a room doesn’t only illuminate the space and make it feel more capacious, but it can also do wonders for its inhabitants’ outlook. We hope you get some sun on your face soon, even if that’s through a window!