Natural light has many advantages for both your physical and mental health. Keep reading to discover eight ways to maximize natural light in your home so you and your family can enjoy the benefits.
Benefits of Natural Light
Sunlight is an important factor in both physical and mental health. It contains vitamin D, which is an important factor in building bone and other body processes. Getting enough exposure to sunlight during the day helps regulate your circadian rhythm, which helps you sleep better at night.
Natural light also has a big impact on mental health. Exposure to sunlight has been shown to decrease the risk of seasonal depression, stress, and anxiety, and will improve your overall mood.
#1. Don’t Block Windows
This first one may seem obvious, but if you take a look around your home, you may find that some of your windows are partially blocked. You may have a collection of knick-knacks on your windowsill, or maybe your bookshelf is just a bit too tall and blocks the bottom of your window.
To maximize natural light in your home, plan your interior design thoughtfully and keep your windows clear of any obstructions.
#2. Keep Windows Clean
This tip is pretty simple: if your windows are dirty, they will let in less sunlight. Clean your windows regularly if you want to improve their appearance and maximize the amount of natural light in your home.
#3. Utilize Reflective Surfaces
Try hanging a mirror on the wall opposite your window. This will reflect the sunlight to other areas of the room and brighten up your space.
You can also utilize other reflective surfaces like glossy art prints, shiny metal, and glass tabletops to reflect sunlight. The effect will be less dramatic, but it will still help diffuse light around the room and create a brighter, sunnier home.
#4. Consider Color
Light colors reflect more light than dark colors, so to maximize brightness in a room, use white paint on the walls. The sunlight will reflect off the walls and scatter around the room, creating a feeling of all-over ambient light.
If white walls aren’t your style, opt for light colors — the lighter they are, the more light they will reflect. You can also utilize light-colored decor and furniture to create a brighter space.
#5. Skylights
Adding skylights is another great way to maximize natural light in your home, especially if you don’t have a lot of windows. It can be complicated to install them in existing homes, but the benefits far outweigh the cost.
If you’re building a new house, make sure you include skylights in your plans to increase the amount of natural light you get in your new home.
#6. Window Treatments
If you have lots of windows in your home, but they’re covered with thick curtains or blinds, you’re missing out on a lot of natural light. Instead, opt for sheer or light-colored window treatments that let the light in.
If you want your windows to be covered at certain times, such as at night, blinds or curtains can be a good solution. However, you can’t forget to open them during the day! Opening the curtains makes a big difference in the overall feeling of your home.
#7. Basement Windows
Maximizing natural light in basements can be tricky, but you can have egress windows installed to let the light in. These windows are installed below ground level with the use of a window well and can even be added below a deck or porch.
In addition to helping bring natural light to your basement, egress windows are an important safety feature. They can be used as an escape route in case of fire and provide an access point for emergency personnel.
#8. Glass Doors
If you have limited windows in your home, you may want to consider replacing your standard back door with a sliding glass door. Glass doors function as big windows, letting in lots of light and giving you a beautiful view of your patio or yard.
Maximize Natural Light With Peak Windows
Whatever your window needs are, turn to Peak Windows! We offer replacement, new construction, egress, vinyl, and commercial windows, along with entry, interior, and sliding glass doors. All of our products come with a lifetime warranty, and we even repair broken glass! If you want to beautify your home and maximize the amount of natural light you get, contact us today.