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January 20th, 2024
authors are vetted experts in their fields and write on topics in which they have demonstrated experience. All of our content is peer reviewed and validated by Foyr experts in the same field.
Verified Expert in Interior Design
Abbie is the Owner of Feather&Fossil and specialises in Maximalist Interior Design schemes for residential clients. Abbie has experience and qualifications in Interior Design and Project Management.
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Natural Light in the Home
Lighting can make or break a home! If you’re looking to spice up your home decor, focus on the natural lighting.
Natural light is an essential component of interior design. It’s a significant element to play with, especially if the interiors comprise smaller spaces. In fact, because of the lack of natural light, a larger space can also feel small and cramped.
Natural light also has many benefits – it makes people feel energized, and it’s great for killing germs and bacteria in the air. It helps air out a room and keeps mould and moisture from collecting.
From going DIY to using gloss paint and glass doors, we’ve put together a list of some creative ways to improve the natural light in your surrounding. Go for paint colors that are light colors, add greenery to the wall space, or install new windows – there are many ways to increase the natural light.
Did you know that natural lighting is also called daylighting? Many interior designers use this as a technique to bring light into a home efficiently. Some use skylights and windows and depend on exterior glazing; others use artificial lights where natural light isn’t readily available.
Most clients love a home where natural light is abundantly available. Natural light is a good source of positivity, warmth, comfort, and health. Let’s take a detailed look at the benefits of natural light in a home.
Read also – How To Use Color Theory in Interior Design?
Before we discuss ways to light up a dark room with natural lighting, you must know about natural light fixtures.
Natural light fixtures are designed to capture as much external light as possible. Some commonly used natural light fixtures are skylights, windows, and doors. Interior designers use exterior glazing to efficiently welcome natural light into dark rooms. This reduces the dependency on artificial light and saves energy. Three main sources of natural lighting can be brought into a home.
When it comes to natural lighting, it’s not as easy as it looks. Designers need to consider balancing many aspects, such as –
Other than windows and skylights, some commonly used daylighting fixtures include tubular lights, solar shading devices, redirection devices, etc.
Read also – 16 Best Interior Lighting Tips To Beat The Winter Blues
If you’re wondering how to increase the natural light in your house creatively, here are 15 ways to do so:
The easiest way to welcome natural light into your home is to keep the walls white. White walls bounce light beautifully and dispel darkness. Dark-colored walls can cause a room to feel cramped or constrained.
The more the number of white walls, the higher the amount of brightness in the house. Even if there’s just one window to allow outside light, it’ll have a marked increase in the amount of light that bounces off the white walls. Don’t worry if white walls are not your preference. Use lighter neutral or pastel tones.
These will keep the brightness factor high while meeting your color needs.
Read also – 20 Best Wall Decor Ideas
Image Credit: storables.com
Skylights are a bold way to enhance the natural light in your rooms. They are windows on the ceiling to improve the overall flow of light. For example, you could try installing the skylight above a double-height space that resembles an atrium. However, it’s essential to install them practically. It’s best to seek professional advice before installing skylights.
Read also – Best Kitchen Lighting Ideas and Trends
Image Credit: storables.com
Mirrors are another excellent way to improve the natural light flow in your home. The reflective capabilities of mirrors amplify the natural light from outside. Add a mirror opposite a small window and see how the number of light doubles in the room. Reflections also make the room look larger and increase the number of happy faces in the room.
Read also – 6 Best Bathroom Lighting Ideas
Image Credit: storables.com
Another evocative way to increase natural light in your room is by installing a full-sized picture window. Picture windows are a good replacement for dull, opaque walls and break the monotony of any enclosed space. It is even better if your picture window overlooks a scenic location. Picture windows make indoor spaces feel outdoorsy and lively.
Read also – 8 Best Window Treatment Ideas
Image Credit: storables.com
If you feel that your home needs more natural light and that the amount of natural light coming in is not proportionate to your windows, then perhaps it’s time to make some home improvements – start by changing the curtains! Sheer curtains are great for letting light in.
They add a stylish look to the living room or bedroom and let the light in. You can also use honeycomb blinds to achieve the same effect. This also goes incredibly well if the windows are opaque or the walls are a dark color, making it a dark room where you need a lot of natural light.
Read also – 8 Best Ways to Tell Your Story Through Interior Design
Image Credit: storables.com
Lighting isn’t always about the windows or doors – it’s also about the space inside the room. Sometimes painting the room with light colors doesn’t cut it—you need an open floor plan. Open spaces tend to allow more light in. So if you’re on a budget and require a lot of natural light, try freeing up a cluttered space or keeping an open floor plan.
Image Credit: storables.com
Since the floor is one of the largest surface areas of the home’s interior, it plays a massive role in making the room look large or small. Floors also reflect light—so make sure to use light colors for the floor tiling to create reflective surfaces for the light to bounce off.
Read also – 20 Ways To Add Color To Your Home Without Painting
Image Credit: storables.com
Not everyone is blessed with open floor plans or large homes. Sometimes you have to make do with what you have, especially if you’re on a budget. So how do you improve the natural light flow in a home that doesn’t receive any natural light? Use artificial lighting. Go for light fixtures and light bulbs with LED lights that can emulate a natural light flow.
Read also – 12 Best House Extension Ideas
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Furniture and home decor pieces tend to block windows and doors. This often causes a blockage in the amount of light flowing in. To improve natural light circulation, try keeping low-height furniture – preferably as low as the edge of the window. This will help to amplify the amount of light that flows in.
Read also – 15 Best Home Addition Ideas
Image Credit: storables.com
Not keen on using mirrors? Not keen on painting your walls white? Don’t worry; there’s a fix that can help you improve the natural light flow without following these hacks – using home decor pieces with a metal out-covering!
Metal surfaces are also known to bounce light off – so if you have a dark-colored wall, hang metal pieces on it so the natural light can bounce off and give the illusion of more light. This is again a budget-friendly way of doing up your home without making too many home improvements. Add some accent pieces along the walls or on side tables near the walls to increase the overall brightness.
Read also – 20 Decorative Wall Paneling Ideas for Your Room
Image Credit: storables.com
Another great way to increase the natural light flow is by having tall ceilings. Of course, this isn’t something that can be incorporated into an existing home unless you’re looking to remodel. However, if you are looking at a new home, make sure you go for space with tall ceilings, especially in the living room. Remember, this trick only works if the ceiling is painted in white or natural light colors.
Read also – How To Use Positive and Negative Space in Interior Design?
Image Credit: storables.com
Another way to improve the natural light indoors is by ensuring that the fabrics of interiors are made using light colors. Dark-colored fabrics can constrain a room – so go for whites, pastels, or neutral shades for sofas, chairs, and curtains.
Read also – How To Paint A Room?
Image Credit: storables.com
Instead of installing a typical opaque partition or a wall, you can play with glass. Glass blocks are perfect reflective surfaces and give the room an illusion of more space. They naturally stimulate more light into the room and add to the natural light instead of diluting it.
Image Credit: storables.com
If you’re wondering how to create a reflective surface in your interiors, installing a chandelier is a great way to do it. Chandeliers made from glass or reflective metals or ones with glazing on them are an excellent option for light to bounce off.
Read also – 20 Top Interior Color Schemes for Your House Design
Image Credit: pinterest.com
Go for lighter colors, like a light grey, or use glass paints to let the light in through window treatments. If you don’t have large windows, don’t worry; create reflective surfaces or use home decor pieces with a metallic finish. These are all ways to let the light bounce off surfaces and make a small space seem large. For more creative ideas on improving light sources, visit Foyr Neo. It’s trusted by homeowners, realtors, and interior designers.
Foyr Neo is a software specially created for interior designers. It provides designers with a single platform to completely design their projects – from start to finish. Designers can start with a floor plan and create a finished render in less than 2 hours. What’s more? The software also gives designers access to a community and training that supports and guides them on each step.
Try Foyr Neo and sign up for a 14-day free trial today.
Natural light is critical to making a home feel bright and cheery. Whether you have a small or large space, letting the light in is essential. This can also have a significant positive effect on one’s mood. Use white paint for the walls, or make sure your floor has a polished finish. These are small ways to increase the natural light flow indoors.
1. How do I get more natural light in my house?
If you’re looking for ways to flood your home with natural light, try using light colors, polished flooring, shiny reflective surfaces, clean windows, adding greenery, or using artificial light.
2. How do I make my room naturally bright?
Try hacks like placing mirrors near light sources, using transparent or light colored furniture, use fairy lights and candles.
3. How do you fake natural light in a dark room?
A mirror is a great way to simulate light in a dark room. Add a large mirror as a focal point opposite a door or a window to reflect light from other sources.
4. How can I add light to a room without electricity?
Use oil lamps, battery-powered fairy lights, mirrors, or install sconces.
Using Foyr Neo is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, upload a floor plan or create one from scratch. Then drag and drop from over 60K 3D models to fill your rooms. Lastly, just set the shot and let the AI create stunning 4K renders for you in less than 10 minutes.
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