There are many ways in which a designer can ensure that a room or interior receives the maximum possible amount of natural light and optimises the way the natural light is used. With that in mind, here are some of the innovative ways in which one can maximise the natural light in a home’s interior:
Add glass sliding doors, windows or skylights to bring in extra sunlight
A great way to introduce more natural light into a space is to install skylights, additional or new windows or enlarge existing windows. Installing any of these in a home will allow sunlight to stream into the home’s interior, maximising the amount of natural lighting the space receives. A skylight is a particularly good option as it is upward facing, meaning that it faces the sun and as a result will flood the space below with natural sunlight, throughout the day.
When installing new windows, sliding doors or a skylight, one should take into account the direction in which they face, as this can affect the type of sunlight the space receives and how long the space will get natural sunlight during the day. In the Southern Hemisphere, North-facing windows receive direct sunlight while South-facing rooms only receive indirect sunlight.
Choose light or bright paint for the walls and ceiling
In order to maximise natural light in a home’s interior, it is important to consider what colour the interior walls are painted. Darker colours absorb light and can make a room appear darker, while lighter colours are an excellent way to reflect natural light back into the interior, especially in rooms that receive a limited amount of natural light. Painting walls a lighter colour can complement natural light in a space and painting the ceiling a lighter colour, usually white, gives the room the illusion of greater depth and makes it appear lighter and airier.
Use glass or glossy, reflective tiles
Glass or glossy, reflective tiles are a great way to increase the natural light in a room as they reflect most of the light that hits them, which in turn enables them to illuminate the room in the process.
Keep the glass clean
Oftentimes glass gets dirty, especially when it comes to hard-to-reach windows and skylights; and this, in turn, prevents sunlight from fully streaming through. Dirty windows, skylights and sliding doors will ultimately cause the space to receive duller, muted light which in turn would result in a darker interior. Ensuring that the glass of the windows, sliding doors and skylights is always clean, in turn, ensures that the home’s interior will receive the maximum possible amount of natural light.
Consider making the space open plan
Having open-plan living spaces in a home, especially in areas such as living rooms and kitchens, is an excellent way to allow more natural light into the space. Without the presence of walls and darker corners, the space will receive more natural light. Having an open plan area will ensure that natural light streams in from all nearby windows and doors, ultimately brightening the larger, open space.
These innovative design and maintenance will certainly see to it that any space receives the maximum possible amount of natural light, while simultaneously ensuring that the space makes the most of the natural light which it receives.
Read more on our previous article here