Ways to Get More Natural Light In Your House

Natural light has been connected to boosts in our welfare and happiness, and in the house, it may make a room brighter and lighter, giving the illusion of greater space. These recommendations are a terrific place to begin if you would like to flood your house with natural light.

Install Bigger Windows and Doors

If you're in the market for new windows and doors, now is a great time to boost the natural lighting coming in. Because of advancements in window production, there is less framework, resulting in the more exposed glass. For the most effect, choosing something like bow and bay windows can help you achieve just that. These may be used with fixed and operable units to enable lots of light and ventilation.

Mount Transform or Radius Windows

Another option could be to mount transom or radius windows over your existing windows to provide light while maintaining privacy. Any room may be transformed into a "sunroom" by replacing a solid outside door with a garden or patio door, blurring the borders between outdoor and indoor living areas. Add beautiful sidelights to surround your main door for an additional source of illumination in your entryway that does not require electricity.

Wash Your Windows

If you need a stronger reason to wash your windows and glass doors, here it is: unclean and dusty windows may prevent a lot of sunshine from entering your home. Clean windows, believe it or not, make your home appear more inviting and visually beautiful. As a result, you must wash your windows on a regular basis or contract professional window cleaners to do that for you.

Lighter Window Coverings

Replace heavy, brocade curtains with light, airy sheers. Recall your grandma's old house, when the drapes were so dense that you couldn't distinguish if it were night or day? Window decorations have evolved drastically throughout time to reflect more simple patterns.

It's time to remove those Roman shades which block sunlight even if they're open and allow in some natural light. Choose sheer drapes in a single frame so that you may draw them back and enjoy the magnificent view outdoors. Blinds are also another common option since they enable you to regulate the quantity of light coming in and can be angled in any direction.

Install skylights

Skylights are a one-of-a-kind and efficient method to bring sunlight into your house. They are available in a range of sizes and layouts and are frequently utilized in high-traffic areas such as restrooms and family rooms. You'll definitely want an expert to handle this project since you'll have to make a gap in the roofing, site-build the skylight, and then place the skylight so that it fits exactly without leaking.

Natural light can be a great boost to your mental and physical well-being when you can get it into your home, and as a result, you may want to try and incorporate it into your home as much as possible. The first step to doing that is finding the right kind of windows for your home to get the light you need, whether that be just the style of the windows or dependent on how the windows operate.

Out of the Dark Ages: Updating the Lighting in Your Old House

Updating your lighting is one of the fastest and easiest ways to give your home a new look. Inside and out, your home's lighting adds warmth and ambiance, and it also adds to the safety of your property.

Get New Lamps

You won't need an electrician to add a stylish, new table and desk lamps to your home. Industrial-inspired bare bulb clusters, sophisticated sculptural designs, and eye-popping shade colors are just a few of the current lighting trends. The right lamps can create a bold statement or invoke a subtle ambiance.

Switch to LEDs

You also won't need an electrician to change your bulbs to energy-efficient LED bulbs. You can even find vintage-inspired LED filament bulbs that look fabulous in an industrial or steampunk lamp. According to the US Department of Energy, LED bulbs can last 25 times longer and use 75 percent less energy, compared to incandescent bulbs.

Install New Types of Lighting

However, you will need a professional electrician to install recessed, track, chandelier, or pendant lighting. This is because this type of lighting requires accessing, or adding, wiring through the ceiling. You might be able to replace a ceiling lighting fixture yourself, but if you are adding something new, trust the job to a professional.

Add Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is also important, not only for security but also to create a beautiful night time atmosphere. Consider adding solar lights outdoors. They not only save money on your electric bill, but they are also easy to install yourself. You can place solar lights along a pathway, spotlight a wall, or flood a patio with light.

Solar string lights are an especially pretty way to light up a patio or deck. Some have retro-inspired naked bulbs while others can change colors.

However, if you are serious about a security lighting system, you'll want to have it professionally hard-wired into the grid. Alternatively, you can choose a more robust solar system that includes panels and a battery bank. This is because low-cost, garden variety solar lights may not perform well during the winter, since the energy they get from the sun is lower. Also, the small, internal batteries typically won't last through the entire night.

If your home is older, you may want to have an electrician come check your home’s wiring before you make any changes to your home’s lighting. Because today’s consumers typically have a higher reliance on electrical needs than in decades past, your home’s electrical system may not be able to support new additions. If this is the case, your whole home may need to be rewired to prevent future outages and fire hazards.

Whether indoors or out, your lighting creates both an inviting atmosphere as well as adding safety. The right choice can also save you money on your monthly electric bill. Robust security lighting can also add value to your property. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, now is the time to update the lighting in your old house.

4 Ways You Can Open Your Home Up to Invite More Natural Light In

With the cost of electricity not getting any cheaper, it helps to look for other ways to illuminate your home. Natural light is a great way to bring natural brightness inside. Accessed appropriately, sunlight is beneficial in helping to kill germs, enhance immune function, and of course lighten dark spaces. Here are some ways to let natural sunlight brighten and warm your house.

Repair or Replace Windows

Any windows that are cracked or loose should be repaired if you want to keep using them. Otherwise, you might prefer getting a quote for a new window installation in certain rooms of your home or throughout. Some types of newer windows can filter outdoor light to let in more as needed to brighten your home without letting in harmful UV rays. Certain windows come with built-in filters that you can operate with a smart device or a manual lever to adjust the amount of light that is let in. You may want to get windows with screens so that you can admit fresh air as well as sunlight on nice days.

Adjust Window Coverings

In addition to upgrading your home's windows, consider improving your window covers if needed. Lightweight curtains or draperies allow light to pass through more readily than heavier fabrics. You could also forego window drapes and install decorative valances instead. If you use window blinds, get the type that are easy to maneuver for more light when desired. Retractable awnings outside the windows are also helpful to use as they can be closed against rain and wind when the weather is bad or retracted to let light in on sunny days.

Open the Doors

Have your home's entrances fitted with storm doors that let sunlight into the house when the heavier door is kept open. A patio door can also be fitted with a vertical blind that opens and closes as needed, so you can keep the blinds open for added sunlight in the rooms with the patio doors.

Install a Skylight

A skylight in one or more rooms of the house is ideal for reducing electrical energy usage to light your home as well as admitting more natural light for increased illumination as well as some health benefits. A skylight cover is also useful for particularly bright days as they can help block out heat and keep your home cool. These covers still let light in, so you can enjoy the sunshine.

Make the most of your area's sunlight by letting it come into your home to naturally warm and brighten the interior. You can lower your utility usage and reap health benefits by taking advantage of cost-free sunlight outdoors.

Lighten Up: 4 Ways to Brighten Up Your Home Without Running Up Your Electric Bill

During the winter months, shorter days can lead to darkened homes. Achieving a bright, well-lit home doesn't mean that you have to turn on all of the lights and run up your electric bill. Try these tips to light up your house and improve your mood immediately.

Repaint Your Walls

If your home is painted in dark colors, this can make your whole home feel darker. Try painting your walls in a light color, like an off-white or cream. This helps reflect the light that is in the room, which brightens it up immediately. If your walls are already painted in a neutral color, you may try painting the ceiling a shade lighter. This will help bounce the light around the room.

Add Some Mirrors

Mirrors are a great way to instantly brighten up your home. When you hang a mirror, it doubles the amount of sunshine that streams in through your windows as it bounces off the reflective surface. For best results, hang a large mirror or a collage of smaller mirrors directly across from your window.

Consider Installing New Windows

Windows are the best way to bring natural sunlight from the outside world to the inside of your home. If your home is older, your windows may not be energy efficient or as clear as you would like. Having new windows installed can brighten up a room and make it appear larger. If your home doesn't have enough windows, you can utilize new window installation to help brighten up a dark room.

New styles of windows can also help you save on your heating or cooling bills. When the windows are installed, any leaks in the exterior of the window can be resolved. Modern styles of windows are also insulated and designed to keep cold air outdoors and warm air indoors.

Rethink Your Curtains

If you have heavy curtains, you may want to rethink them. Try swapping out your heavy curtains for a sheer variety. This will allow more sunlight to flow into the room. If you need to purchase light or sound blocking curtains for sleeping purposes, make sure to start your day by opening and typing back your curtains to allow as much sunlight in as possible.

If your home is dark, you don't need to feel like the only solution to brighten it is by acquiring more lights. Try these simple tips to make your home feel brighter, and enjoy your home all winter long.

Author Bio: Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn't writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.