Published by Programme B
As we welcome the warmer months ahead, you might start to think about taking down the heavy draperies and packing away the cozy throws. This time of year, we are more prone to lighter evenings, bright mornings and making the most of the glorious summer sun.
The amount of natural light in the room can actually affect your mood. Those shining rays, filled with wonderful sunlight and essential vitamin D can help make you happy and positive. Bright rooms can make us feel vibrant and alive.
But what if you’re not blessed with skylights and bifold doors that allows enough sunlight to enter? Well, here are the best and easy ways to make the most of natural light in your home.
1. Lighten Up Your Palettes
An easy and quick way to encourage natural light inside your home is to brighten up your color scheme. Neutral colors and whites reflect natural light better than darker colors which are known to absorb light. So consider painting your walls in cool tones, including taupes, blue-grays, and whites, and use metallic, reflective finishes on the ceilings.
For an instant transformation, whitewash your floorboards and update the ceiling with stark white paint for a contemporary and clean look. It will also make the room look bigger and reflect natural light. Should you feel that plain white seems too bright and clinical, consider off-white shades which will add a touch of warmth while still reflecting valuable natural light. For more color schemes that will go well with your home, professional painters Durbanville is always there to provide the best help.
In terms of furniture— particularly larger pieces such as love seats and sofas— consider choosing light colors. You can easily add deeper or brighter splashes of color in the form of throws, pillows, covers and smaller furnishings.
2. Take Down Heavy Curtains And Fabrics
During winter, thick, heavy draperies can help with insulating your home. However, in the warmer months, you need to take them down if you don’t want it to absorb all the natural sunlight.
Heavy-duty curtains need to be replaced with modern lightweight fabrics in softer and lighter colors. Also, consider getting an extra-long curtain pole so that you can completely pull the curtains out of the way.
If you need curtains for privacy, you can use light and sheer draperies. But, if you prefer a minimalist and flush look, then shutters would be perfect. They can control the amount of natural light that enters into the room while offering you privacy. You can get wood shutters or faux wood shutters that are less expensive but do the job really well.
Most importantly, try not to ditch cleaning your windows. There is nothing like smudged glass to dull the brightest light from the sun.
3. Decluttering And Removing Obstacles
For natural sunlight to really come into the room, it would require for there to be no objects or obstacles to block it. Take some time to sort out your belongings and throw out or donate anything you no longer want or need. The extra space you get from decluttering can free up the path for natural light and allow it to bounce from wall to wall.
Also, consider reorganizing your space so there are no big pieces of furniture blocking your windows. This means that you also need to look at your yard and trim back any bushes or shrubs sitting outside your windows that might be obstructing the flow of natural light into your home.
4. Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall
The oldest design technique in the book, using mirrors to make a space look brighter and bigger, is a method that actually works.
Small living room?
Mirrors can help bounce natural light across your space and you will find that a little light goes a long way if you wisely use your wall space. What’s more is there are highly decorative and abstract mirrors you can find on the market today, adding some glamour to any space.
Mirrors aren’t the only tool. Any shiny surface can make a big impact on the light that filters through. Consider adding glass furniture and metallic accessories where possible to catch the light at all angles and brighten up the darkest of corners.