As the nights
draw in and it gets darker much earlier, it’s hard not to wish those dark and
drab rooms in your home were a little bit brighter. Luckily, there are lots of
ways you can brighten up those dark rooms by enhancing or increasing the
natural light that reaches them. Many homeowners with dark rooms make the
mistake of giving up on natural light and just investing in lots of artificial
light instead, but your first port of call in brightening up a room should
always be making the most of whatever natural light is available to you. Here
are a few ways to bring in some natural light and brighten up those dark rooms.
Mirrors
Mirrors are a
great way to add both light and space to any room. Their reflective nature will
substantially increase the natural light in dark spaces. This is particularly
true if they are placed directly opposite a window. When it comes to choosing
mirrors, you can go simple and clean or ornate and bold. It’s entirely
dependent on the style of your home and your tastes. If you don’t have a free
wall to dedicate just to mirrors, you could consider getting a mirrored wardrobe or cabinets, so you don’t have to compromise on
wall space.
Light wood flooring
Light wooden flooring can add a very light, airy, natural feel to a room. Dark wood or carpet can be oppressive and absorb natural light, whereas light wood will reflect it back into the room. Light carpet is not as reflective as light wood but could be a good compromise if you are not a fan of wooden flooring and prefer carpet’s soft feel.
Install a skylight
A skylight is a
sure-fire way to let more natural light into your home. The increase in natural
daylight is particularly useful during the winter and means you can reduce your
usage of artificial lights and therefore save on your electricity bills.
They’re not just useful during the day either, imagine being able to look up at
the stars from the comfort of your bed every night! Skylights are also a great
design feature and come in many different styles that can suit any home. If you
do decide to go for a skylight to brighten things up, make sure to choose a
trusted window and door manufacturer to carry out the installation.
Cut back any trees or shrubs blocking your natural light
Have a look
around your property for any trees or shrubs that may be blocking out the
natural light that reaches your home. If they belong to you, give them a trim
to make sure they’re out of the way. If they’re your neighbor's plants rather
than yours, politely explain that they are blocking out your light and ask if
they could be trimmed. Natural light is always best, so it’s important to make
the most of all that’s available to you and make sure it can reach your home.
It’s amazing the difference this can make to the lightness of a room.