A bright space is a bright home; you’ve probably heard this many times in your lifetime. There are three most common ways to achieve a bright space – with light paint colors, artificial lighting, and natural lighting. For now, let’s focus on the latter. 

Natural lighting, whether abundant or scarce should be maximized nevertheless. If there’s presence of natural light, use it to its advantage. If there’s little availability of natural light but almost close to none, there are things that can be done to exploit it. In this article, let’s discuss how we can build a brighter home through natural lighting. 

Use Translucent Curtains

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Blackout curtains have been widely used because of its effectiveness in blocking the ray of the sun. It’s good for blocking out heat but at the same time blocks out light. It may be good for the bedroom but it’s not highly advisable for the living areas especially if making the home brighter is the priority. Instead, a smarter alternative is to use sheer or translucent curtains. This will allow natural light to pass through while also blocking out heat. 

Combination blinds or dual shade blinds that first become popular in South Korea are also a good way to maximize natural lighting. It will give you the flexibility to control the amount of light and heat that will enter your home. 

You can also try layering your curtains by alternating or overlapping sheer and thin fabric with thick curtains. By alternating curtains, amount of light can be controlled while also spreading out heat. On the other hand, overlapping curtains will provide options whereas you can pull up the thick curtain leaving the thin curtain allowing sunlight to pass through during the day and still have privacy at night by pulling down the thicker curtain. 

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Use Light Paint for Your Walls

Using lighter paint alone can make your home bright. But did you know that it could also help in maximizing natural light? Brighter wall shades such as white, beige, grey, and the like tend to be more luminous while emphasizing the presence of natural light. 

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Contrary, darker shades like dark blue, black, and dark green may absorb light so less light will be reflected on the walls of your home. 

If it will match your theme, off beat colors like baby blue, pink and yellow are bright enough too and good in maximizing natural light.

Use Light Shades for Your Floors And Ceiling

Same as the previous point, having your floor and ceiling in light shades can help bounce light on surfaces making the space brighter. The ceiling is usually painted white so there’s almost no problem with it. But if your floors are already dark, you may lay bright carpets or rugs instead. It’s a cheaper method than removing your tiles or vinyl completely. 

Image Credit: Renopedia, Newedge Design

Choose Shiny Surfaces

With glossy and shiny surfaces, light will also be reflected well making the space look bigger and brighter. This is perfect more especially for kitchens and bathrooms. In the kitchen, go for a granite, quartz or ceramic counter top with a shiny finish. A stainless finish will also reflect light. 

Image Credit: Renonation, Icon Interior Design

Install Mirrors

It’s an age-old trick how mirrors can help in brightening up a space and make it appear bigger. But if you haven’t heard it yet, here’s the logic. Mirrors will create an endless illusion of depth and spaces making the space look larger. Additionally, having mirrors adjacent to the windows will optimise natural light and bounce it off dark corners.

So since this is the case, imagine what two adjacent mirrors installed on two different walls will do to your room. Given one is adjacent to the window and the other adjacent to the first mirror, the angle of light will be caught and will be bounced completely to the rest of the space- it’s brighter and bigger, without a doubt!

Image Credit: Renopedia, Design 4 Space

If repainting and retiling will be too inconvenient for you, then go for the method of installing mirrors instead. Mirrors are not cheap, but it won’t provide the inconvenience of removing lots of things and having dust or debris all over your home. 

Strategize Large Furniture Locations

Placing furniture on the right location is one of the best ways to maximize natural lighting. The concept is pretty basic- don’t block the sunlight. The goal is to maximize natural lighting for the space to become brighter hence strategically place furniture where shadows are cast and on corners of the wall. 

Image Credit: Renopedia, Design 4 Space

Opt for Light Colored Furniture

Since we’re still on the topic of furniture, take note how light shaded wall paint colors affect natural lighting. That’s the same case for light furniture. Go away from dark furniture that block light from doors and windows and opt for light ones that will reflect light, rather than absorb it. 

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Clean Windows or Glass Doors 

This one is obvious but sometimes we all need to be reminded – clean the windows! A clean window will allow more light to pass through it and into your home. 

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Modify Windows

If you have the budget and there’s no local prohibitions, modify your windows whenever possible. Basically, increase the size of your windows so more light can enter. As long as it’s a non-structural alteration, then it’s expected to be safe and not too much expensive. 

If privacy is a concern, blinds and curtains are the simplest remedy. 

Image Credit: Renonation, Dots ‘n’ Tots Interior Design

Artificial Lighting

Artificial light can help in boosting the brightness of your space. Instead of taking over, as what it does at night, artificial light can enhance natural light coming into your home. In particular, place artificial lighting in corners inaccessible to natural light. Wall lamps, track lights and recessed pinlights are more commonly used in these situations. 

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Having abundance of natural lighting is good for any home. It makes space look bigger, brighter, and frankly, better. It also helps in boosting the mood giving you a good start to your day. Try the tips mentioned and maximize natural lighting in your home.