How To Maximize Natural Light In Any Home

Anyone who has been house hunting at least once in their lives has heard: “This space has tons of natural light!” It is, of course, a huge selling point. Natural light can make any space feel brighter and more open, and it can even save homebuyers money on heating costs. With the increase in high-density homebuilding, a large wall of tall windows is not always an option. But how can someone make the most of the natural light they do have? Here are a few design tricks that will help you maximize natural light in any space.

Use White Paint

All paint has a light reflective value (LRV), which is the number from 1 to 100 that indicates how much light will reflect off the color. Flat black has an LRV of zero, while white has an LRV of 100. Therefore, to maximize the level of natural light in a home, strategic use of white paint is a must.

Painting walls in white (ideally in a high-gloss paint) will cause light to reflect around the room, making the whole space seem brighter. However, it is not the only way to enhance the amount of natural light in a property. You can also paint the underside of the eaves outside the house in white. This will allow more light to reflect off the eaves and into the windows even if the walls themselves are not particularly reflective.

Get Blingy Backsplashes

If white walls feel too bland, but you still want to boost the amount of natural light in the space, look to reflective backsplashes or wall decor. This is particularly useful in the kitchen or bathroom, where there are limitless options of styles and materials to choose from.

A mirror finished backsplash along a kitchen or a glass block wall in your bathroom can be a unique design element that also happens to let in a great deal more light. Even extra-glossy tile can do wonders to brighten up a room.

Install Skylights

This is the most challenging method we have listed here, but it is also a surefire way to get more light into a space: install a few skylights in strategic areas of the home to guarantee that the maximum amount of light streams all day long. Also, skylights are not just for large rooms. Take smaller areas to the next level with a skylight to brighten up closets, bathrooms, and hallways.

Buy a New Home

New homes are designed with modern architecture which includes great attention to natural light. Special care is taken to increase wall sizes to allow for more windows and larger windows. Many homes feature horizontal windows at the top of the walls which allows for more light to come into a room, but also provide privacy. Another feature is taller ceilings. New homes in Sacramento and throughout California are built with 9’ or taller ceilings. Many also use vaulted ceilings which creates more space an opportunity for grand scale windows allowing light and views in.