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General, Home Improvements · November 16, 2015

Ideas to Lighten your Home for Winter

Ultrasky_roof_lantern

The natural light during the days of autumn and winter is much weaker than the rest of the year, and together with the nights draw in early, our homes can sometimes be a little dark and gloomy from mid-afternoon onwards.  This can affect our mood, possibly making us feel lethargic and even low or depressed.

If your rooms are looking dim and starting to get you down at this time of year, don’t worry as there’s a number of things you can do to lighten your home and hopefully lift your mood, too.

DOORS & WINDOWS

Having a front door with a glass section or two can really help to illuminate an otherwise dark hallway and by switching any internal solid doors for designs featuring clear or frosted glass, this will also allow light to flow through your rooms.  If windows are small or cluttered, the house is bound to feel dark and closed in.  Clean the glass thoroughly inside and out for a sparkly clear view and remove any heavy curtains or blinds, switching them for lighter fabrics and colours.  Bear in mind though, all curtains will partially obscure the windows even when pulled back, so an alternative is to lose them completely and apply some frosted film to your glass instead.  They will give you the privacy you need but still allow the light to come through, in a slightly more diffused way.

If you are planning to redesign some of your rooms in the future, think about the possibility of increasing the window openings to a larger size or consider adding a roof light to a dark bathroom or loft bedroom.

STRUCTURAL CHANGES

If your house has a series of small, gloomy rooms, it may have crossed your mind to knock some of the internal walls down to make your home more light and airy.  A more open plan living space definitely helps the light to flow through from one area to another.  Obviously you will need to consult a structural engineer before removing any walls in your home.

Another great option is to add a roof lantern, such as slim-line ultrasky aluminium roof lanterns.  As you can see in the photo above, these beautifully stylish structures will flood a room with natural daylight and also create a surprising and stunning decorative feature in your home.  This is something I would love to add above our kitchen extension someday to really elevate the ceiling, make the space feel roomier and capture as much of that precious daylight as possible.  Installing bi-fold doors is another option to consider, as they can be fitted across an entire external wall, maximising the incoming light.  Tiny bathrooms or interior stairwells with no natural daylight can also benefit from the addition of solar light tunnels, which are basically a tube system fitted via the roof with a clear dome facing the sky and mirrors along the tube to direct the daylight into your particular problem area.

DÉCOR CHOICES AND LIGHTING

Keeping your walls and ceilings fresh and light in colour will help a room feel brighter, and did you know there are even paints available on the market with special light reflecting properties, such as Dulux Light & Space?  Swapping heavy dark wooden furniture and black or brown leather sofas for lighter wood and fabric finishes will help to keep the light bouncing around a room rather than merely absorbing it.  Mirrors on the wall are a great device to further reflect light within a room and even displaying metallic accessories such as candleholders and vases can all help.  Keep clutter to a minimum and large furniture, such as wardrobes, away from windows.  A variety of table and floor lamps dotted throughout a room works best for illuminating a dark space, rather than harsh overhead light that can tend to accentuate a room’s gloomy corners.  There are lots of brighter, energy efficient bulbs on the market these days too.

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Posted By: Antonia · In: General, Home Improvements

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Comments

  1. Making Spaces says

    November 16, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    Natural light is definitely something that doesn’t always get taken into consideration when people plan a room. I love those roof lanterns and i’ve read some great reviews about the Dulux Light and Space range!! Am currently talking to a client about getting a light tunnel fitted in her roof as she gets no natural light at all in her two story staircase. It would change the feel of the house completely! 🙂
    Making Spaces recently posted…Making Spaces Sustainable #LiveLagomProjectMy Profile

    Reply
    • Antonia says

      November 25, 2015 at 11:54 pm

      I do fancy trying that paint now I’ve discovered it! Yep those roof lanterns do make a lovely feature, don’t they? x

      Reply
  2. geraldine@littlebigbell says

    November 16, 2015 at 9:36 pm

    Some great tips here. I’m still thinking of ways to get more light into our basement family room despite the light well at the stairs and glass on the floor from the front room above.
    geraldine@littlebigbell recently posted…Top 50 Christmas gift guide, Etsy Made Local & giveaway.My Profile

    Reply
    • Antonia says

      November 25, 2015 at 11:51 pm

      Ooh, I hope you come up with something that works well in your basement – let me know! x

      Reply
  3. Rachel @ Fresh Design says

    November 16, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    Natural light is so important, so these are some useful tips on adding more into your home. We nearly had a light tube installed in our previous house (but moved instead).
    Rachel @ Fresh Design recently posted…Create a cosy winter dining room with copper and woodMy Profile

    Reply
    • Antonia says

      November 25, 2015 at 11:50 pm

      Thanks – we definitely need to employ a few tricks to maximise the light at this time of year.

      Reply
  4. Stacey Sheppard says

    November 17, 2015 at 9:26 am

    A lack of natural light at home can really affect the way you feel especially in the winter months. These tips are really useful and could make a huge difference to people’s emotional wellbeing.
    Stacey Sheppard recently posted…View Quest : Super Sexy Audio Devices for WomenMy Profile

    Reply
    • Antonia says

      November 25, 2015 at 11:49 pm

      Thanks, I hope so x

      Reply
  5. Katy says

    November 17, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    Light is the most important thing about a home for me – I get so depressed if it is dark and dingy all the time. I never have heavy window coverings and all my floors and walls are light and bright. Really useful tips – thanks!
    Katy recently posted…A good night’s sleep: a mattress reviewMy Profile

    Reply
    • Antonia says

      November 25, 2015 at 11:45 pm

      Ooh, yeah – I can’t stand being in a gloomy room. The natural light is pretty watery at the moment, so we need to use as many tricks as we can!

      Reply
  6. Arianna says

    November 18, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    Natural light for me is so important – I get very moody if dark and working from home I need to feel upbeat 😉 Lovely post and really great tips – Thanks! A x
    Arianna recently posted…Boots And The CityMy Profile

    Reply
    • Antonia says

      November 25, 2015 at 11:42 pm

      Thanks so much for dropping by and commenting! x

      Reply

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Hello! I'M ANTONIA I launched Tidylife to provide interior, garden & lifestyle inspiration. Love home decor and budget friendly improvements? Me too! You'll find them all here. Plus decorating, styling & upcycling ideas. I also love to share fitness, fashion & beauty features, so I hope you enjoy visiting Tidylife.

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