7 Ways to Maximize Natural Light in your Apartment

Natural light or sunlight has immense benefits for your health and wellbeing. Sunlight is the major source through which you receive Vitamin D which is vital for your body. Moreover natural light enhances your mood, sleep quality and vision. A brightly lit space brings more positivity and energy to your lives unlike the case when you are living in a dark and moody space. Another advantage of sunlight pouring in to your home is that it helps to conserve electricity during day time. A well-ventilated and airy room requires less artificial lighting and thus you don’t have to switch on the lights for longer hours. Many apartments may not get adequate amount of natural light due to their remote location amidst trees and other obstructions. If you are wondering how to improve natural lighting in your home, then we have got some tips for you.

How to Improve Natural Lighting in your home?

Here are 7 ways to maximize natural light in your apartment without doing any major renovations:

1. Keep your windows clean & clutter-free
2. Choose light colored & airy curtains
3. Place mirrors to reflect maximum light
4. Remove furniture that blocks the windows
5. Avoid darker shade paints for the walls
6. Choose to install glass doors & windows
7. Go for sleek and space-saving furniture

1. Keep your windows clean & clutter-free

Starting from the basics a clean window will let in more light as compared to a stained one. If you have glass windows in your apartment, a lot of dust and dirt will accumulate on the surface over a period of time. Perform a routine of cleaning your windowsatleast once in two or three weeks to ensure more quality light entering your room. Ideally, you can use a microfiber cleaning cloth to wipe off the dust from glass surfaces. If you have kept large indoor plants or any other heavy decorations on the window sill, it is better to remove them to allow maximum light to come in. Also, do a routine trimming of any tree branches and creepers that may be blocking the window light.

2. Choose light colored & airy curtains

Dark curtains made of thick material maybe good to catch some extra hours of sleep during a sunny day or keep your home warm during the winter. But if you are looking for ways to let more sunlight in your home, then it is better to get rid of them. Picking the right color for your curtains has a great impact on room lighting. While choosing new curtains, you can consider white or light colored shades instead of darker shades to let more light to filter in through the windows. Another alternative to having curtains is installing blinds which are very easy to open and close as per your requirements.

3. Place mirrors to reflect maximum light

If you are setting up your interiors, bring home a variety of mirrors to adorn your rooms. Mirrors will not only add beauty to a space but will also reflect natural light and create a feeling more light in your apartment. Ideally, you can place mirrors opposite the windows and balcony glass doors to make the most of the light coming in. Nowadays interior designers give a lot of importance to mirrors as they add more charm and brightness to space. Experts say that installing a full-length mirror in your bedroom is a great idea to illuminate the room with natural light. The major benefit of adding mirrors is that they are stylish as well as functional.

4. Remove furniture that blocks the window

Whether your room has just one window or multiple ones, you may not pay much attention to what lies in front of them. A major reason for blocking natural light in apartments is the wrong placement of furniture against the window. It may be a writing desk or a storage shelf that obstruct the light. So start rearranging your furniture in such a way that the windows are fully visible from any corner of the room. If you have a balcony with a glass door, make sure that you do not block the view by placing any heavy furniture like sofa, bookshelves or cupboards.

5. Avoid darker shade paints for the walls

Ditch moody and dark color shades for your walls and ceiling. You would have studied in school that light colors reflect light and darker colors absorb it. So make sure that you apply the same theory here and choose lighter color paint for your walls.  Consider painting your ceiling plain white to allow more natural light to spread around the room. It also makes sense to choose light color furniture and home accessories too. For example, if you are buying a floor rug for your room then consider getting one with light color shades like white, grey or something similar. This will enhance the beauty of your space and help brighten up the room. Matte finish wall coat is a great choice as it allows light to reflect in every direction without doing much harm to the eyes.

6. Choose to install glass doors & windows

Introducing glass doors and windows in your home can enhance the natural light flow across the space. It gives more openness to your living space resulting in more ventilation. Consider replacing the solid doors and windows with sliding glass doors or French doors. Bi-folding glass doors are also a great choice if you are ready to invest some money for a makeover. It is good to have multiple entry points for light to flood your room. If you are bothered about the privacy while having more glass doors in your home, frosted or etched glass can be your ideal choice.

7. Go for sleek and space-saving furniture

Many of you may not be aware that the placement of your furniture can alter the lighting.

Finding the right spot for your furniture can be tricky especially if you are living in an apartment. The most important thing to keep in mind is not to clutter your room with heavy furniture. Invest in compact and sleek seating accessories like chairs and sofa sets. Move any tall furniture which may be blocking the daylight to darker corners so that the light flow is not affected. Avoid anything that creates more shadows in the room. Replace solid cabinet doors with glass door cabinets to allow more light flow. Another practical alternative is to install floating wall shelves for storage which allows more circulation of light.

We hope these ideas for enhancing the natural lighting in your home was helpful and informative. Now start implementing these tricks and enjoy living in a beautiful sunlit home.