How to Add More Natural Light To Your Home

Natural light can brighten not only your home’s interior, but also your mood.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime

By Brandon Purdum

When natural light has the freedom to fl ow through your home, it not only gives new life to the neglected nooks, corners and crannies throughout your interior space — it provides an all new window into your home’s hidden potential. Adding a little daylight can go a long way toward brightening dark rooms, revitalizing your home’s interior and even recharging your mood.

Here are a few ideas for unleashing the power of natural light in your home:

WALK YOUR HOME

Where is your home’s natural light coming from? Which areas or rooms could use a bit more? A room-toroom assessment can provide you a better sense of your home’s natural light sources — windows, glass doors and skylights — as well as those spots that could use a sunpowered boost.

As you walk your home, be sure to note any large plants or furniture preventing outside light from making the maximum impact. You might be surprised how quickly a little rearranging can transform a dusty, under-lit space into a delightful, design-beckoning backdrop. CHECK YOUR WINDOW TREATMENTS

Dark shades and heavy curtains create havoc for spaces in desperate need of daylight. Consider replacing these treatments with lighter, breezier colors and materials that better disperse natural light across dark rooms. A new window dressing may be what you need not only to capture more of the sun’s cleansing rays, but also to transform that boring bathroom, bedroom or kitchen into a brighter, more inviting indoor space. PULL OUT THE PAINTBRUSH

A new coat of paint can really perk up those spaces thirsting for a bit of sunlight. Painting dark walls with refl ective, light-friendly colors gives daylight more room to roam. Lighter paint can also provide a powerful design element that contrasts any dark furniture, doors and trim that make your space unique. Neutral colors like white, tan and gray have broad design potential and tend to work best for improving a room’s natural light. GET GLASSY

Replacing solid wood entry and passageway doors with glass doors can be a great way to move more natural light through your home. For those areas that could really benefi t from a bigger splash of sunlight – stairwells, entryways and hallways – a new glass door could be a godsend, transforming what was once a shadowy staircase or lackluster landing into a warm and welcoming home interior transition.

And for areas where security and privacy are paramount, frosted and tinted glass doors provide a great light-enhancement option – allowing you to rejuvenate that lifeless second bathroom without inviting unwanted attention.

LOOK TO THE SKY

Is your kitchen craving the spotlight? With a new skylight above your countertops, you can turn that ordinary, run-of-the-mill space into the conversation-starting centerpiece it was always meant to be. Skylights provide your home direct, day-long access to natural light in ways few other methods can — enhancing atmosphere, adding character and creating the interior space your family will fl ock to for years to come.

Skylights are available in three main types — fi xed, ventilating and tubular — and can range anywhere between $900 and $2,300 to install. A local skylight pro can help you determine the type and size that best suits your home.

Brandon Purdum is a reporter for HomeAdvisor, an online marketplace connecting homeowners with trusted service professionals to complete home projects. Visit HomeAdvisor.com