Winter in Central Ohio can get rather gloomy with cold grey days, snow, and reduced hours of daylight. Maximizing the natural lighting in your home can help improve your mood and give your home an airy and welcoming feel. Many floor plans and home designs lend themselves to letting more light in, but there are things that can be done to improve natural light in any home. Here are a few tips for making your home brighter all year long.
Rethink Your Window Treatments
Start with the main source of natural light in your home, the windows. Choose lighter window treatments that let more light in or those that can be completely opened during the day. When selecting drapery, avoid dark and heavy materials. Instead, choose materials that let more light in such as sheers. Consider using solar shades which have the benefit of allowing sunlight into the room, but also block harmful UV rays and provide more efficiency. Privacy is important as well and there are many options today for custom blinds and draperies that are easier to use and maximize the light in your home.
Reflect Light with Mirrors
The key to maximizing light in your home is taking advantage of reflection. Mirrors in the home don’t have to be for vanity, strategically placing mirrors throughout the home is an inexpensive and easy way to maximize light. If you have a dark corner, a mirror can easily help brighten it up. Hang large mirrors on the wall to reflect the natural light from windows and immediately double the light in a room.
Glossy Finishes Over Matte Finishes
Just as mirrors in your home reflect light, choosing a few glossy finishes rather than matte or dull finishes can help make the most out of natural light. Wood, ceramic or stone floorings can offer a polished finish which can help brighten a room. Choose cabinets with glossier finishes for an opportunity to reflect incoming light rather than absorbing it. Consider the same when selecting tables and other accessories in the room. Opt for a satin paint finishes on the walls to add more light reflection to the room.
Lighten Up
There is a reason why white is a popular choice for ceilings, walls, doors, and cabinets. White reflects light and helps give a light and airy feel to a room. You don’t have to choose white as your only or even your main color choice for getting the most out of your natural light, but choosing lighter colors over dark is a good choice for maximizing light. Any opportunity to lighten an existing space through lighter colors can immediately change the look and feel of the room. You don’t have to abandon all dark colors, but use them for adding contrast and depth rather than being the star of the show.
Choose Reflective Backsplashes
There are many options for backsplashes available and many offer a polished, reflective surface. This is no coincidence either, these finishes help maximize light. Choosing reflective backsplashes are a beautiful way to add light and character to your kitchen and the bonus is the glossy finish makes them easier to clean.
Paint Your Eaves White
You may not give much thought to the color of your eaves, but painting your eaves white, can actually help improve the light in your home. Eaves directly reflect light into your windows. White will reflect the most light. You generally won’t notice the color of your eaves from outside your home because of their positioning, so you don’t have to worry about matching the exterior of your home. You may not even have noticed what color they are now!.
Choose An Open Floor Plan
If you are building or buying a new home, open floor plans are the best opportunity for allowing natural light to flow through the home. Optimize light even further by choosing designs that offer large windows and glass doors. Rockford Homes offers several open floor plans designed for giving you a bright and comfortable home perfect for your family’s unique needs.
