Monday, 10 July 2023
Did you know there’s a link between natural light and mental health? Knowing how to increase natural light in a room will improve your wellbeing and help you feel better.
We’ve all been there on a dark day when there never seems to be much light. During the summer months, we can easily take full advantage of those sun rays. We share some clever tricks...
Relaxing after a long or busy day
Your living room needs to be a place of relaxation at any time of the year. From the ceiling to the floor, think about the different ways you can bring more natural light into the space. Swap heavy curtains for fitted blinds to maximise any incoming light from outside. If you have a dark carpet, consider switching to a paler floor covering. Repaint the ceiling a bright white and repaint skirting boards or picture rails in a reflective white gloss for more light-bounce.
Over the past few years, there has been an interior trend for darker living room walls. But if your lounge is low on natural light, paint the walls in white or a light colour. Pale walls will help reflect more light from the outside. You can then accessorise with bold objects to add a pop of colour to the room. This ensures the space won’t feel too cold or clinical in the cooler months. Then, just sit back in your fave comfy recliner chair and enjoy the sun rays!
Reflecting with friends and family
Dining room décor often leans towards darker or bolder shades and wallcoverings. This can create a cosy ambience in the evenings, but for summer soirees, it might feel a little gloomy.
If you don’t have the budget for a larger window or bifold door, there are still different ways you can bring light into the space. If you have a kitchen-diner with an overhead roof space, you could fit skylights above, and affix reflective glass tiles above your hob and worktops.
Place large mirrors adjacent to French windows or patio doors to reflect natural light. A chandelier style light fitting is also ideal for reflecting light. If you have room for a sideboard or shelves in your dining room, add some reflective ornaments, vases or glassware. These objects will sparkle on a sunny day increasing light within the space. Make sure you have made use of every opportunity to bring in some extra light to your dining and kitchen areas.
Get inspired working from home
As more of us work from home than ever before, the home office has become an important room for many people. The space must be decorated in a way that helps you to focus, stay calm and, for some, to get creative. The majority of people tend to choose a smaller room for their home workspace, but this can pose problems when it comes to natural light. Small rooms have smaller windows, creating shadows in room corners.
If you have converted your garage into a home office, you could build a wall section made of glass blocks. As this space is usually rectangular, this will help to bring in more natural light across the space. Your choice of furniture in a home office is vital. Make sure you choose a light wood desk or furniture in pale colours. This will help to reflect the light coming into the room. Pair your desk with a fancy office chair, which you can match to your colour palette.
With the height of summer upon us already, increasing natural light in your living spaces and home office will promote better mental health. And our simple tricks will not only help during the peak summer months; you’ll enjoy more light in your home as the days get darker too!
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