Gloomy and dark rooms are so last season. The warm, sunny days of summer are here, after all, and they present the perfect opportunity to brighten up your home au naturale. Natural light doesn’t just give your space a radiant glow, but it also offers tons of benefits for your health and well-being, like reduced stress and increased alertness.

In addition to enhancing the aesthetics of your space, natural light also reduces the need for artificial lighting, helping increase the efficiency of your home. The benefits are all around, so why not let the sunshine in? Check out these design tips and tricks to make the most of natural light in your home this summer.

The Health Benefits of Natural Light

Ever notice why you just feel happier in the sunshine? There’s science behind it! Sunlight is an essential source of vitamin D, which plays an important role in maintaining bone health and boosting your immune system. Exposure also helps regulate your body’s internal clock, promoting better sleep and overall well-being.

Energy Efficiency

There’s more good news: natural light isn’t just good for you, it’s great for the planet. Reducing the reliance on artificial lighting during daylight hours not only conserves energy but also lowers electricity bills. Natural light is free, abundant, and sustainable, making it an eco-friendly lighting hack.

Assessing Your Home’s Natural Light

Begin by identifying areas in your home that lack sufficient natural light. These could be corners, hallways, or rooms with small or few windows. Once you recognize the dark spots, you can strategize ways to introduce more light into those areas.

Study the path of the sun throughout the day to understand the areas of your home that receive the most sunlight. Armed with this information, you can then decide how to optimize the placement of different rooms and activities.

Easy Effort: Choose the Right Window Treatments

Opt for sheer curtains or blinds that allow ample sunlight to pass through while still providing privacy. These window treatments not only filter harsh sunlight but also help create an airy, minimalist atmosphere.

If sheer isn’t you’re vibe, choose light-colored drapes that reflect light and brighten the room. Avoid heavy, dark curtains that absorb natural light and make the space feel gloomy and attract extra unwanted heat.

And when the curtains are up, be sure to keep your windows clean to allow maximum sunlight.

Medium Effort: Rearrange and Accessorize

Ready for some feng shui? Breathe new life into various spaces by rearranging your furniture to make sure it doesn’t block natural light from reaching different areas of your home. Here’s another pro tip: positioning furniture near windows or glass doors can help illuminate darker corners.

You can also strategically place mirrors and reflective surfaces to bounce light around the room. This technique creates an illusion of spaciousness and enhances the brightness of the space.

Opt for light-colored paint on your walls and ceilings as it reflects light and makes the room appear more luminous. Additionally, choose light-colored flooring materials like light wood or tiles to further brighten up the space.

Making changes in your home may seem obvious, but don’t forget about everything outside your front door. Trim any overgrown trees or bushes that might be blocking sunlight from entering your home.

Advanced Effort: Bust Out the Tools and Hard Hats

If you’re up for something a little more extra, you could go the renovation route and add skylights or sunrooms to your home, especially in areas with limited access to sunlight. These architectural elements bring in an abundance of sunlight, creating a serene and refreshing ambiance.

You could also consider investing in smart home technology that allows you to control your artificial
lighting with ease.

From simple light bulbs controlled via a smartphone app to all new recessed lighting with dimmers, you can switch off lights in areas with ample lighting and reduce your energy consumption.