Flooding your house with natural light not only saves on electricity bills but it also creates a warm and inviting home. When your home is the place you spend a lot of time indoors, you want it to be comfortable – natural light could be the solution.
When you find yourself stuck inside, whether it’s because you are working from home or the weather is miserable outside, great sources of light keep your home feeling bright and warm. It also makes you feel better, as well as potentially increasing the value of your home.
Here are some reasons why you should consider improving the natural light in your home.
Natural light sources
Doors and windows are traditional sources of natural lighting, and when used effectively they will emit diffused natural light as opposed to attracting direct sunlight on surfaces or into your eyes. Natural lighting indoors comes from three sources:
Direct sunlight: Direct sunlight or bright light refers to sunlight in which the path of light from the sun to your space is a straight line.
External reflection: Light reflecting off the ground or surfaces, adjacent buildings, shelves, and windowsills is referred to as external reflection. Excessive external reflection in a home is undesirable as it causes glare.
Internal reflection: Light reflecting off of internal walls, mirrors, and glossy surfaces around a room is known as internal reflection.
Natural lighting benefits
There are many benefits to embrace natural light in your home, including impacting your overall health. Here are a few key reasons why you should bring more natural light into your house:
Saves energy and money
One of the most obvious benefits of natural lighting is that it can reduce energy consumption and the costs associated. Having a space that is well-lit with natural light means that your house retains more heat and brightens a room without the need for electricity, saving you precious dollars on bills come times like winter!
Increases focus and concentration
Being exposed to natural light in the morning and late afternoon has been shown to increase concentration and focus. A naturally lit space will help you to be more productive (great for those working from home) and gives you more energy to perform daily tasks.
Keeps you healthy
The natural lighting provides numerous health benefits. Research has shown that exposure to natural daylight can reduce blood pressure, boost the immune system, reduce eye strain and vision problems brought on by artificial light sources, and increase vitamin D levels for healthy bones and muscles.
Gives the illusion of a bigger, cleaner space
If you have a smaller home/apartment or living area, encouraging more natural light inside can give off the illusion of more space. This effect is amplified by the presence of light-coloured furnishings and decor along with reflective surfaces such as mirrors and polished benchtops.
Adds to your home value
Ample windows and natural sunlight can increase the value of your home. Increased natural light makes a home, apartment or rental space appear bigger and more open. When buyers or tenants come to view your property, a bright and inviting space is more likely to catch their eye than a cold, dimly lit space. If you have beautiful natural views, windows and natural lighting can be the biggest selling point of all.
Improves sleep
Exposure to natural sunlight helps regulate the hormones responsible for our circadian rhythm. Studies have shown that getting more sunlight during the day helps to improve sleep and sleep quality at night. So not only is your home benefitting from a visual perspective, but you can actually feel the benefits of maximising the natural light within your space.
Tip to add and improve natural lighting
If you are building a new home, or getting the builders in to make some renovations, this is a great opportunity to maximise natural light in each space. Not only will you benefit from everything we have discussed so far, but it can increase the likelihood of selling your home.
Many homes were not built with natural light in mind. If that is the case, you may be left wondering how to bring that light into your home. Here are a few easy steps to consider:
- Get rid of anything obstructing windows (outdoor shade blinds, furniture, heavy draperies)
- Paint interior window frames and eaves white to help increase sunlight reflection
- Paint interior walls and ceilings white to further reflect natural light back into your room
- If you are wondering how to style your living room to attract more light, get rid of the heavy draperies. Choose blinds that let in more sunlight (such as Venetian blinds, plantation shutters, and sheer roller blinds)
- Strategically place mirrors or reflective furnishings to boost internal reflection
- Clean windows to allow in as much light as possible
- Install ceiling skylights to bring in more consistent light in dark rooms
- Consider glass blocks or mirrored splashbacks in bathrooms and kitchens
- Add an indoor/outdoor living space for a year-round light-filled space to entertain family and guests in
LJ Hooker is here to help
Natural lighting indoors has the potential to increase the resale value of a house if you are planning on selling or renovating, therefore making it a key consideration when both assessing a home’s worth and attracting a bigger pool of buyers.
The team at LJ Hooker is here to assist you. Whether it is styling your home to maximise natural light or preparing your home for sale. We offer you experience alongside excellent market knowledge that helps make the property process as smooth and as successful as possible. Find an agent or book a free property appraisal for advice on how to style your home to sell making the most of natural light.
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