This post is sponsored by Kloeber. All thoughts and opinions are my own – full disclosure policy here.
Home is the place where we are most happy. It’s the place where we walk into after a long day, and breathe a sigh of relief and are thankful to be in our own space. “Home” means, and looks, different for everyone. I know for me, home is bright, yet cozy. It means natural light and warmth pouring in, as I sit and watch my son play with his toys.
Did you know that natural light is considered a “must-have” feature when buying a home? It was in fact something that was a must-have for us when we were looking for our first home. I absolutely crave natural light and find that it lifts my mood up just walking into a bright room. A lot of natural light can also make a space seem brighter and appear bigger. Of course, it also makes for great photography (a bonus for me, being a blogger!).
I am so happy with the house we bought, but I did have to compromise on natural light a bit, as I’ve found that there isn’t as much throughout the entire house as I would like. However, there are parts of the house that do let in loads of natural light that I absolutely love, like our conservatory. And I haven’t let the lack of light get to me because I know it’s not a FOREVER problem. That is something that we can change. As first-time home buyers, we know that there are home renovations in the future and things that will need to be updated as time goes on. There are so many ways of bringing more natural light into your home, and some of the updates planned will do just that.
I thought I’d run through some of the different ways in which you can bring more natural light into your home.
Paint your walls with a lighter colour.
Painting your walls with a lighter colour, like whites and beiges for example, is a great place to start. I’ve learned that natural light reflects more off lighter walls, making a room brighter. Giving a fresh coat of light coloured paint can make even the darkest, small room appear more open and bright.
Invest in new doors and windows.
Obviously not a quick fix, but if you have the budget consider installing new doors and windows. Kloeber, a bespoke glazing company, offer door and window solutions that would definitely solve the problem. Replacing old, smaller windows with new, larger ones, or perhaps adding bifold doors (which are VERY popular) are just some options that can bring more light into a dark room.
Clean your windows.
It seems like the simplest thing, but it can really make a difference in the amount of light coming through your windows! Make sure you clean not only the inside, but the outside of your windows as well. When finally clearing out our conservatory to make the playroom, there was so much dirt and grime caked on the windows it’s a wonder that any light got through. Having clean windows will let as much light filter in as possible.
Consider a rooflight.
Going down the home improvement route again, adding a rooflight will bring the most amount of nautral light into a room. Yes updates like these and new windows are an investment, but it’s worth noting that they can also increase the value of your home in the long run. If, like us, you know you will eventually be moving on to a new house in the future, it’s definitely something to keep in mind!
Fake it.
If home renovation isn’t quite within your reach at the moment, be creative. You can add mirrors in a room for the light to reflect off of or add a light rug. Also, be strategic about your lighting; incorporate floor and table lamps in addition to any overhead lighting to even distribute artificial light.
Whether it’s updating windows or painting your walls with the brightest colour you can find, there are so many options that can help you achieve a bright, inviting home. Have you implemented any of these tips and tricks? Have a few hacks of your own? Let me know in the comments below!
xx Lauren
