Enhancing decor with natural light

Natural lighting is one of the best decorating options available. Most homes have windows and if at all possible, skylights are perfect for getting the natural light in. The beauty of using natural light to enhance decor is that it is free and all you need to do is to take advantage of it.

The first thing you need to do in any room is to access how much natural light you have available. This requires removing all window coverings and seeing how you can get the light into the room and still maintain the level of privacy that you want.

You can increase the natural lighting in your home many ways. The first is to add skylights. f Of course, this is not free but can turn a dark and closed-in room into one that is filled with light. Not all rooms are conducive to adding skylights however if you have an attic above a first-floor room, skylights can go through both floors.

Solar tubes are another way to add a lot of natural light to your rooms. We have them in our Florida home and it is wonderful. We keep trying to turn off the lights during the day, and of course, they are not on, it is the solar tubes. 

Windows can have a lot of wood on them, this blocks some of the natural light, and you may want to replace your windows with ones that are full glass.  Replacing a single door with sliding glass doors can also bring a lot of natural light into a room. Another option that is not as expensive is to replace solid interior doors with French doors thus letting in a lot more light.

Once you have let all the  natural light possible, it is time to use that light. White is the most reflective color when it comes to light. Using white for the walls of a room will reflect the light that you have to the best advantage. Another natural way to use light in a room is with mirrors. Strategically placed they will reflect the sunlight that comes into the room. If white is too much for you most light colors will work almost as well.

When it comes to window coverings that allow for the most natural light, you will need to leave the windows uncovered during the day or use the sheerest of window coverings. To maintain your privacy you can use drapes that can be drawn back in the day time and pulled closed at night.

Shades also work well as long as they don’t block out the light when you want it but provide privacy when you want it. There are shades which allow light to come through but from the exterior cannot be seen through. These are pricey but are a perfect solution.

Natural light is a wonderful addition to a room. It is softer than artificial light and can add the warmth you are looking for. When it comes to home decor, natural light is a very good thing.