5 Ways to Add Natural Light in Homes
Achieving natural light in your living space is undoubtedly something worth striving for. After all, who wouldn’t love the warm presence of sunshine in their home after a cold night or a long winter? Besides enhancing one’s mood, natural light in homes also cuts energy costs and enhances your health.
Over time, many potential homebuyers in the Vail Valley have realized the benefits of incorporating natural light in their homes. And it is now a crucial consideration for individuals and families when acquiring or building a new home. The countless benefits of natural light make incorporating it into your remodel or custom home well worthwhile.
Your Go-To Solution for Custom Design and Build Needs in the Vail Valley
At Kasia Karska Design, we use our unmatched knowledge in designing unique environments and spaces. We take pride in delivering consistent expertise and quality service to our clients, including second or third homeowners in the Vail Valley.
Let’s look at five ways to add natural light to your home:
1. Your Windows and Doors
Incorporating large windows and glass doors allows light to fill the space naturally. Whether building a custom home or remodeling, we often incorporate expansive and oftentimes floor-to-ceiling windows and doors to bring the outdoors in. And, adding additional windows in the right places can help maximize the light flow within the home. Here are two approaches regarding windows worth your consideration:
- Large Windows:
If you are wanting to install new windows or doors, take that opportunity to expand their openings for enhanced illumination. Window manufacturers now use advanced technology that caters to custom minimalist frameworks, allowing for additional glass surface area. This same technology can be applied to new builds in order to incorporate large windows and doors into your custom home.
We’re big fans of picture windows and you can blend operable with fixed units. We strive to select options for our clients that encourage better light penetration and ventilation. - Transom and Clerestory Windows:
You may also try stacking radius or transom windows on top of your French doors or old standard windows. Some also prefer their sidelight counterparts flanking the door sides.
On the other hand, clerestory windows are installed above sightlines, high on the walls. That’s their selling point, as they hardly compromise privacy while still allowing tons of light to penetrate the room.
2. Be Intentional with Your Color Palette
Introduce lighter colors to your walls by banishing statement wallpaper and dark block colors (in areas where you’re craving more light) in favor of soft shades of whites and/or lighter neutrals. Softer, lighter color choices will make a space feel brighter as they reflect the natural light entering the room, rather than absorbing it. (White reflects the most light, but it’s not always the best color choice for the design. And lighter color tones that are not white can still achieve great results when brightening up a room and seeking out more natural light.)
Along with the paint on your walls, your furniture and décor can also be light in color to help capture more light in a room. Remove dark furniture and accessories wherever you can, particularly if they are blocking light from windows and doors. Also, pay attention to blinds and curtains, as heavy, dark window treatments can block light from entering.
3. Mirrors and Reflective Surfaces
When it comes to your paint, gloss determines the light reflectance—the glossier the paint, the more light reflection produced. In simpler terms, you can employ paint with a reasonable gloss level on your walls if you are trying to achieve more light in that room and see them achieve a mirror-like effect.
Also, be sure to add furniture and accessories with a reflective surface. Light fixtures, mirrors, cabinet pulls, and much more can all help to make the most of the light available and add a stylish touch throughout your home.
4. Utilizing Vaastu Shastra
In order to get the best flow of natural light from sunrise to sunset, we utilize Vaastu Shastra to orient custom homes. If the home is positioned appropriately on the lot, natural light is easier to capture and utilize. Vaastu Shastra is all about the planning stages and working with someone familiar with this Eastern design principle will allow a custom home to be positioned at its best. Our design team utilizes both Feng Shui and Vaastu Shastra principles to help design more harmonious homes, and we apply these principles to various architectural styles and layout practices to suit your unique needs.
5. Keep Windows and Doors Clean
Above all, washing your windows and glass doors regularly, inside and out, will maximize the natural light in your home. It may seem simple, but you want the maximum amount of sunlight to filter through these panes. You’d be shocked to see how quickly they can become dirty and block out those warm rays you’re craving.
Wrapping Up
Having a home with natural light is every homeowner’s dream. And, you only need to make strategic architectural and design choices for your custom home or remodel project in order to achieve this dream.
Consulting a professional designer and custom home builder like Kasia Karska Design for creative ideas is an excellent starting point.
Why Choose Us?
When it comes to increasing natural light in a space, Kasia Karska Design not only provides all the design services, but we’ll be your general contractor during the construction phase, as well. Working with us from the ground up ensures that each goal, including adding natural light to a home, doesn’t get lost in translation.
We know that you have a choice when you select a Colorado home designer and builder. The entire Kasia Karska Design team is dedicated to helping you get the home you’ve always wanted and to help you craft your own personal sanctuary in the process. Your satisfaction is our top priority.
We welcome any clients in need of our design-build services in the Vail Valley and beyond. Nothing should stop you from achieving the home of your dreams. If you’d like more information about our process or how we can help you create your dream home, contact us today!