A bright house exponentially increases the level of living comfort and the state of well-being of those living in it. It is important to design the house in a functional way from the point of view of exposure and the choice of windows and doors; however, if you live in a house with little light, there are several tricks to take.
8 tips to brighten up your home
A dark house has a negative effect on the mood of its residents, as well as giving a perception of being closed in and small spaces. One solution to this is to bring more natural light in the home. This does not require particularly invasive interventions: through proper initial planning and an appropriate choice of accessories and furniture, any living solution can benefit greatly in terms of brightness.
Below are some tips on how to bring more light into the home and make even the darkest spaces bright.
Solutions for a house with little light: the right
Natural light primarily enters through windows. This is why it is necessary to choose windows that allow more light into the rooms. If the house in question has bulky window frames that steal space from the glass alone, the advice is to seriously consider replacing them with more suitable ones.
But which window frames allow more light to enter the house?
In addition to opting for extra-clear glass, it makes sense to choose aluminium frames. One of the countless advantages of aluminium is its solidity and incredible lightness. This makes it possible to create frames with very small sections, thus maximising the glass surface and the resulting solar radiation.
For this reason, when it comes to the brightness of rooms, aluminium is absolutely the best material. It can increase the brightness of rooms by more than 30 per cent compared to other materials commonly used for windows and doors, such as wood and PVC.
Finally, where possible, it is recommended to install skylights on the ceiling, as well as large casement doors or even all-glass curtain walls. The latter is in particular the construction solution that most increases the amount of light entering the house.
How to have more light in the home? With light and transparent curtains
A dark, heavy curtain certainly does not help light to illuminate the rooms of the house, so it is advisable to keep this type of curtain for the sleeping area.
In all other rooms, it is much better to choose more fluid and light, perforated or transparent curtains. In this way, you avoid compromising the brightness of the rooms.
Bringing more light into the home by keeping windows clear and clean
There is often a tendency to overlook a very basic aspect of poor lighting in a room: window cleaning. Especially if you live in a city with a high level of air pollution, window panes can become dirty very easily, covered with a thin layer of dust that makes it more difficult for light to pass through. It is therefore advisable to always ensure that windows are routinely cleaned, all the more so in darker rooms. To help with this task, it can be useful when designing windows and doors to choose glass that has undergone a water-repellent and self-cleaning treatment, and therefore tends to get dirty less frequently.
Similarly, making a dark room brighter is possible simply by removing objects that could obstruct the free passage of natural light. In such cases, it is a good idea to remove any knick-knacks or vases from balconies and to move the various furnishings so that they do not constitute an obstacle to light.
More light in the home giving space
From a structural point of view, where possible, it can be really useful to break down partitions and non-load-bearing walls that serve no specific purpose but, on the contrary, greatly reduce the brightness level of spaces. Open space is a type of room organisation that provides a modern, convivial look to the home, and also makes it exponentially brighter. When it is not possible to knock down a wall, an alternative solution is to build it directly in glass, or to insert glass or glass-cement portions that, although small, increase the passage of light between the different rooms.
Another way to give interior spaces in the home more breathing space is to choose glass when making parapets and balustrades for stairs, balconies or landings. In this case, glass gives spaces a perception of spaciousness and also allows more light to shine through. The final appearance will be that of a home that is not only brighter, but also with more essential and contemporary lines.
Making a dark house brighter with glass doors
A similar effect can partly be achieved by installing glass doors for all or some of the rooms in the house. Even this treatment still makes the rooms brighter and increases the ability of natural light to radiate into the different rooms.
The glass door solution is particularly useful in cases of north-facing rooms, as well as corridors and windowless rooms where the passage of natural light is reduced to a minimum. With glass doors, a more natural look is given to the space and the use of artificial light is saved.
A brighter home with light shades
In addition to the correct choice of windows and doors and the surrounding elements, there are other actions we can take to overcome a poorly-lit house. First of all, it is now well known how light colours are able to ‘open up’ spaces and make rooms brighter. Given the same conditions, size and sunlight, in fact, a room furnished with light colours will seem larger and brighter than one characterised by darker tones.
If the home in question does not have a lot of light, it is advisable to furnish it with tones such as white, beige, light grey or pastel colours. This applies not only to furnishings, but also and more importantly to wall and floor coverings.
In the latter case, you can choose to lay light-coloured parquet or tiles in soft shades. If it is not possible to replace the flooring, the ideal is to choose at least carpets in subtle colours.
Enhancing brightness by playing with mirrors and glossy finishes
Mirrors can be a valuable ally for a brighter environment. When the light outside is dim, a furnishing rich in reflective surfaces could be beneficial. They contribute to a brighter and deeper space.
Installing glass parapets to bring more natural light into the home
Finally, a great way to illuminate a dark room is to use the terrace or balcony. Traditional masonry can be replaced with a glass parapet, either alone or in combination with aluminium. The light will pass through the glass and the room with the balcony will then inevitably be brighter.
The beneficial effects of light on body and mind
We live in an age in which we increasingly live and work in our own homes. If such a house is dark and not very bright, this can have a very negative impact on a person’s psychophysical well-being.
From a purely physical point of view, we need vitamin D for the nervous and immune systems to function at their best. From a psychological point of view, natural light is proven to improve mood and decrease stress levels. Natural light is also necessary for working well, as it increases concentration and productivity.
Finally, the energy factor must also be taken into account. A bright house requires less artificial light and therefore allows considerable savings in electricity.
For all these reasons, understanding how to have more natural light in the home becomes imperative. It all starts with the main source of light for a home – the window. METRA Building‘s product catalogue responds perfectly to this need by offering aluminium windows and doors characterised by their solidity, durability, security, aesthetics and ease of customisation.
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