How to Get More Light for Your Living Room
When purchasing a new house, not everything can always go the way we imagine it. You need to priorities in order to be able to compromise. Do not look at what a house is at this moment, but look at the house’s potential and what you can do with it. If you have to sacrifice a well-lit living room for an extra bedroom, so be it. There are ways of improving the lighting and they are much easier than building an extra room.
Think glossy
Any glossy surfaces you can find will help you maximize the use of the existing natural light and make your living space seem brighter. The first, and most obvious choice is mirrors. You can place a large mirror opposite your windows and let it reflect the light throughout the room. If opposite does not work for you, placing it anywhere in the room will still be better than going without it. Any furniture with glossy finishes will help you light up space. You can have a glass side table with metallic details. You should hang wall art made out of metals, glass or mirrors.
Adding windows
“This room needs more windows” is probably the first thing you had said upon entering your new living room. If the layout of the room and the build of the house allows it, you can knock down some walls and install new windows. When doing this, make sure you consider the style and type of windows used in the rest of the house, particularly if you live in a historical house.
TDD
A tubular daylight device is a perfect solution for those who do not have an option of adding more windows. These are tubes running from your roof and into your living room, bringing the light. They are said to be more effective than the regular skylights as the tube itself is using a system of transparent domes which capture light coming from all angles. When it comes to your room, they will not use up more ceiling space than a regular light fixture. The plus side is that they are well insulated and thus energy-efficient.
Adding a skylight
Even though the tubes take up less space and capture more light, skylights are always a very romantic feature. The trouble with them is that your living room needs to be directly below the roof in order for you to be able to make one. You should be careful and buy a good quality skylight and hire top-quality people to set it up, as it is practically a hole in your roof. Doing otherwise could expose you to great energy losses and potential leaks.
Consider your décor
How to Get More Light for Your Living Room
Apart from the actual sources of light every room needs, the actual décor of a room also plays a great role. If you want to keep a room bright, you should paint it white or any other neutral light color. This way, your walls will reflect the light rather than absorb it. Your paint should be matte and not glossy as matt paint distributes the light evenly. There should be nothing in the way between you and the daylight. Remove any thick window treatments and place something see-through. Do not use large pieces of art which do not reflect the light in rooms that already have issues with little light. Do not cover the wall opposite your windows in furniture or shelves as they will stop the light from spreading further once it hits them, place them on the perpendicular walls.
Light fixtures
The living room is probably a part of your home you use the most and at all times of a day. This is why it is important for you to embrace the concept of layered light. It will help you set the right mood regardless of what time it is or the occasion. Adding small lamps, as well as floor lamps and ceiling light fixtures will help you achieve this. The recommended type of ceiling fixtures would be the one where the bulb itself is facing upward and reflects the light of the ceiling.
Making a conservatory
Consider building an extension to your living room in the form of a conservatory. Nothing will keep your lounge area better lit than making half of its walls out of glass. Not only that it is practical but it is also very decorative. Make sure, however, that the greenery you plant does not cover most of the windows. If built properly, conservatories can help you harvest the energy of the sun and keep your living room warmer in the winter. On the other hand, they may be a bit of a challenge in the summer so Climacool suggests fitting an AC unit into the room to keep the temperature and the humidity levels optimal.
Using doors
A simple description of a door is an object you use to block a hole in the wall people use to enter rooms. However, there is no rule to say that it should also block the light. Using glass doors will allow the light from other rooms to enter your living room. If there isn’t much light coming from inside of your house, you can still use it as an excellent reflective surface. Stained glass is a good way of preserving your privacy while adding light.
Unless you are Batman you will not enjoy living in a cave. I am sure you will find the tips useful when considering the ways of improving your home. Looking at the moods of those who live in it, a happy home is a well-lit one. After all, the light is the source of life.
