Does your home have tons of south-facing windows that douse your rooms in bright sunlight? Like any other architectural detail, you have to take advantage of these openings to make your house as gorgeous and functional as possible. While sunlight is generally looked at as a great aspect of any home, it does impact how rooms look. To ensure this impact is a positive one, you must make sunlight work for you and not the other way around. Rather than being frustrated with overly bright or super dim rooms, you can utilize interior design tricks to either diffuse or boost the sun rays entering your space.
Need some helpful tips to maximize natural lighting and get the most out of this special detail in your space? We’re here to deliver!
7 Ideas for Boosting Natural Light
Let’s shine a spotlight on 7 different ways to enhance your home’s existing sunlight:
1. Consider Your Room’s Direction
First things first, you should be aware of what direction each of the windows in your home faces and use it to your advantage. For example, if you have a home office with a west-facing window, your window screens will have major glare in the late afternoon. That means you’ll want the right window treatment so you can keep being productive, even when three o’clock rolls around. On the other hand, if you have a north-facing window, you get pretty consistent indirect light, meaning you won’t have to worry about the room being bright enough.
2. Match Drapery With Your Needs and Existing Decor
Your drapery can be the biggest design enhancer, especially if you want to maximize and control daylight. The type of fabric affects the drapery’s appearance, but it also changes the functionality of the piece. Fabrics like cotton and linen are perfect for creating a casual, relaxed environment, while satin and velvet level up a room and give it a more formal look. The thickness also impacts functionality. For bright rooms, you’ll want light-filtering options, whereas sheer shades work great for dimmer rooms that need all the sunlight they can get.
Outside of functionality, you should choose your style of window treatment based on your existing room aesthetic, making sure the space works cohesively. For instance, a nice beige linen set looks amazing in a Scandinavian or minimalist home and a pastel floral pattern works wonders with shabby chic or farmhouse design. On the other hand, traditional homes call for rich and elegant drapes with swag valances and pinch pleats.
3. Pick Light-Reflective Colors
Your walls can be any shade of the rainbow, really. But if you want to improve the natural light in each room, it’s best to pick reflective colors like whites, pastels, beiges or yellows. White creates the most reflective surface, making your space feel extra clean, open and bright. For rooms that have minimal windows and struggle to get the right amount of rays, these shades can maximize what light does come in.
4. Utilize Metallic Surfaces
Similar to paint color, decor and furniture can also magnify the sun’s glow. Try hanging up a large mirror across from windows to reflect daylight around the space. Also, glossy surfaces like metal picture frames, shiny furniture and other decor can bounce illumination, helping the house feel brighter and leaning into a biophilic finish.
5. Face Furniture Toward Windows
This one may seem obvious, but don’t block your windows with furniture. Rather, have the windows act as a focal point for your fixtures to work around. In your bedroom, face your bed on the wall catty-corner to the window to have gentle sun rays wake you up in the morning. Or, in your living room, put all the large furniture perpendicular to the windows so the light can fully enter the space.
6. Install Skylights in Dim Rooms
For rooms that could use some extra sun, a skylight is the perfect solution. This design choice works well for bathrooms and kitchens that often get stuck with minimal windows and dim lighting. What better way to improve the natural light while also making the rooms feel even more luxurious? And you can include a remote-control shade for when you want a low-light look.
7. Opt for Doors With Windows
Whether you have a house with lots of doors or only have a couple, selecting ones that have transom windows or window panes built in can allow peak amounts of light through. And, if you’re blessed with a back patio, deck or sunroom, glass doors can enable ample natural light indoors. The whole point is to utilize design fixes to make the most of natural illumination so you don’t have to rely on just artificial lighting — even if it’s a statement piece.
How Natural Lighting Boosts Your Space
Having sunny rooms doesn’t just look great — it also offers several health and mood benefits, including:
- Improves mood and mental health.
- Enhances aesthetic appeal.
- Boosts energy efficiency.
- Supports better sleep.
- Promotes physical health.
- Increases property value.
- Improves productivity.
- Reduces mold and mildew.
Decorate BEAUTIFULLY with Erika Lee!
Transforming your home should feel exciting, not overwhelming. With Erika Lee, a professional interior designer with Decorating Den Interiors, you’ll have a trusted partner who can guide you through every detail of the design process. From selecting the perfect colors to balancing natural and artificial light, Erika ensures your home is both functional and stunning.
When you schedule a design consultation, Erika takes the time to get to know you, your lifestyle, and your design goals. She’ll work within your budget and timeline to create a personalized plan that reflects your style. To bring your vision to life, Erika provides a custom mood board so you can clearly see how everything will come together before moving forward.
Once your design is approved, you can relax while Erika handles the details—sourcing, ordering, and overseeing installation, so your only job is to enjoy your newly designed space.
contact us today at (513) 304-9105 to get started with bringing in natural light into your space!
Decorating Den Interiors – Erika Lee proudly serves Cincinnati, Anderson, Maineville, Mason, Morrow, Clermont County, Northern Kentucky, Newport, KY, Alexandria, KY, Fort Thomas, KY, Newtown, Batavia, Loveland, Symmes Township, Cold Spring, KY, Hamilton County, Milford, OH, Eastgate, OH, Liberty Township, OH, Montgomery, OH, Sharonville, OH, Lebanon, OH, Blue Ash, OH, Kenwood, OH, Madeira, OH, New Albany, OH, Dublin, OH and surrounding areas.
