Clever ways to enhance the natural light in your home

Enhancing the natural light in your space improves your daily life.

Alumil Team

Updated 28/08/2023

4’ read

A bedroom with white curtains, white walls, white doors and wooden floor.

Natural light has a very positive effect on a room, it improves the mood and... it's free! Its enhancement is beneficial and, apart from the clear benefits, it contributes to a daily life with lower energy consumption, which is valuable in an era of energy insecurity.

There are ways to enhance natural light in a room. Below are some useful examples that, if implemented, can have excellent results.

Brighter colours on the walls

If you think that the colour of your wall does not play a major role in natural lighting, you may want to reconsider, as each colour we choose has a Light Reflectance Value, which determines how much it reflects or absorbs the light it receives. The brighter the colour we choose, the higher this indicator goes up (e.g. white is at 100%) and therefore, the light falling on our wall is diffused to the rest of the room.

The furniture factor

The furniture of the house also plays an important role in how bright it is. First of all, it would be good to assess whether your furniture takes up more space than it should based on the square footage of your home. This is important, as a space that is "drowned" by furniture "gives off" a more suffocating feeling, seems smaller and therefore darker. Furthermore, choosing more minimal furniture in brighter shades is sure to help. Finally, a kitchen in white will give a sense of purity to the space and will significantly enhance the diffusion of natural light.

Minimal frames for more light

Your windows, together with their glass, are the most important gateways to natural light. To increase its levels in the space, it is of major importance to choose frames with thin profiles, which favour the unobstructed passage of more light. Modern aluminium energy efficient systems are ideal for this, as they combine minimal design (so minimal visible aluminium) with a high performance. If you are thinking of replacing your old frames and you have as your priority sufficient natural lighting, then aluminium frames are a one-way street.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Mirrors, apart from their aesthetic value and practical use, reflect light, making a room look brighter and larger. You can place them anywhere, but it is best to choose a window in your living room and place a mirror opposite it. You will soon find that this small change will improve the natural light levels in the room and give it a touch of class and style.

A tidy space always wins

Is clutter related to how bright a space looks? In fact, it is. Because, severe clutter, things that are haphazardly placed or lack of storage space automatically make a space feel smaller and make it difficult for natural light to diffuse. Therein lies the value of so-called decluttering.

Find storage boxes, place scattered books and magazines on shelves, add extra hangers for jackets and coats, tidy up any clothes that are in places where they shouldn't be and - perhaps most importantly - start throwing away items that have been "set up camp" for a long time in the rooms of your home without any particular reason for being there. Give your space a breather and it will give you a sense of calm and, of course, more light.

Natural light for a better mood

A well-lit and naturally lit space reflects a sense of calm and significantly improves the mood of those living in it. After all, it is no coincidence that sunlight helps increase serotonin, a chemical that affects the balance of mood, appetite and memory among other things. Make small or large changes to enhance natural lighting, and you'll definitely notice a boost in your mood, positively affecting your overall well-being.