The one resource that interior designers love but cannot control is the sun. There’s nothing nicer than having gentle soft light moving across a room throughout the day. But it’s also true to say that unless there are interior designers with superpowers we don’t know about, the positioning of the sun and the imposition of the weather cannot be controlled.
This can be very noticeable if you have an otherwise beautiful living room, perhaps even lit well, that isn’t functioning as capably as it could be. Artificial light can look beautiful if achieved right, but there’s almost nothing as nice as when this is complemented by sunlight.
Perhaps the sky is grey and you have little to work with in the day regardless, or maybe the angle of the house means light just doesn’t penetrate the windows very far. Most living rooms are on the ground floor, which also means you’re limited in how exposed you can be. Either way, there are some handy techniques you can use to provide more structural inflow of sunlight:
Sunroofs
If your living room is in a one-storey part of the house, you have a great opportunity in sunroofs. What makes sunroofs so effective is they bring in light from above, often three times more brightness than a similarly sized vertical window. That means the light travels deeper into your space. Designers often place them carefully above seating areas or in central spaces where that splash of natural light can help flood the room but not add glare or direct sunlight.
If you’re worried about overheating in summer, don’t worry, because the newer options come with tinting, blinds, or even smart glass that adjusts its transparency based on light levels. They’re also easier to install than you may imagine at first glance.
Back French Doors
Having UPVC French doors can be great if your living room follows out into your back garden. These full-height glass doors create a wall of light that really expands how much light is let in while also giving you another doorway. That can be safer from an evacuation point too. You also see more of the outside, meaning the entire space feels more expansive.
What many homeowners discover after installing French doors is how dramatically they change the feel of a room throughout different seasons, not just in summer. In winter, low-angle sunlight will stream in to really add a sense of calm and beauty, especially if it snows.
Bay Windows
Bay windows push your living space outward to capture more light, so if you have space, they can be a wonderful investment. That also gives your room a small alcove that extends further from your home’s main wall, which of course can help sunlight enter from multiple angles rather than just head-on. They increase the home’s value for a reason. It also means the angled side panels catch the early morning and late afternoon light that would otherwise miss your room entirely. It’s a really nice place to read if you make a good seating spot here with comfortable cushions, too.
With this advice, your living room is sure to stand out as intended, with as much natural light as can be welcomed.
