Mirrors reflect light, so the more mirrors you have in a room, the more light will bounce from wall to wall! Hang mirrors opposite windows or glass doors to maximize the natural light in your room.
Angie's How To Increase Your Home's Natural Light
Difficulty:
Time: 30 Minutes
If your living room receives cave-like natural light, you're going to be flicking those light switches a lot. When you turn on the lights, you use electricity – and that costs money! Save a little cash and reduce your energy usage by increasing your home's natural light. Plus, you'll get a mood boost from all of that vitamin D!
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1USE MIRRORS
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Tip: Buy furniture with glass panels or mirrored accents.
2PAINT WITH LIGHT COLORS
Light colors reflect sunlight better than dark ones, so a wall painted in cool tones (like gray, cream or eggshell blue) will boost the natural light in the room.
3MOVE FURNITURE
Unless you have some kind of translucent plastic theme going on, your furniture is blocking natural light! Move furniture at least a few feet away from any windows or glass doors so you can let the light shine in.
4DITCH THE HEAVY FABRIC CURTAINS
It's important to have drapes and curtains, but they don't need to be made from heavy fabrics like velvet or brocade (which will make the room feel darker and smaller). Try linen or cotton, instead!
5CHANGE THE DOOR
If you have a solid, exterior door in your dark room, replace it with a door that has a window. If you're worried about burglary, you can find glass doors at your local hardware store that have high-security glass.
6CHOOSE THE RIGHT SHADES
Some shades, like Roman shades, block sunlight even when they're open! Unless you're trying to keep glare off of a TV, this isn't a great choice for darker rooms. Instead, opt for blinds that let you better control the amount of light that comes in.
7ADD A SKYLIGHT
This is a pricey option up-front, but because a skylight can help naturally heat a room, it could save you boatloads on your electricity bill over time! If you're ready to take the plunge and add a skylight to a room, hire a contractor for the job – don't try this one yourself!