The lack of light at home can immediately affect your health and the well-being of the whole family: permanent fatigue, inability to find a place to relax fully, low performance, and recurring vision problems. Time for a change...
Here we share 10 ideas on how to bring more sunshine into your home's interior.
Lighting is essential in interior design, enhancing the feel of the room and space- creating a unique atmosphere. When considering how to use light in your home or project, many ideas come to mind … let’s start with the most apparent: natural light. So, how to bring sufficient sun and daylight through your windows?
Tip #1- Select furniture with pure lines by keeping the overall decoration simple and minimalistic. The key is decluttering your room to let the light travel through the available space! Now what to do with a big dark piece of furniture? … By placing it closer to a window, bathed with natural light, the room will look surprisingly airier and brighter than placed randomly in a dark corner!
Tip #2- Mirrors...The effect of using mirrors to diffuse natural light cannot be overstated! For example, in a room with a small window – place your mirror on the opposite side wall where the natural light comes in. As a result, more light will be reflected, and the room will look more spacious and breezier!
Tip #3- Create a new perspective. For a windowless bathroom or a dark hallway, sublimate the space by opening the wall overlooking a room with natural light and installing a new Industrial Steel window. Creating a new window is an excellent option to connect two functional rooms, for example, a home office to a living room or a bathroom to a master bedroom.
Tip #4- Transom window. Another architectural way to add natural light is to add a transom window between two rooms or above an existing window or door. Unlike steel windows, a transom window placed high enough on a wall will keep your privacy and open space to new light.
Tip #5- Zenithal lighting- Introduce light from above - Roof lanterns allow you to brighten your home altogether, maximizing the height of the ceiling. They are a great addition to a new
dining area or kitchen.
Luminous efficiency related to natural and artificial lighting is essential to maximizing your overall lighting experience.
Alternative sources for natural light or to improve it at night, placing lamps in a strategic position in your home is the key to enhancing our perception of space, defining both volumes and colors.
Tip #6- Artificial lights We highly recommend multiplying alternative sources of artificial lightning:
-Indirect lighting Suspension lamps illuminating an entire room provide soft and uniform light. Mixing several suspension lamps of various sizes, colors, and materials is ideal for making your lounge area stands out!
-Direct lighting Wall sconces, adjustable wall art lamps, architectural LED, or directional up-downlight will enhance your room’s feel making it cozy and inviting. Placing a light above a painting or unique decoration object will create a new focal point, making your vision travel instantly between the lighted zones, procuring a feeling of space and well-being despite the absence of natural light.
Earlier, having discussed the importance of placing mirrors close to natural light, they are also essential for the diffusion of artificial light! Two mirrors facing each other or near a lamp reflect the light toward the center of the room. Then, at the foot of a mirror, a few candles of different sizes or heights will bring this extra warm light into your room’s darkest space.
Tip #7- The importance of Materials. Metal accents, glass, or a glossy finish work amazingly to reflect the light! Likewise, choosing stainless-steel appliances for a kitchen with dark cabinets will bring the effect you are looking for!
Tip #8- Painting your walls to diffuse a good light- Light-colored walls tend to enlarge the perceived space while bringing clarity to your home. Before repainting your walls, try the chosen paint on a small surface to verify the result, as any selected color might look different, reflecting the character and conditions of the walls. Remember, the final result might look different under a bright morning light, a gloomy late afternoon, or simply at night with all the lamps switched on! – Adjust the color tone to your preferences until you find the perfect match!
Tip #9- Focus on the curtains. Get rid of your dark and heavy curtains or choose darker colors with parsimony as they absorb the light rather than reflect it. Lighter linen curtains are a good solution for lighting your window and diffusing light into the room. In addition, repainting the window frame in a fresh creamy color improves the overall lighting experience.
Tip #10- All about brightness! How much light do we need for a room? Below you will find some standards to guide your choices:
Rooms Light intensity
Bedroom 25-50 lux Warm white
Living, dining, kitchen, bedroom, office 100-150 lux Warm white
Office, Library, kids’ bedroom, gaming room. 200-250 lux Neutral white
Office, workshop, corridors, and halls 350-500 lux Cool white
The calculation is as follows:
Lumens= Lux × m2
Lumens = Total amount of light emitted in all directions.
Lux = Measure of illuminance that falls on a surface.
A 10m2 hall requires 500 Lux
Lumens = 500x10
Total 5.000 Lumens
A selected LED spot brings 350 lumens/m2.
350x10=3500 lumen
5.000/3.500= 1.43
We need two spots to light the 10m2 hall.
Well-lit rooms assure a warm and inviting atmosphere. Therefore, lighting is one of the main aspects of any interior design project. Although it seems obvious, I can only recall the importance of rethinking the lighting room by room after each modification made to your interior, whether it is a modification in the functionality of a room, the purchase of a new piece of furniture, or adding a unique decorative object to your interiors.
So, don’t wait longer; let the sun make your entire HOME shine!
We would love to hear about your experience! Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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