10 Ideas To Bring More Light Into Your Home This Spring

Spring is finally upon us, and now is the best time to soak up all the sunlight. However, many homes struggle to reopen the paths to light after the winter season. Indeed, winter is a time for cuddling around the fireplace, surrounded by candlelight. 

Now comes spring, and your light needs are changing. The days are growing longer, and you want to create a bright and fresh atmosphere at home. However, you’ve probably noticed that bringing spring colors into your decor is not enough for a brighter home that lets more light through. 

So, if you are struggling to transition from winter to spring light smoothly, here are some ideas to transform your home for the brighter. 

#1. Add a patio

Most people don’t realize the importance of a patio when introducing more natural sunlight at home. Indeed, when you work with a professional landscaping team to install your patio, they will help install a bright design that captures the direct sunlight. 

A patio acts as an open extension to your interior. Therefore, it can already encourage you to spend more time outdoors, soaking up some much-needed vitamin D. Additionally, the patio also creates an open-plan space directly into your front or back yard. Because the building process typically requires clearing up the surface from obstacles, such as shrubs or overgrown lawns, there is naturally more light hitting your house facade. 

#2. Consider lighting solutions in your landscaping project

Spring may be the time of the year when the days are getting longer, but it is also a season marked by clouds and rainy weather. As such, letting more natural light in doesn’t necessarily mean that your home will be bathed by bright sunlight. More often than not, on a cloudy day, your light will appear dim. This can also make your garden feel dark and oppressive, especially if you have a lot of trees and tall structures. When your windows overlook a gloom-looking garden, your interior may also feel a little darker than it actually is. 

Adding landscape lighting into your back or front yard could be a game-changer. Landscape lights can serve many purposes, such as coming on when the weather is gray and dark, but also creating a safe path at night. As said, the days may be growing longer, but there’s still a long way to go before the long and bright summer days and nights. So, adding lighting solutions can completely transform your perception of brightness in the garden!

#3. Sliding glass door

The easiest way to let more light in is to create an opening for the light to come through. Windows can also do so much. A sliding glass door facing your garden can be a life-changing design, naturally inviting the light in. 

However, there are some important considerations when you install a glass door. 

Firstly, a glass door makes it easier for burglars to find access to your property. Therefore, you want to ensure your door stays covered with solid external blinds when you are not at home. 

Secondly, we strongly recommend avoiding this installation in a south-facing room. This would let too much sun and heat through during the summer months. Instead, consider an east, west, or southeast facing location for comfort. 

#4. Trim your trees

There is nothing more exciting than tall trees growing inside your backyard. However, trees can grow quickly and block out the sun’s rays. This can deprive your home of natural light. There’s a delicate balance to maintain with tree trimming. In winter, trees can create an unwelcoming shade that makes your home feel darker and cooler. Yet, in summer, the tree shade can keep away the seasonal heat. 

Working closely with a tree doctor can help achieve the right trimming balance and keep your tree healthy. 

#5. Clear porch canopy

What is a porch canopy? This smart structure is a small roof that is set just above your front door. Depending on your location, you may even have a full porch, including decking. Porches are a fantastic way to build an external living room that is protected from the elements. 

However, most American homeowners fail to consider the impact the porch can have on the brightness of their interior. The porch comes with a roof extension. When you consider the angle at which the sun’s rays hit your windows, you can suddenly understand how this extra bit of roof above the porch can block sunlight. 

Unfortunately, removing the roof is not an option for the porch. As many of us use the porch as a safe delivery spot for all our parcels, the absence of a roof would expose these parcels to theft and rain. Besides, the roof is also crucial in making the porch more welcoming, even when the weather is cold. 

So, instead of a standard roof, you may want to consider a clear roof, which would let the light through. For south-facing porches, it can be a good idea to add an awning to the porch so you can take away some of the harsh summer sun.

#6. Retractable awnings

The addition of retractable awnings is not only useful on your porch. It can be a great improvement for all outdoor spaces, including the patio and even a garden deck. Made-to-measure retractable awnings ensure you can make the most of the natural light without exposing your home to extreme summer temperatures. 

Indeed, maximizing light exposure in spring means that you are at risk of letting too much sunlight through in summer. This will increase your indoor temperature and HVAC needs. Quality awnings can make a big difference by blocking direct sunlight when it is too hot. You can adjust how much light you want to let through, which means you are not only in control of your light exposure but also temperature. 

Another important use for awnings is to place those on south-facing facades even if you don’t have a patio there, as they can help cast a shade onto the wall during July and August heatwaves. 

#7. Glass Palm House

If you are familiar with UK home design, you have probably come across conservatory construction. A conservatory in the UK is the equivalent of a glass palm house in the US, a clear glass or similar material structure that hosts a room within your home. The structure is typically east, west, or north facing to ensure maximum comfortable sun exposure.  

If you have room for a home extension, a glass palm house can be neat addition to your interior decor for many reasons:

• It will let more natural light come through as it is clear on all walls and on the roof. 
• For plant lovers, this is the perfect opportunity to create an indoor garden and grow lush houseplants or even harvest vegetables. As a rule of thumb, greenery will also increase oxygen levels inside your home, making the air fresher. This can also lead to the perception that your indoor is brighter. Houseplants can also help reduce temperatures, so your palm house can become an effective summer heat weapon. 
• An effective structure must also have adjustable blinds so you can manage your sunlight exposure. 

#8. Indoor mirrors

There’s no secret. External light will reach your interior through openings, such as windows. However, north-facing rooms or spaces with limited window openings are less likely to receive sunlight. Compared to the rest of your decor, they could feel a lot darker than they actually are. 

Interior designers are the first to recommend using reflective surfaces to ensure the natural sunlight can travel further into your home. Therefore, adding mirrors and similar surfaces in the path of light can help reach your lesser-sun-exposed areas. 

#9. Skylights

There is no denying that a skylight can completely transform your interior. Skylights offer a new passage for natural light. They serve more than one purpose inside your home. 

Skylights help brighten your interior decor. They are especially helpful in north-facing rooms or rooms that receive little sunlight. 

Skylights can also create additional ventilation, which is why they are often seen in kitchens or under-roof lofts, where the heated air can get stuck. They are also highly effective at reducing humidity levels in areas where excess moisture is present. This can be in the cooking space or in the bathroom. 

#10. Blinds over curtains

There is such a thing as too much light. As light conditions change throughout the year, the last thing you want is to be comfortable inside your home for only a few months at a time. So, it goes without saying, letting more light through in spring will affect your comfort in summer. Similarly, blocking too much light during the hotter months of the year will increase your heating bills in winter. 

There is not one solution that matches your needs all year long. Instead, you need to focus on adjustable systems, such as retractable awnings. When it comes to protecting your windows and managing direct light exposure, you need to think blinds rather than curtains. Blinds are more effective in covering only the glass panels, creating a clean decor. Additionally, many curtains can fully obstruct the light passage, which can make your home appear too dark, even in the middle of a summer day! 

Hopefully, these few ideas can get you started with your brightening spring decor. Remember, letting more light through will only make your home inviting as long as you can manage how much light you want to let in.