Everyone loves natural light. Increasing sunlight in your home is a great way to benefit your health and mood, but what’s the best way to maximize it? Today we’ll learn how to use assets like windows and skylights to maximize natural light with remodeling.
The Benefits Increasing Natural Light with Remodeling
Natural Light can help attune your circadian rhythm. This balances your cortisol levels, which can reduce inflammation, and keep blood pressure at healthy levels. A proper circadian rhythm can also increase sleep quality at night. During the day, sunlight can maximize energy, and increase productivity. Overall, increasing natural light with remodeling can contribute to better health.
Installing Windows
Windows are certainly the most straight-forward way to increase natural light with remodeling. They certainly aren’t the cheapest, or the most flexible way, however, especially when you consider placement. It’s also worth considering that poorly sealed windows can let in heat during summer, making the choice of a contractor critical.
Window Location
Strategic window placement is crucial for maximizing lighting in a room. Positioning windows on south-facing walls captures ample sunlight throughout the day. Utilizing larger windows or adding them higher up on walls can optimize light diffusion, reducing harsh shadows and illuminating interiors more effectively.
Installing Sky Lights
Skylights offer a great way to brighten spaces by directly bringing in natural light from above. They’re particularly effective in rooms where conventional windows aren’t practical due to limited wall space or privacy concerns. Skylights can evenly distribute sunlight, enhancing the ambiance and visual appeal of interiors, especially in attics or bathrooms.
Sky Tubes
Sun tubes, also known as solar tubes or light pipes, differ from skylights in their design and function. Sun tubes are cylindrical tubes that capture sunlight from the roof and direct it into interiors through reflective surfaces, providing soft, diffuse illumination.
Sun tubes excel where conventional skylights may not be feasible due to space constraints or structural limitations. Their compact design allows for installation in smaller areas such as bathrooms, closets, or hallways. Additionally, sun tubes can minimize heat loss and glare while still providing ample natural light, making them an efficient lighting solution for many spaces.
Maximizing Window Impact
Maximizing natural light with remodeling comes down to more than just windows and skylights. There are various tricks you can use to get the most out existing natural light sources. often with less cost and greater versatility.
Clearing Obstructions
Obstructions can reduce the light that comes through windows and skylights. Furniture, cabinetry, and other decor can block windows, and minimize light. Objects outside windows can also obstruct light. This could range from bushes and trees to gazebos, or another building. To increase interior light you can remove these obstructions. Alternatively, you can keep these potential obstacles in mind when planning the placement of a window.
Light Tones
Lighter tones can help propagate existing light more effectively. This is particularly useful if light is too harsh, as lighter colors can help spread hard light throughout a room.
Mirrors can have a similar effect to light tones. Placing a mirror opposite a window can help bounce light around, creating a brighter, more spacious environment.
Ambient Artificial Light
While artificial light may be necessary for later hours of night, they can still contribute to a healthy circadian rhythm. Making artificial lights dim, soft, and warm can simulate the natural lighting of the sunset. By distinguishing daytime lighting from nighttime lighting you can help signal your body to wind-down for bed. This can help preserve a good sleep schedule, and improve sleep quality.
Blue light filters on electronics can also help create a better sleeping environment before bed. This is because blue light signals daytime, throwing your circadian rhythm off balance.
Incorporating natural light into your home with remodeling is a great way to improve your mood and sleep. Windows and skylights can help introduce daylight, light tones and mirror can help distribute this light. Warm, ambient artificial light then helps wind things down for bed, ensuring a properly adjusted circadian rhythm.