6 Ways to Maximize Natural Light to Complement Your LEDs

Despite the incredible advancements made in artificial lighting—such as the development of energy-efficient LED light bulbs—when it comes right down to it, nothing beats pure, natural sunlight to illuminate your [city] home.

Unfortunately, if you have only a few windows in every room of your home, there may not be a lot you can do to bring in more sunlight, not unless you’re ready for a major home renovation. Still, if you’re low on natural light, there are a number of little things you can do to maximize what little sunlight is entering your house.

Read on to find out how…

1. Use Mirrors to Your Advantage

If you want to “spread” the natural light entering your home through the windows, mirrors are your best friends. You can position a large mirror opposite a window to reflect light around the room, or place it next to a window to make it appear as if you have more windows on the wall.

2. Use Items with Reflective Surfaces
You can add shiny accents to your living spaces using gold or silver photo frames, acrylic furniture pieces, and metallic light fixtures. The shiny surfaces on these items will help reflect light into the interior of your room, giving the impression of more light and space when windows are limited.

3. Let More Light In
Avoid over-dressing your windows with curtains made from thick materials and dark colors, which block out the sunlight and absorb what little light penetrates into the room. If you need privacy, use blinds that can be rolled up or curtains of sheer materials and light colors instead. These changes will give nice accents to your living spaces, all without blocking out sunlight.

4. Paint Ceilings a Brighter Color than Your Walls
To create the illusion of brightness and space, paint your ceiling a flat white color if your walls are white or a lighter shade if you have dark walls. Avoid painting your walls white if your walls are a rich color, as this will tend to create an oppressive atmosphere. In addition, stick to matte paints, which still reflect light, but not in the same obtrusive manner as semigloss and gloss.

5. Keep Your Home Clean
Lighting fixtures, LED light bulbs, and windows shine at their brightest and let light pass through when they’re clean. Clean your rooms at least twice a week to keep things looking bright and homey.

6. Add a Skylight
Adding a skylight to your home won’t exactly be cheap and will count as a significant home improvement project, but skylights tend to pay for themselves in the long run due to the electricity they save. Maximize your skylight’s potential by installing it in a room that sees frequent use—such as your dining room, kitchen, or bathroom—and areas that receive natural light, usually in the south-facing section of your home.

These are just some of the most practical and easy tips to follow if you want more natural light in your home. See how they work out and try combining as many tips as you can for best results.