Ready to brighten up your home in a snap?
Free natural sunlight is one of the most underutilized home improvement tools. It’s 100% free, instantly upgrades any room, and can have amazing effects on your mood and health.
Here’s the problem: Most people don’t know how to make the most of the light they already have. They get hung up on high-dollar renovations and overpriced lighting fixtures, when most of the work is done with home decor.
The truth is: Smart home decor and lighting choices can make or break how well natural light brightens your space.
You’ll discover:
- Natural Light is Way More Important Than You Think
- The Science of Light and Your Wellbeing
- Home Decor Tricks to Instantly Double Your Brightness
- Paint Colors That Trick Your Eyes into Seeing Brighter
- Window Treatment Solutions That Actually Work
Let’s get started…
Natural Light is Way More Important Than You Think
Natural light isn’t just about the way things look. It’s been shown to increase productivity by over 60% when compared to artificial sources alone.
Want to know the coolest part?
Your body literally needs sunlight to function at its best. Sunlight is one of the biggest health boosts you can give yourself.
Light from the sun helps you:
- Maintain your natural sleep cycle
- Boost your mood
- Reduce stress
- Support a strong immune system
But here’s the thing most people don’t realize…
The way you decorate your home plays a huge role in how much natural light actually reaches each room. The right home decor and lighting choices like what you can find at Lightopia can help you balance the benefits of both natural and artificial light.
In other words, you can seriously upgrade your living space without tearing your house apart. Simple, strategic changes to your current setup can turn dark dingy rooms into bright open sanctuaries.
The Science of Light and Your Wellbeing
The decorative lighting market is valued at $41.60 billion worldwide and is growing at a 2.9% annual rate. That tells you a couple of key things about people and light in their homes.
For one, it’s huge. That’s a lot of people spending a lot of money on the lights in their homes. It’s also growing, meaning people care even more about good home lighting every year.
Consistently, studies show the benefits of natural sunlight:
- Reduce eye strain by 51%
- Eliminate headaches by 63%
- Boost energy and productivity by 56%
- Improve sleep by a significant margin
The science is clear, our bodies need natural light to thrive. The biggest factor that keeps you from maximizing light in your home is your decor.
Home Decor Tricks to Instantly Double Your Brightness
Mirrors are literally like magic when it comes to your natural light strategy.
Here’s how to make them work for you:
Position large mirrors opposite windows. Instantly create the appearance of double windows and double your available sunlight.
But don’t stop there…
Place smaller mirrors at an angle across the room to reflect and bounce natural light into dark corners. This opens up space and brightens shadows.
Mirrors can reflect almost 90% of the light that hits them when angled properly. If your mirrors aren’t right, they aren’t working hard enough for you.
Place smaller mirrors on walls throughout the room instead of large mirrors. The same general rule of being opposite light sources applies. Small mirrors are more versatile so have more freedom in their placement.
You can even use furniture like coffee tables or wardrobes that have mirrored tops. Furniture with mirrored elements kill two birds with one stone – functionality and light reflection.
Paint Colors That Trick Your Eyes into Seeing Brighter
Color absorbs or reflects light.
Dark colors soak up available light. Light, neutral colors bounce it right back.
Bright light-colored walls, curtains, furniture, flooring, window treatments, decor, etc. are key to creating a space that’s as bright as possible.
Lighter colors, whites, creams, pale grays, soft pastels and everything in between will reflect more available natural light and make any room feel brighter.
Note: Your walls aren’t the only thing that count as “paint colors.”
The important part is that you use lighter neutral colors wherever possible. The more light-colored the objects in a room, the brighter it will feel.
Consider every item, wall, piece of furniture, decor, and accent as part of your overall color palette for the room.
Window Treatment Solutions That Actually Work
Windows are your biggest natural light source. Don’t cover them with dark blinds or heavy drapes.
It’s nice to have blinds and curtains, but there are alternatives to these bulky light blockers.
Here are some ideas to keep in mind when choosing window treatments.
Sheer curtains allow maximum light to shine through, while still offering privacy.
Roman blinds in lighter colors can be raised up completely to let all the light in during daylight hours.
Top down, bottom up shades give you privacy at eye level but allow light to come in from the top of the window.
Cafe curtains cover only the bottom half of the window. Great for rooms with street-facing windows.
The overall idea is to have window treatments that can be removed when you want maximum light to come in. These don’t all work in every situation of course.
Window coverings with see-through or sheer elements give you both privacy and brightness.
Blinds and shades can always be raised completely during the day, so make sure your window treatment can do that.
Avoid bulky, heavy window treatments with the sole purpose of privacy, if possible.
Furniture Positioning for the Brightest Space
Arranging furniture properly is a big piece of the natural light puzzle.
Most people make the mistake of putting tall or large furniture directly in front of windows. This is one of the easiest ways to block natural light from reaching the rest of the room.
Keep windows as free and clear of obstruction as possible during the daylight hours when the sun is out. If you must have furniture near a window, it should be small or low enough to not block the light flow.
Face your seating so that it’s looking towards a light source. This will keep you from sitting in your own shadow and make any work or reading you do much more comfortable.
Use furniture with legs vs. solid bases. Chairs, tables, and dressers with thin supports and visible legs allow light to pass through underneath instead of blocking it. These types of furniture also make rooms feel more open and airy.
Glass and Lucite furniture is the best here, as it provides light that can pass through both sides of each piece.
In general, think low to the ground with everything. The lower your furniture profile, the further light can travel into your space.
The Easiest Fixes to Brighten Up Any Room
Sometimes the most minor changes have the biggest effect.
Check out these simple fixes:
- Wash your windows inside and out. Dirty windows are surprisingly major light blockers.
- Trim outdoor plants and trees that shade your windows.
- Swap out heavy picture frames for lighter simpler ones.
- Use light-colored rugs instead of dark.
- Position lamps near walls that are light-colored to create ambient bounce lighting.
All of these solutions can be done cheaply and easily. You’ll be shocked at the difference they can make in how bright and welcoming your space feels.
Brighten Up Your Space
Maximizing natural light in your home isn’t about renovations or expensive lighting fixtures.
It’s about understanding how light works and making smart choices with what you already have.
The payoff is much more than just a nicer-looking home.
Better natural light means:
- Better mood and energy
- Improved sleep
- Fewer headaches and eye strain
- Lower energy bills
- A more valuable home
Pick one room and try some of the above tips. Watch as simple changes make a major difference.
Bottom line: Natural light is one of your home’s greatest assets. Use the right home decor to capture every ray and create a space that makes you happy and healthy.
Tommy Hardy, an alumnus of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, has been a go-to figure in residential upkeep and innovation for over 18 years. His career commenced in a leading home appliance manufacturing company, where he mastered the intricacies of household systems. Joining our platform in 2020, Tommy quickly became a reader favorite for his practical and easy-to-follow guides. He took the helm of our DIY section in 2019, consistently delivering content that empowers homeowners. Beyond his professional pursuits, Tommy is a passionate gardener and enjoys woodworking, skills enhancing his hands-on approach to home care.
