SEVEN THINGS TO BE MINDFUL OF WHEN ADDING DAYLIGHT

1. WASH AND TRIM

Dirt on windows reduces the light coming through. Also, pay attention to the effect greenery outside your home is having on the light levels inside – trim around doors and windows. You may want to consider slimmer window frames to maximise the surface of the glass.

2. UH, SHINY!

Shiny materials bounce the light further into your room. A mirror or a glass cabinet will make the rays travel further. The right flooring can work as a light-friendly reflector. Wooden, ceramic or stone floors with a polished finish will reflect more than carpets or rugs.

3. USE THE RIGHT COLOUR PALETTE

If you have seen pictures of Scandinavian minimalism, this shouldn’t surprise you: walls are usually painted white. In part this is because shades of white make a space brighter, as it reflects rather than absorbs the natural light entering the room.

4. HEIGHT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

The higher up a window is placed on the building, the lighter it will be inside. Windows placed high will let more light into the room and disperse it evenly, while light coming through a low window will stay close to the window. This is why you often see larger windows at the lowest part of the building and smaller ones higher up.

5 . REMOVE THE BLOCKADE

Will half a wall do it, or a divider? Consider whether you need a floor-to-ceiling wall or if there could be a space at the top to allow light to travel through.

6. CONSIDER SKYLIGHTS

Skylights can bring in twice as much light as a conventional window and may bring light into a room where a typical window is not an option. One downside, however, is that they don’t provide the same orientation – that is, they don’t provide you with a view of the outside world, other than a patch of sky, so they should be used wisely.

7. GET THE BALANCE RIGHT

Consider how you can balance the needs of daylight and privacy. Big windows are great for letting in plenty of sunlight, but we also have a need for privacy. Adding a high-level window or using plants to shield the inside from the outside are options here.