HOW TO MAXIMISE NATURAL LIGHT IN YOUR HOME

With homes being built on smaller blocks and generally facing in the wrong direction, natural light can be limited.  Here are a few tricks you might consider adopting especially as the winter months approach. 

Firstly, take a good hard look at your windows to see what's blocking the light. Do they need a clean, are the curtains blocking one third of the light, do you have clutter on window sills blocking light? Bring in as much light as you can, it lifts the soul and enhances all the colours in the room too. 

Add mirrors in strategic positions to diffuse natural light through the room, and who doesn't love a good mirror to reflect your favourite places, bringing the outside in. Place mirrors near windows or skylights to help bounce the light further along. 

Add some skylights. There are amazing products on the market now which can even be installed yourself. These solar panels simulate the outside natural light inside your home, without making a hole in your roof, or the need of having direct access to the outside. They have been a game changer for many of my customers. Here is one Aussie brand I've seen in many homes, check out how they work. https://illumeskylights.com.au 

Paint light colours on your walls. White paint reflects and bounces natural light around a room more than darker colours do. A few of my favourite whites for darker interiors is Dulux Lexicon Quarter, Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter, or Dulux Natural White. Always paint the ceilings as light as possible, Dulux Vivid White does the trick here. 

Another clever trick that works wonders in some homes, is to paint an exterior feature wall, ie. courtyard, or fence. Make sure you can see it from the main living area to extend the size and space of your room into the outdoors. To maximise light, use a light and bright colour as it will reflect and bounce light back into the house.