3 Improvements to Add More Light To Your Home*

Lets face it, houses in the UK, especially the older builds aren’t exactly known for their bright airy rooms. Even if you’re lucky enough to live in a house with high ceilings you’ll probably find the place has smaller rooms and smaller windows. You just cannot win! Houses abroad, especially where the weather is warm, are built with space and light in mind to make the place feel cooler in the summer. But our dark houses in the UK, although cosy in the winter, can really bring the mood down, so here are 3 improvements you can make to your house to make it feel like there is more natural light;

Try Adding an Orangery
In case you didn’t know, an orangery is a type of conservatory. Orangeries typically have over 75% of the roof glazed where as a conservatory is less than 75%. Adding an orangery is essentially adding an extra room to your house, one that’s made of glass and therefore adds a lot of natural light to your home. Some people use orangeries as an extra lounge area, some as an office or even a playroom, but did you know it’s original use was intended as somewhere to grow oranges? Hence the name! Remember before you start to build ensure you hire reputable contractors and get the correct planning permission.

Swap You Back Door for French Windows
This is a great one if you have some outdoor space. Swapping from a traditional back door to some french windows not only adds some light to whatever room they’re in, most commonly a kitchen, dining room or lounge, but it means if you have children playing out back it gives you a better view to watch them over a standard window. This is probably the cheapest way to add more light to say a kitchen as you don’t need planning permission to change a door way as you won’t be adding anything to the building (except improving the value of the place, of course!)

Credit

Have an Open Plan Area
Did you know by knocking through from a kitchen to a lounge area, or even from a kitchen to a dining room can add both space and light to a room? Turning two rooms into an open plan is becoming more and more popular because of the light and airy space it creates. These areas great for entertaining or simply keeping the family together while everyone is downstairs. The open plan area allows for light to filter for one end to the other which makes the whole room feel brighter, although I imagine in the winter it takes a lot longer to heat!

Of course, there are much simpler cheats and tricks you can do to add light to your home such as having a lot of white walls, furniture and ceiling or having a mirror that the light from the windows can reflect off. Both of these give the illusion of more light and space, they’re also perfect if you want to get that great instagram home photo and lets face it, we all do!