During spring and summer, ensuring that your home feels light and bright is relatively simple. All you need to do is pull back the curtains and let the natural light flood in and fill the space - and that natural light will remain well into the evening, month after month. But how do you keep your home well-lit in winter?
8 Ways To Brighten Your Home In Winter
1. Go Open Plan
When it comes to improving the lighting in your home, walls are a literal obstacle. To increase the amount of sunlight throughout your home, consider removing non-load bearing walls--especially on your first floor--adjacent to windows and doors. If it's not possible to remove walls, or you don't feel like taking on such a project, you can always try cutting out half of a wall instead. Regardless of whether you remove a full wall or create a half wall, ensuring your paint color is light to neutral is ideal. Another tip: position a large mirror on a wall across from a window or well-lit door; it will double the amount of sunlight in your room.
2. Opt For Larger Windows
There are many ways to add artificial light to your home, especially in winter, when Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is most common. While there’s really no replicating the real thing, it can be helpful to make the most of what natural sunlight is available by upgrading to larger windows in the rooms you spend the most time. Additionally, skylights can add even more light, and can be enjoyed year round. Consider reaching out to a qualified window installer to ask for an estimate on upgrading your windows and potentially adding a skylight or two. By the way, the return on investment for new vinyl windows is about 77.5% and skylights are no doubt an attractive feature when it comes to resale!
3. Remove Window Screens
During spring and summer, window screens are essential to help keep bugs and other pests at bay. However when the weather cools down, the chances of creepy crawlies finding their way into your home drops significantly. Given that screens can block up to 30% of natural light, it makes sense to remove them for the duration of the darker months of the year.
4. Prune or Relocate Light-Obstructing Foliage In Your Garden
During spring and summer, foliage that obscures parts of your windows can provide a welcome respite from the glare and heat of the sun. But in cooler months, the same foliage can be problematic. Bushes and plants that are still hearty and lush in winter can severely restrict the amount of sunlight to your home. If you love the look of winter shrubs (and who doesn't?), be sure you plant new shrubs away from windows, relocate any that are currently blocking light to windows and doors, and prune as necessary before the first frost
During spring and summer, window screens are essential to help keep bugs and other pests at bay. However when the weather cools down, the chances of creepy crawlies finding their way into your home drops significantly. Given that screens can block up to 30% of natural light, it makes sense to remove them for the duration of the darker months of the year.
4. Prune or Relocate Light-Obstructing Foliage In Your Garden
During spring and summer, foliage that obscures parts of your windows can provide a welcome respite from the glare and heat of the sun. But in cooler months, the same foliage can be problematic. Bushes and plants that are still hearty and lush in winter can severely restrict the amount of sunlight to your home. If you love the look of winter shrubs (and who doesn't?), be sure you plant new shrubs away from windows, relocate any that are currently blocking light to windows and doors, and prune as necessary before the first frost
5. Opt For Sheer Curtains Over Opaque
Heavyweight curtains certainly have their benefits in winter, helping to keep cold drafts from making their way into your home. However, they are also detrimental to letting natural light into your home. Our solution? Pair sheers with heavier, decorative drapes. The easiest way to accomplish this without installing double rods is by using a bungee cord as a mock curtain rod. Simply weave a bungee cord through the rod pocket of sheer panels, and attach the hooks of the bungee cord to each end of your traditional rod's wall bracket. Then hang drapes on the rod and attach to the brackets as usual. Be sure to measure the distance between the brackets before purchasing the bungee cords: You'll want the cord to fit, but you'll also want a bit of tension as well.
Heavyweight curtains certainly have their benefits in winter, helping to keep cold drafts from making their way into your home. However, they are also detrimental to letting natural light into your home. Our solution? Pair sheers with heavier, decorative drapes. The easiest way to accomplish this without installing double rods is by using a bungee cord as a mock curtain rod. Simply weave a bungee cord through the rod pocket of sheer panels, and attach the hooks of the bungee cord to each end of your traditional rod's wall bracket. Then hang drapes on the rod and attach to the brackets as usual. Be sure to measure the distance between the brackets before purchasing the bungee cords: You'll want the cord to fit, but you'll also want a bit of tension as well.
  Pair of Semi Sheer Voile Light Filtering Window Curtains With Grommets, amazon.com |
  Gray Leaf Sheer Curtain Panels, Assorted Colors & Sizes, amazon.com |
6. Switch To LED Bulbs
When the sun sets in the early evening, you will need to rely on artificial light - and there’s no doubt that LEDs are by far the best choice for this purpose. Any LED over 3,500K will help to keep your interiors feel beautifully bright, though if you’d prefer to achieve “daylight effect”, you’ll want to look for bulbs that are 5,000K and above.
  6 Pack of 60 Watt Equivalent LED Light Bulbs, amazon.com |
  Pack of 4 Color Changing LED Light Bulbs With Remotes, amazon.com |
7. Change Your External Doors
Solid external doors can block the amount of light that is able to pass into your home, so it’s worth considering a switch if possible. For doors that lead into your garden, glass doors can be a fantastic option that instantly increases the amount of light in your property. If patio doors aren’t suitable, then opt for a front door with as many glass panels as possible - you’ll be surprised at how much of a difference this can make to the overall light levels in your home.
Solid external doors can block the amount of light that is able to pass into your home, so it’s worth considering a switch if possible. For doors that lead into your garden, glass doors can be a fantastic option that instantly increases the amount of light in your property. If patio doors aren’t suitable, then opt for a front door with as many glass panels as possible - you’ll be surprised at how much of a difference this can make to the overall light levels in your home.
  National Door Company Prehung Front Door, Assorted Sizes, amazon.com |
  National Door Company Exterior Double Door, amazon.com |
8. Position Your Holiday Decor Carefully
When the holiday season arrives and it’s time to decorate, think carefully about where you'll position your Christmas tree, wreaths and other large pieces of holiday decor. Many people like to place their tree close to the window of their living room, but doing so obstructs a major light source for as long as the tree is in place. While ensuring the tree is decorated in lights can compensate for this at night, during the day, it’s an issue. Instead, you may find it’s preferable to place your tree in the corner of the room rather than directly in front of the window.
8. Position Your Holiday Decor Carefully
When the holiday season arrives and it’s time to decorate, think carefully about where you'll position your Christmas tree, wreaths and other large pieces of holiday decor. Many people like to place their tree close to the window of their living room, but doing so obstructs a major light source for as long as the tree is in place. While ensuring the tree is decorated in lights can compensate for this at night, during the day, it’s an issue. Instead, you may find it’s preferable to place your tree in the corner of the room rather than directly in front of the window.
Do you have any other ideas for keeping your home lighter and brighter in winter? If so, let us know in the comments below!
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