Whether it’s the soft glow of the rising sun or the golden warmth of afternoon rays, natural light has a unique way of instantly elevating a space. While natural light is incredibly versatile, it can also be a little tricky to work with. To help you harness the full potential of natural light in your home, we turned to the pros.
“Filtered light can help evoke a sense of calm and tranquility in a bedroom, while bright, direct sunlight adds energy to a breakfast nook,” says interior designer Andy Weier. “It can even serve as ‘task lighting’ in a kitchen or home office—imagine the difference a skylight over a shower makes!”
From choosing the right paint colors to determining the best placement for your furniture, these eight designer-approved tips will help you make the most of every sun-filled space so you can turn light into your home’s best design feature.
Andy Weier is the principal and co-owner of Rockledge Design + Architecture. He studied Interior Architecture at UC Berkeley and has worked locally in the residential interior space for several years.
1. Get Creative with Reflective Surfaces
Incorporating reflective surfaces into a room can help bounce natural light around, making the space feel larger and more open. This can create the illusion that there’s plenty of light flooding in, even if it’s only coming in from a small window or two.
While mirrors are the most common way to achieve this, you can also experiment with other reflective elements, like glass tables, metallic accents, or even reflective wall art. “One unique way we’ve achieved this was by adding a reflective tin ceiling to the dining room in a client’s moody, Victorian-era home,” Weier says.
2. Choose Light Paint Colors
Soft whites and delicate pastels don’t just look beautiful, they also reflect light—which can maximize the sunshine streaming into your house. If you’re aiming for a brighter and more spacious atmosphere, opt for light paint colors on the walls and ceiling, paying special attention to paint colors with a higher Light Reflectance Value (LRV).
“LRV is a scale from 0% where true black absorbs all light, to 100% where true white reflects all light,” Weier says. “The lower the LRV, the darker your room will appear as more light is absorbed into the color.”
3. Keep Windows Clean
Creating a space that maximizes natural light can be a fun and rewarding design project, but you’ll also want to roll your sleeves up for a bit of home maintenance if you want your rooms to truly shine. One of the simplest ways to make sure your home gets that natural glow is by taking care of your windows and door glass. Dust and grime can quickly dull the light streaming in, so a good cleaning routine can make all the difference.
“Dirty windows and exterior doors truly rob your home of light, so this might even be worth the investment of a professional service if it sounds like too much of a chore,” Weier explains. He recommends washing your windows from the inside and outside a few times per year as the seasons change.
4. Use the Right Window Fixtures
Instead of heavy drapes and black-out blinds, stick to sheer window treatments. Dark window coverings can block light even when they’re open, leaving you with an underwhelming dose of sunshine when you pull your curtains back in the morning.
Sheer window treatments, on the other hand, allow sunlight to pour in without blocking the view outside or the warmth of the sun. But if sheer fabrics aren’t your style, you can also explore window fixtures with non-traditional mechanics.
“One creative method is to install shades that operate from the bottom up,” Weier says. “This allows all the light at the top of the window to pour in, while still giving you privacy for the bottom portion in street-facing living rooms, bedrooms, or bathrooms.”
5. Ditch the Awnings
If you keep awnings over your windows, doors, and porches out of habit, it might be time to reconsider their usefulness. Especially in older homes, awnings may have been added before the development of air conditioning to keep things cool during the summer months.
“If your home feels dark, but has modernized AC, it might be worth removing your awnings to optimize natural light,” Weier explains. “Just be sure to consider how they may also protect your home from other elements like water and wind.”
6. Avoid Cluttered Spaces
Excessive furniture and decor can block sunlight from reaching your windows, so keeping your design layout open and airy will allow light to flow freely through the room.
“We’ve actually worked with some clients who ultimately swapped rooms such as their living and dining room in order to capitalize on light,” Weier says. “Evaluate how you have your home laid out, and see if there are better opportunities. Get creative!”
To maximize natural light in a space, be mindful of where you place bulky furniture. Try to arrange the room in a way that works with the light you get throughout the day. Also, avoid clutter near windows. Placing furniture or tall plants directly in front of light sources can create shadows and block sunlight from entering the room.
7. Maintain Your Greenery
Indoor clutter is not the only thing that can block your home’s natural light. Overgrown trees and shrubs can also prevent sunlight from reaching your windows, limiting the light that fills your rooms. If it seems like only a few rays manage to filter through the leaves of a tree or bush, consider pruning your plants for a cleaner, more open look.
There’s also a strategy for planting greenery around your house, depending on where it’s positioned on the lot and which direction it faces. You can spend a few days observing how sunlight interacts with your house and yard to establish a new layout or consult an arborist or landscape architect for expert guidance.
8. Layer Artificial Light Sources
Layering artificial lighting to complement natural sources can help maintain a consistent ambiance as day turns to night. By blending your light sources, you can preserve that fresh, open feeling of natural light, even after the sun has set.
“While not all ‘natural,’ supplementing your home’s window light with an abundant mix of other lighting types will give you options for any room at any time of day,” Weier says. This can include ambient, task, and accent lighting:
- Ambient lighting is overhead, often providing the main light source for the room.
- Task lighting includes smaller light sources that still provide enough light for activities, such as pendants, under-cabinet lighting, and desk lamps.
- Accent lighting is typically decorative, and not meant to light a whole room. Types include sconces, picture lights, and table lamps.
