Filling your home with natural light lowers energy costs by making the most of what the sun gives for free. And your friends and family will find the feeling of openness inviting and pleasant.

1. Let Light Travel Freely With Glass Doors

Doors and windows are usually the central openings in a room. The glass within windows let them fulfil their role of providing a view outside and bringing in light. So, why not let doors take on that function as well? You can do this with glass-panelled doors, both externally and internally. While an outer door allows light from the garden to stream in, interior glass doors let in referred light from adjacent rooms. This not only boosts brightness, but it also creates spaciousness by providing a view beyond the wall. To build in privacy, you could install frosted or patterned glass to blur the view to outlines and shadows. You will have options in how transparent or opaque to go, so the choice is up to you.

2. Use Light From Adjoining Rooms With An Internal Window

Another way to borrow light from an adjoining room is with an internal window. Not only will this allow daylight sharing between two rooms, but it will again extend how far you can see. To increase daylight while maintaining privacy, why not cut high clerestory windows into the wall instead? If you like open floor plans, you could eliminate the walls altogether by getting your home builder to follow this design aesthetic, which will allow light to travel freely throughout the entire space without hitting any barriers.

3. Make The Most Of Direct Light With A Skylight

Some homes sit within leafy trees which produce dark shadows or else nestle within a maze of buildings and constructions. Alternatively, your home may not face the best direction on the block to receive daylight. In these cases, you can turn upwards for a solution via a skylight. Because they face upwards and receive direct light, skylights can potentially let in more than three times the illumination of a similarly sized vertical window. The light that enters vertical windows usually reflects from foliage, the ground or other buildings, because as it travels from the sky, it bounces off objects that are directly outside the window. A skylight, because of the abundant direct brightness it receives, totally transforms a room by making it appear more spacious and inviting.

For more information and tips, contact your local home builder.