Natural light is something we all crave and even more so in winter when the days are so much shorter. Scandinavians experience even longer, darker winters than most of us, often with just six hours of daylight or less. Because of this they’ve become experts at making the most of every bit of natural light. Knowing how important daylight is for wellbeing, they’ve come up with clever decor ideas and design tricks to maximise natural light indoors.
As we can all do with more natural light, I thought it would be great to share some Scandi-inspired tips on increasing natrual light in a home. Whether you’ve got an especially dark room or want to increase the amount of natural light you get throughout your home, these ideas will make a difference.
7 ways to get more natural light in your home
1. go for light, neutral decor
It’s no coincidence that so many Scandinavian homes have white walls. White is the best colour to reflect light and gives a bright, airy feel to any space but especially to a dark room. If you’re not feeling it for white, then pick another light neutral tone like pale grey or light beige.
In addition to white walls, try and stick to light, neutral shades for your furniture and furnishings too. If you’ve got dark furnishings that can’t be replaced, use things like throws and cushion covers in light tones to lighten the room. You can always layer in pops of colour wherever you want.
2. lighten the floors
Don’t stop at the walls and furniture but go for light coloured floors that will do wonders to lighten a room which is exactly the reason why most Scandinavian homes have pale wood floors.
Laying new floors is of course an option but if that’s not in your budget, there are other things you can do. Dark stained hardwood floors can be sanded and stained in a pale wood stain, or you can add rugs in white/off-white/cream colours.
3. try undressed windows
So many Scandinavians leave their windows (especially living room windows) without any coverings because undressed windows obviously let in the most amount of light. This isn’t possible for everyone but if it is something you can do, it will make a big difference to the amount of natural light you get.
4. choose light filtering window treatments
Since bare windows aren’t always practical, consider using window treatments that allow light to pass through. Venetian blinds are great for this because venetian blinds allow light control better than any other type of window covering. The horizontal slats can be tilted, raised or lowered meaning you can let light through while still having privacy. And you can control the amount of light you let in so you can allow maximum light in the darker months and in darker rooms.
Alternatively, sheer curtains can work too, especially for living rooms, as they let in plenty of light and they give you some privacy too.
5. use mirrors
Mirrors bounce light around rooms especially when hung strategically. Place mirrors opposite or adjacent to windows to maximise the light. If you have especially dark rooms, the bigger the mirror you can go for the better. And mirrors aren’t just for living spaces, they can brighten kitchens, home offices, bathrooms, hallways and any space that lacks light.
6. use glass doors
You can get all kinds of internal glass doors from doors made completely of glass or ones where you have a combination of wood and glass panels. Internal glass doors are great for letting light through especially in darker rooms and rooms without windows.
If not glass doors, consider internal glass dividers which come in many styles and are particularly good for dividing spaces within a room, without blocking the light.
7. clean your windows
This might sound obvious, but I had to include it as so many people don’t clean their windows regularly. With clean windows you allow the maximum light to filter through the glass.
Even if you pick just one or two of these tips to try out, you will instantly see more natural light in your home.
image credits: stadshem | ask og eng | stadshem | 4 & 5 fastighetsbyrån | alvhem
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