In other
words, anything dark and dull in your room will suck up your room's
available light. Anything light and glossy will enhance natural light.
So take a good look around your room and ask yourself these questions:
Q:
Are your walls, trim or ceiling painted or papered in a color
that has a dark value? In other words, measured against gray, would
their color be closer to a dark black-gray or a pale whitish-gray? The
darker the color, the more natural light it will absorb.
Q:
Is your floor covered in a dark carpet, dark linoleum, dark
wood, stone or tile?
Q:
Do you have dull, dark wooden or metal furniture? How
about dark upholstery fabrics, tablecloths, pillows?
Q:
Do you have dark drapery or heavy shades around your windows?
Q:
Does your room have no windows, or only one window that lets in
a limited amount of light?
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Slipcover your sofas, chairs, tables and pillows in light
fabrics. |
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Make
the Most of Natural Light.
Recover or repaint any dark walls, trim or ceiling in a light, reflective
material and finish.
Mirrors are naturally reflective. If you like mirrors but don't like
mirrored walls, consider creating a "picture wall" – using
mirrors instead of pictures in a variety of frames.
Refinish, repaint or recover your floors. Consider a light, possibly
pickled, stain for wood, or a light-colored porch paint. Replace dark
linoleum, tile or stone; or recover it in a light carpet or a large area
rug. (Light colors may show dirt more than dark ones, but they show dust
less. Patterns, particularly those with flecks, hide dirt better than
solids.)
Slipcover your sofas, chairs, tables and pillows in light fabrics. Or
cover them with light-colored throws.
Clear
your window panes. If you can live without window dressing, do. For
decorative relief, consider mounting lightweight glossy white exterior
shutters on the inside walls around your windows. If you need daytime
privacy, use a panel of lace or sheers.
If you want to have curtains or drapes, make sure they're tied back away
from the window. Give them a light-colored satiny lining, and let the lining
be what's exposed during the day.
Consider switching rooms around to make the best use of natural light. A
sunny morning room has a south- or east-facing window. A sunny afternoon
room has a south- or west-facing window (a room with a south-facing window
will be sunny all day).
If your room has blocked windows, or north-facing windows, or no windows,
it will need help. Can you steal natural light from a neighboring room by
breaking through part of a wall? Could you link this room to a brighter room
by installing an interior window or a French door? If your room is on the
top floor, could you add a skylight?
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Click
to enlarge.
Lights recessed into the ceilings of cabinetry also provide
subtle light sources.
Photo courtesy of Tech Lighting. |
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Give
Your Room a Boost With Artificial Light.
-
Indirect reflective lights subtly enhance natural light and don't
shine directly in your face. Use "up" lights in canister
fixtures hidden behind plants and let their glow bounce off your ceiling
and back into the room
-
Lights recessed into the ceilings of cabinetry also provide subtle
light sources.
-
Use full spectrum daylight-simulating bulbs, such as
Chromalux, during
the day to give the feel and the look of natural light.
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Choose light, translucent shades over dark or opaque ones.
-
Increase the number of light sources in your room and their quality.
-
Make sure bulbs are fresh (light bulbs lose their intensity over time)
and have sufficient wattage.
-
Consider replacing fixtures with ones that can accommodate a higher
wattage.
Note:
Before doing anything decorative or structural, make sure
you have the necessary permits, permissions, knowledge and understanding of
your structure's suitability.
