Rooms that receive little natural light often have low appeal and can feel rather cold. Inhabiting such spaces can feel draining as well because they lack the invigorating connection to nature that natural light provides.
Interior decor experts recommend clever fixes like installing better artificial lighting or using brighter paint for such dark rooms. Unfortunately, while these solutions may help a little, the true solution is to try and bring in more natural light into the room.
In today’s blog, we share tips on how to improve natural light in a room using different approaches and how window films can make it all better.
Trade Curtains for Window Film
Curtains provide privacy in a room and also work as a decorative element. Their colors can complement or contrast the decor to add to its beauty. The texture of curtain fabrics helps break the monotony of walls or glass as well.
On the flip side, curtains and blinds can be counterproductive in a room that receives low light. The fabric obstructs the little light coming in and can thus make the space even darker.
Replacing curtains with transparent window film instantly improves the situation. The window or glass door is left unencumbered by fabric and you can maximize every ounce of light that flows into the space.
Aim for window film that has a high visible light transmission (VLT) percentage. A high VLT indicates that it lets in more light even while it provides UV and anti-glare protection.
Uninstall Tints, Tinted Glass, or Reflective Elements
Most tinted window films or tinted glass panes work the same way. The dark tinting element absorbs light and prevents it from flowing through the glass or window film. Subsequently, the room with the tinted glass or film becomes dark because the flow of light is obstructed.
Reflective window films are the opposite. Instead of absorbing light, they bounce it off of windows or glass doors. In most cases, this significantly reduces the amount of light that enters the room through the reflective film.
Uninstalling tinted window films, tinted glass panes, or reflective window film, restores the flow of light into the room. It does not matter how big or small the window is, you will notice a huge difference once the tint or reflective film is gone.
Upgrade to Better Window Coverage Solutions
Uninstalling solutions that limit the flow of light does not mean that you have to live without privacy or other protections. You can replace them with window films that still provide solar protection or privacy but facilitate ample natural lighting.
For example, if the goal of the tinting was to provide privacy, you can opt for frosted window film instead. It scatters light rays which makes it difficult to see past the window film but it does not darken the room.
On the other hand, if the main concern is solar protection, you can consider investing in ceramic window film. It provides great UV and anti-glare protection but allows adequate light to flow into the room.
Consider a Different Approach to Privacy
Some spaces tend to receive low light because they are poorly compartmentalized to create privacy.
For example, in most office spaces, using walls to divide offices often creates dark corridors and generally limits the flow of light. In contrast, if you replace the walls with glass partitions, the flow of light improves tremendously.
Of course, the need for privacy in both home and office spaces can not be undermined. However, you can still achieve privacy by using solutions like frosted window film or decorative window film. Consider customizing them so that they limit visibility as much as necessary but still allow some natural light to flow across rooms.
Further, using floor-to-ceiling glass partitions and lining them with multilayered window film disrupts the flow of sound. This approach, therefore, also addresses concerns of audio privacy.
Explore New Window Options
Did you know that most bathrooms are designed with small windows to ensure privacy? So, the only reason you may be struggling with a dark bathroom is an outdated concept that you can fix. You only need to be willing to install a larger window and privacy window film.
This can apply to other rooms too where there is ample sunlight exposure but the window is too small to bring in adequate light.
That said, installing larger windows may not be viable in some rooms or areas of your home like an attic or a stairwell. You, nevertheless, can still explore options like a skylight. They bring in glorious natural light in the day and moonlight in the night. It is like having a personal slice of the sky.
Window films are particularly essential for skylights because of the direct and intense sunlight that they can expose you to. Ceramic window film works well here too because it provides high solar protection but still allows you to savor the great flow of direct sunlight.
Invest in Reflective Aids
Reflecting the little light that flows into a room helps to amplify it. The simplest reflective aids include mirrors and white glossy walls. Their shiny surfaces will bounce off the natural light that comes in across the room and make it more impactful.
It is, however, important to consider that reflected light can be overwhelming to the eyes. This approach is thus best implemented if you have installed window films on your windows. The film controls the intensity of the sunlight and, therefore, makes it less harsh on the eyes when it is reflected on surfaces.
Conclusion
A different school of thought may suggest that it is easier and quicker to simply use artificial lighting if a room receives low natural light. Well, that may be so at face value. However, medical research shows that inhabiting spaces with poor natural light can trigger depression and weaken your immunity.
In light of this, we hope you embrace the tips in this blog and enjoy the healing and refreshing effects of better natural light. Our extensive window film collection will certainly deliver all the solutions you need to implement them.
