The season for spending time outside with friends and family is here and it is time to cherish it to its full potential, however, the heat and humidity may leave you wanting to stay inside some days. These days inside should not be wasted because there is only so many days the sun will set past 8 PM! Lucky, there are a few things that you can do to ensure that you are taking full advantage of the sunlight from the comfort of your couch. First things first, open your curtains and blinds as much as possible. This is one very easy way to ensure that you are letting in as much sunlight the day has to offer, but there are other steps you can take to take advantage of everything summer has to offer:
• Having proper window design and location is essential if you want to maximize your amount of sunlight. Depending on where your window is located can alter if your daylight is reaching you more towards the morning, mid-day or afternoon.
• Larger windows can be an easy way to maximize the amount of sunlight in your room. Not only will it make the room feel bigger and more spacious, but the summer sun will flow into your room.
• Another big change that you can make to let in more sunlight is by simply cleaning your windows often. By cleaning your windows once a month you will be removing dust, dirt and pollen that can and do all stick to the outside and inside of your window. All of those allergens can create a film over the window, reducing the total sunlight entering the room.
• If you want to decorate with window treatments, make sure you focus on softer colors. Using transparent, white or any light color curtain can allow for the sun to soak through into the room.
• Take advantage of ambient lighting. Ambient lighting is reflected light such as off of a mirror or a light wall. There are several great things that adding a mirror can do to a room; the light will reflect and the room will seem much bigger than it actually is. This is a plus, especially if you are in a small, dark room that you want to transform.
• Another form of ambient lighting that is important to remember is your backsplash and tile. Having a reflective backsplash and a lighter tile will ensure that the sunlight will not be absorbed into the material, but rather bounce back into the room.
These are a few easy steps that can ensure that the most natural light will enter your room. With these next summer months being filled with warm weather and a lot of sun, be sure to take advantage of everything nature has to offer!