Glass windows, verandas and skylights: solutions for getting more natural light into the home, even during winter
Natural light filling a house is undoubtedly one of the characteristics that makes a property more attractive and valuable: living in brightly-lit rooms ensures a better quality of life for the residents. We need sunlight to cheer us up and make us feel more connected with the world outside.
Better light also means reduced heating costs and being able to have plants in the home - both factors that aid our overall well-being and mood. And the advantages don't end here. But how can you increase the amount of natural light that comes into your home? Where possible, you can try to install (or widen) "openings" to allow more light into your home!
Skylights
A skylight is an opening in the roof of a house, which lets light filter into the space below. In short, instead of a ceiling board, a window is installed. Typically, a skylight is installed in the sloping portions of the roof, which ensures that rain water and dirt slides off naturally into the guttering.
Yevhen Zahorodnii,Hi-Light Architects/Behance
Even a small opening can let in an incredible amount of light, and being able to install one can radically any dark corners of the house.
Obviously, this must be done professionally: it is vital to use robust double glazing, which will provide good thermal (and acoustic) insulation, and ensures the soundness of the roof overall is not compromised. Once installed, the glass of a skylight must be cleaned regularly to ensure the unimpeded passage of sunlight. To this end, ensure you install a skylight model you can easily get to and clean.
Once you've decided on using skylights in the home, why not install one in the bedroom (provided it's not overlooked by taller buildings)?. You can fill your bedroom with natural light and without compromising your privacy.
Skylights are the perfect additions for "awkwardly-shaped" rooms, such as atticsì rooms. Usually dark and irregularly shaped, an attic room can be pleasantly tranformed by installing a skylight!
Windows and verandas
A similar skylighting effect can be achieved with glass walls/façades or verandas (if you have the space). Opening up the walls of your home to the outside is a way to experience the beauty of nature that surrounds you. For those who have a garden that is shielded from prying eyes, or a home with panoramic views, it would be a shame not to take advantage of this.
So, when designing or restructuring the rooms in your house, you can consider enclosing one in glass. The room will still feel like being part of the house but will be filled by natural light, like the kitchen shown in this photo!
Another idea to let more light into your home, is to add an extra layer of windows. If there is still some space left directly under the ceiling, why not insert additional windows, like the ones shown here? If structurally feasible, extra windows like these could make a massive difference!
