subject: Simple tips for brightening up your home or office [print this page] Simple tips for brightening up your home or office
There are plenty of options which enable you to bring more light into your home or office. After all, who doesn't want a bit more light in their home or place of work? Natural light can bring with it a whole host of benefits, so why not give it a try?
It might sound obvious, but can you open blinds or curtains and take advantage of natural light? If privacy is a concern or the view is terrible, purchase or make translucent curtains or blinds. You can enjoy natural light without having to worry about the wandering eyes of neighbours or work colleagues.
Another method where you can take advantage of natural light is via "skylights", which maximise the amount of natural light entering through the roof of your building. There are skylights that can be installed right between rafters and even reflective tubes that require little more than a good-sized hole in the roof. Some skylights can even open to allow for extra ventilation.
A surprisingly effective way to brighten up a room however, is to use mirrors. They make the room seem larger and reflect the light you already have with no additional electricity use. Similarly, you can make use of light colours to brighten up your home or office. Dark colours can absorb light and make a place look dark even if there is plenty of light streaming in. Light colours, such as white and light blue, reflect more light. A new coat of paint can freshen things up much more than you might expect it to.
You can also consider replacing your existing light bulbs with options that provide higher light intensity (measured in footcandles or lux), such as compact fluorescent bulbs of a lower wattage but higher light output. Higher wattage does not necessarily mean a higher light level. You can also experiment with the subtle colouring of the lights. Bulbs that are classified as "daylight" usually output light with a temperature around that of direct sunlight (5600k); they provide a cooler, bluer, more vivid light. "Soft white" bulbs have a lower light temperature (3200k) but provide a warmer, more yellowish light. Just keeping your room clean can also do wonders for it. Believe it or not, dust and dirt will actually make a room appear smaller. Polished, clean furniture and clean floors will reflect light and add to the brightness of the room. It's also important to clean your windows regularly. Sparkling clean and clear windows make a huge difference to the appearance of a room. If your windows are heavily stained, you may consider hiring a professional window cleaner. Finally, consider the option of having laminated glass as part of your ceiling in some areas. Light and UV radiation is filtered, providing a cool atmosphere with minimal loss of visible light - ideal for hot summers!
