How to get more natural light in a room: Top 5 tips

The benefits of living in a house with lots of natural light are numerous — gloomy, dark rooms do nothing for your health or happiness levels. By striving to find ways to bring extra natural light into your living spaces, you can expect the following:

• Better health: Natural light contributes to levels of vitamins D and B, both of which give your immune system a boost and help regulate mood.
• More energy and productivity: There is plenty of evidence to suggest that there are firm links between getting lots of natural light and overall productivity — perfect for those that work from home.
• A better body clock: Circadian rhythms are the way our bodies balance their functions, with one of the most well-known being the sleep-wake cycle. Plenty of natural light helps our bodies to naturally know when they are supposed to be alert and when it is time to switch off — basically light exposure during the day signals to our master clock that we need to be awake and active, while as night falls our clock causes melatonin (the sleep hormone) to be produced. 
• Better mood: Too little natural daylight can cause us to feel low, stressed and anxious, while sunlight makes us feel happier. 
• It could cut your bills: In a house that is naturally light there is less need to turn on artificial lights, plus by installing windows and doors with brilliant thermal properties you will enjoy less heat loss and more solar gain, reducing your need for heating. The result? You will use less electricity. 

So, we know why natural light is so important, but just what are the best ways to ensure your home is full of it?

1. Bring in light from above

Did you know that roof lanterns and rooflights can bring in as much as twice the amount of natural light as vertical windows? They also bring in a very pure, fresh type of light and draw your gaze skywards. In addition, roof lanterns add drama and architectural interest — plus they are the perfect solution for those creating a flat roof extension.

If you are thinking about installing a roof lantern, choose the highest quality one you can afford. Korniche specialise in making aluminium roof lanterns with fantastic accuracy and tighter tolerances, and have developed methods of producing them with highly reliable weather resistance and fantastic thermal retention. What’s more, their roof lanterns can be fitted in minutes and glazed in seconds — in fact it is the fastest kit to install on the market meaning minimal disruption.

2. Replace solid walls with glass

It might sound obvious, but do consider whether you have space to install a run of bi-folding doors into your house. Whether you are building an extension, renovating a tired old property or self building, this is a fantastic way not only to bring light streaming into your home but also to create a strong connection with your outdoor spaces, extend you home in the summer months and make the most of a view. 

While the advantages of bifold doors are numerous, there is so much choice that it can be difficult to know which option is best for you. Aluminium is a great choice for bi-folding doors, being  strong but lightweight, featuring slim sightlines, available in  a range of RAL powder coated colour options and with minimal maintenance requirements. Each leaf can be made wider than timber so less doors are required — plus, they offer great thermal efficiency.

3. Consider frame orientation

Whether you are extending, building from scratch or considering installing bi-folding doors into your existing home, do consider orientation when it comes to deciding on the best location for your glazing.

Bear in mind that light from the south is the most consistent source of daylight and ideal for maximising solar gain. Light from the north is lower in light quantity, but is equally consistent as that from the south. 

4. Keep glass sparkling clean

It is essential that all your glass is kept spotlessly clean in order to ensure maximum daylight can enter your home at all times of the day. 

You can save money that would otherwise be spent on the services of a window cleaner, as well as a whole lot of elbow grease, by opting for a roof lantern, bi-folding doors or windows fitted with self-cleaning glass. 

Opt for a product such as the Ambi range of self cleaning glass offered by Korniche. It combines both self cleaning and solar control properties. The coating that is applied to the glass breaks down organic dirt and by doing so reduces the adhesion of inorganic dirt. Water droplets are spread out to form a sheet and this picks up the loosened dirt particles as it drains off the surface. 

5. Keep frames slimline

When the aim is to bring in as much light as possible to your home it makes sense to minimise frames and maximum glass when it comes to your windows and patio doors.

When choosing frame materials, aluminium tends to be the best option as frames can be made in much slimmer profiles than is possible with timber or uPVC.

For more information on Korniche's range of roof lanterns and bi-folding doors, as well as where to buy, visit www.korniche.co.uk You will also find inspirational videos and brochures to give an insight to what can be achieved by specifying Korniche.