If you want to create an inviting space, good lighting is essential. It’s true that’s no better light than the sunlight, but in many cases, the apartments are lacking in the south-facing window department and you have to fake the natural light. There are a handful of ways to create the illusion of more natural light in your home, from mirrors to houseplants and we are going to present you a few from which you can choose.
Place mirrors in the hallways
In order to bounce the light around a room, you can add mirrors to the wall across from your natural light-receiving windows. Opt for furniture and decor pieces with mirrored surfaces like this mirrored accent table to take it one step further and to maximize the amount of natural light being reflected in your space.
Don’t use dark tones
Did you know that dark tones absorb more heat and light than lighter colored ones? A room where you have darkly colored furnishings and textiles will actually make it seem darker. Pay attention to the color of your walls too, don’t choose a dark color if you have a room without windows. Choose a lighter hue, such as white or eggshell. These hues will reflect more light around the room.
Gloss up your surfaces to fake natural light
To help bounce the light you do have around the room add a fresh coat of glossy white to your walls, ceiling, trim, and floors (if possible). A little gloss goes a long way when faking natural light at home. To give the impression you have more light in your home than you really do, invest in decor items with glossy or metallic finishes.
Use artificial light
In a room that lacks a lot of natural light, artificial lighting is essential. In order to quickly brighten up your home with some soft but warm artificial light add full-spectrum light bulbs (they’re designed to simulate daylight) to the light fixtures in rooms with poor lighting.
Buy the houseplants you love to boost the natural light
You can always count on houseplants to help you compensate for a lack of natural light in a room when all else fails. To usher in some ethereal vibes and keep the air clean, bring a few low light-tolerant plants, like ferns or spider plants, into a room with little-to-no-natural light.
Keep the windows unobstructed
When we’re in a tight spot, we all put things in front of windows—beds, shelves, chairs. But if you don’t get a lot of natural light, to begin with, then it’s best to make sure your windows are, for the most part, unobstructed. You might even consider taking blinds and heavy curtains off of your windows in rooms where you don’t need as much privacy, to let in as much light as you can. Some people find this move makes a space feel unfinished, but decorating is a compromise. Prioritize natural light if you want to, and it’s okay if a plant or two is hanging in your window since the right plants can help with the lack of light problem as mentioned above.
May your time spent at home bring calm and light.
