5 ways to bring maximum sunshine in your home

We are mostly spending our days indoors for almost 3 months now due to global pandemic and lockdown. Though the lockdown has been relaxed, the fear of being infected, keeping us at home as much as possible. Lack of fresh air and less time in nature can affect our physical as well as mental well-being. Basking in the rays of the sun reduces blood pressure, stress and anxiety and also helps achieving inner calm. That’s why sustainable home designs focus on positioning a building in relation to seasonal variations in the sun’s path as well as prevailing wind patterns to maximize natural lighting.

image:www.thesoulrajarhat.com

Sounabha Bose and Prapti Bose, IT professionals and a newly married couple, wanted to buy a 2 BHK flat near Sector 5, Kolkata so that they can stay closer to their workplace and at the end of the day enjoy some quality time with each other. There was a long list of things that they wished for their first home. The first thing of their priority list was the home should be filled with abundant sunshine and air. The couple settled for a residential project in Rajarhat with large windows for bright airy rooms. They chose a thoughtfully designed home and customized it in their own way with some added measures to maximize the sunshine.

Let’s see the tricks that instantly add sunshine to your home to make it feel brighter and lighter.

1.       Position of home:

The position of your home, in regards to the sun, can reduce or even eliminate the need for auxiliary heating and cooling, resulting in lower energy bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved comfort. In the northern hemisphere, the walls facing south receive the most sunlight. For the best orientation, it’s important to prioritise your heating and cooling needs. Place the longest side of your house facing south and make sure there is little to no jogs and offsets in this south-facing wall as it might increase shade on that side and thus reduce light.

2.       Placement of windows and doors:

Extend your windows up and over or have thinner frames or bay windows whose sides naturally grab more light. Tall, big windows maximise the amount of sunshine streaming into your rooms. Windows in unexpected places like the end of hallways, stairwells, or pantries can be good additions. Try to keep the windows open and use light linen or gauzy curtains to allow in more light. Exchange walls for windows or use sliding glass door to let the sunshine in and take advantage of a view.

3.       Paint it right:

Painting walls with light colours or any soft shade of white paint will make space feel brighter as it reflects the natural light entering the room, rather than absorbing it. Off-white shade creates a much warmer effect while painting the ceiling a couple of shades lighter than the walls create the illusion of height and space.

4.       Let the light bounce:

Consider placing mirrors opposite of windows. Mirrors can reflect existing natural light and help make the room look brighter and larger. Adding mirror balls is a good way to bounce light around a room and create a fun atmosphere in your space. Place mirrored balls in front of a window and watch the refracted sunlight dance around the walls. Shiny surfaces like door handles, cabinets, and faucets reflect more light than a flat option. In bathrooms and kitchens, the use of glass tiles will give it an elegant look, and more light.

Summary:

Adding sunshine is said to be the number one feature people look for when buying a family home. Let us guide you to make your home brighter with some simple tricks.