As you know, the amount of sunlight that makes its way into your home can
really affect your energy bill. Too much sunlight in the summer and you're
going to have to crank up the AC. Not enough sunlight in the winter and your
house will feel ten times colder. Not to mention, the longer the sun lights up
your home, the less often you'll need to flick on the lamp. At the same time,
you want to be able to have plenty of privacy when you want it. All things
considered, you want to be able to control how much of the outside is invited
in.
Choosing the right fixtures for your windows is one of the best
investments you can make for you home. Not only will it pay off when your
energy bill comes in each month, but the right fixtures can truly improve
aesthetic and help you to achieve a certain look in your décor. Consider these
three options for controlling natural light in the home.
Indoor/Outdoor Shades
Maybe you've got some shades inside
the house (or maybe you don't), but have you ever considered putting a set both
indoors and outdoors? Outdoor shades
are nice because, by themselves, they're breezy and a little translucent. They
let just the right amount of natural light in while still allowing for privacy.
You can open them in the sunny afternoon when you're looking to let in more
light, or close both sets of shades when you want to block out the heat and
sunlight.
Horizontal Blinds
As long as you don't go for the white, plastic cheapies, blinds can look
extremely chic. Take, for example, faux-wood blinds; they mesh
gorgeously with any interior design scheme and are extremely customizable when
it comes to letting in light and warmth. Tilt them upward to keep heat out but
let light in, or open them fully to let in light and heat. Bear in mind that if
you put thick, heavy blinds like those made out of faux-wood on your windows,
you'll get opaque coverage that sufficiently keeps out sunlight as long as you
install them closely to the window itself.
Mirrors and Colors
One problem that a lot of homes have is that all the windows are on one
wall. If this is your issue, decorate with plenty of mirrors on all walls. This
will help to bounce light around the room, reducing the amount of glare and
dark, shadowy corners. You can also use paint of lighter colors, as it's more
reflective and brightens up the room.
Solar Tubes
Though skylights are awesome, they come with a big price tag, and that's
just not in the cards for some homeowners. However, you can take advantage of
the full effect with the much-less-expensive solar tube. It doesn't require
carving out a huge chunk of your ceiling and can even be used in the bathroom.
They do a great job of distributing natural light throughout the house and have
a thermal effect that can help add warmth to your home.
