Winter Sun, Summer Shade: Controlling Natural Light in the Home

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.