How to Maximize Natural Light and Increase the Value of Your Home

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’re always looking for ways to maintain your home’s value, if not ways to increase it. Though installing impact windows or storm shutters is a great place to start, it’s not the only way! Let’s talk about the light coming through those lovely windows. Research has proven that homebuyers are likely to pay more for homes that have a lot of natural light. Although having large windows makes that easy, it’s not the only way to let more light into your home. Read on for some tips to maximize the light in your home and increase its value.

Paint

A good place to start is the color of your walls. Interior designers agree, lighter colors like pastels and especially white, both make a space feel bigger and brighter. But interiors are not the only areas that can benefit from a fresh coat. Consider painting your eaves-the visible underside of your roof-a bright, glossy white. This will reflect more light through all your windows.

Reflect

Now that you’ve had a chance to think about giving your walls and eaves a fresh coat, it’s time to think about other surfaces and how those brighter walls can make the most of the light they’re bringing in. We’re talking about reflecting, bouncing that light around.Hanging mirrors is an excellent way to do this. Not only can well-placed mirrors make a room appear bigger—another plus for potential buys—they can also move light from naturally brighter areas into places that need it.Since you might not want mirrors in every room, you might also want to consider other types of reflective surfaces. High-gloss paint can also do the trick as well as reflective tiles in bathrooms and kitchens.

Shade Control

Though a bright house is a desirable thing, you probably don’t want your home to be flooded with direct sunlight all the time, especially during the hot summer months. You can make the most of the sun without being blinded by the light. The key is to put yourself in control of how much light enters and when.Colonial shutters are great for controlling amounts of light, as they can be closed during the hottest parts of the day but left open during the cooler hours so you can enjoy the sun on your terms. Additionally, chose blinds and curtains with light in mind. Sheer curtains or blinds made of natural fibers often decrease the effects of direct sunlight while still allowing your space to be lit naturally. 

The Right Windows

When talking about how to control of the light entering your home, we also need to mention energy efficiency. One of the reasons most people cover their windows, thus decreasing the light that comes in, is to keep the interior temperatures, and energy bills, down. With the right windows however, this problem is minimized. Consider impact windows. Not only can they protect your home in inclement weather, they are more energy efficient, letting in the light while keeping out the heat.If you’re considering selling your home, or simply want to increase its value, contact us at Castle to learn how adding impact windows or shutters can help. All estimates are free and we’d love to hear from you.