Bring light to the dark: how to introduce natural light into dark spaces

Are you considering expanding your house or flat by converting your attic into a loft? Then this article is for you! As lovely as they are, many top-floor flats, feel dark. Here are some tips to help you introduce natural light into dark spaces that will allow you to reap the benefits of natural light in no time.
Key takeaways
  • Lighten up dark stairs by switching to a glass railing or an open-tread staircase. Add even more light by strategically placing a roof window above the stairs.
  • If a room feels small or narrow, adding reflective surfaces like mirrors and painting walls white will create a sense of spaciousness.
  • While luxurious, double-height spaces can be challenging to illuminate. Installing a roof window will flood the space with natural light and create lovely sky views.

Filling your interior with light

Creating a light-filled interior can be difficult, especially in a large house or flat. Fortunately, we have some ideas for how to fill your interior with light.

How to lighten up your stairs

In multistorey houses, stairs can take up a lot of unnecessary space. Often, dark materials and railings are the problem. Luckily, there are ways to lighten up your stairs.

  • Minimise railings: Visually eliminate the railing components. Install a glass railing or create an open-tread staircase. This will allow light to trickle down and give a greater sense of space.
  • Install roof windows: Bring the light downstairs by installing roof windows. Roof windows provide up to 2-3 times more daylight than vertical windows of the same size. Place a roof window strategically above your stairs. This will bring more light throughout the stairs and hallways and change the look of the space.

How to make use of reflective surfaces

Height is great. But it can also cause a room to feel both smaller and narrower. Create an illusion of width by taking advantage of reflective surfaces and strategically placed mirrors. Here are three tips:

  1. Mirrors are your friend: Installing a large mirror in a narrow room will instantly make the room seem wider. And the bigger the mirror, the larger the room will feel.
  2. Go white: Have you been made to believe that the colour white is dull? Think again! White is perfect for double-height spaces. White walls, furniture, and appliances – a bold use of white will make your space seem more significant.
  3. Use your light sources wisely: Install reflective surfaces near light sources. This will instantly enhance the light in the room.

How to effectively deal with double-height spaces

There's nothing quite like the sense of grandeur that a double-height space offers. Double-height spaces are a luxury. Just think of how much storage you can fit on a double-height wall! But even so, double-height spaces make maintaining a light-filled interior more challenging. One of the most effective ways of dealing with that is installing roof windows. A roof window will flood the space with natural light. Also, it provides a perfect view of the skies and lets you follow along as then day turns into night.

Make VELUX part of the solution

One of the most effective ways to deal with dark, compact spaces or double-height rooms is installing roof windows. Roof windows can be installed quickly and easily. They'll flood your space with daylight and make a visible difference to the atmosphere of your home.

Find a VELUX Certified Installer for roof windowsFind installer

Different solutions for different issues

Installing roof windows or rooflights will instantly brighten up your space. No matter your needs, you can be almost certain to find a VELUX solution to fit.

Ever considered glass floors but decided it was a bit too extravagant? Try the walk-on rooflight from VARIO. This brilliant walk-on glazing lets you share the light from one room with the room below.

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VELUX Editorial team

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One of the most effective ways to deal with dark, compact spaces or double-height rooms is installing roof windows. They'll flood your space with daylight and make a visible difference to the atmosphere of your home.

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