How New Windows Can Improve Natural Light and Enhance Your Home’s Interior

Changing your windows can benefit your home in many different ways. New windows can improve your energy efficiency, make your home more child-friendly, and give your home more curb value.

New windows can also change how the inside of your home looks. By improving the flow of natural light, your rooms will look fresher and brighter.

Here are the ways that new windows enhance natural light and how to choose your new windows with that natural light flow in mind.

Add Customized Windows for More Natural Light

One way to improve the flow of natural light in your home is to add customized windows. Customized windows are tailored to your interior layout. An expert can design them with natural light in mind to improve the brightness of your interiors.

Another option is to expand the size of your windows. Professionals can install custom windows that are fixed to your existing windows. These windows are not fully functional–they do not open and are mostly decorative. By adding an additional custom window, you expand your surface area of windows and add additional light to your home.

Custom window designs are a good option if you have a room with a strange layout. If a room has an uneven shape, traditional windows are not enough to let in natural light and can create shadowy corners. A custom installation can help even unevenly shaped rooms become illuminated with natural light.

Choose the Right Window Shape

As mentioned, custom window installations can help you adjust the shape of your windows. This is important because the right shape can mean the difference between lots of natural light and a dim room, even if the size or placement of your windows does not change.

Rectangular and arch-shaped windows are the best for letting in natural light. Rectangular windows use the shape of the wall efficiently and let in lots of natural light. Arched windows have extra height, thanks to the arch on top, which is better for natural light, especially in rooms with high ceilings.

Circular windows are the worst for letting in natural light. They make rooms feel dimmer and more cramped, like portholes in a cruise ship cabin. While these windows are good for accents, they should not be the main source of natural light in any room.

Adjust the Placement of Your Windows

Changing the placement of your windows is more labor-intensive than simply replacing your old windows. However, it may be necessary to bring in more natural light.

Think about the direction that your windows are facing. South-facing windows are best for natural light throughout the day, while east-facing windows are better for morning light. North-facing windows do not let in a lot of natural light, which is good for bedrooms but not great in kitchens or work areas that need a lot of light.

If you’re very unsatisfied with the way natural light flows into your home with your current window layout, investing in new window placements and doing a complete renovation is the best solution for more natural light.

Change the Type of Window You Have

When you’re installing new windows, you have a choice of different window styles. Certain types of windows let in more natural light than others.

Windows that have one continuous pane of glass, such as casement or awning windows, are some of the best for letting in more natural light into your home. Unlike paned windows, they don’t have anything blocking the light and provide a clearer entryway for natural light.

Another option is to choose window styles that jut outwards, increasing the surface area. Bay or bow windows extend outward, bringing in maximum natural light, but those are expensive to add to an existing home. A compromise solution is a garden window, which extends only slightly from the home and can be installed retroactively. If you have the budget for significant restorations, these windows offer the most natural light.

Choose Low-E Glass

Even if you don’t have the budget to change the size, shape, or placement of your windows significantly, getting new windows can still improve natural light.

Newer windows have more advanced types of window glass which is better for letting in natural light without compromising on energy efficiency. Older windows either let in too much heat along with natural light or dim your interiors in exchange for not heating them up too much.

When shopping for new windows, look for low-emissivity glass. This is a new type of glass with a special coating that lowers heat emissions while maximizing natural light. This way, you don’t have to worry about your home overheating in the summer in exchange for more natural light.

Replacing old windows can improve the flow of natural light even if you don’t opt for any special coatings. No matter how well you maintain it, old window glass gets scratched, dinged, and stained, which will impact the flow of light into your home.

Design the Rest of Your Interiors with Natural Light in Mind

Once you get new windows, make sure to supplement them with the right interior design choices to maximum natural light.

Certain design choices help the light flow better. Rooms that need plenty of natural light should be painted in light colors, which reflects the light. If you don’t have the budget or time to repaint your rooms in addition to replacing your windows, small changes can also help reflect the light. Place a mirror or other reflective surface on the wall opposite the window for more light.

Make sure that your interior design choices are not dampening the natural light flowing from your new windows. Heavy blinds and window treatments make rooms feel dimmer. Opt for light curtains or blinds and shades that are retractable.

Maximizing Natural Light in Your Home with the Right Windows

Bringing more natural light into your home brightens your interiors, makes it more functional, and boosts your mood.

One of the best ways to increase the flow of natural light in your home is to change your windows. Custom-shaped windows, new placements, or new window shapes can drastically increase how much light flows into your home.

Even small changes such as getting new, energy-efficient panes or adjusting your window treatments can make your home brighter and fresher.