A well-lit home can feel more spacious, warm, and welcoming, however, when adding a second story, bringing natural light into every corner can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are many clever design strategies that can help to increase the flow of natural light and make your whole home brighter and more inviting.
The trusted choice for second storey extensions, Melbourne’s Duncan Thompson Extensions has been designing and building extensions of the highest standard for over three decades. We understand what it takes to create a double story home that looks and feels light, bright, stylish, and spacious. Here we will look at why natural light is important and a few simple ways to brighten your home when adding a second story.
Understanding the Importance of Natural Light in Home Design
Natural light is a vital element in home design that can have a significant impact on the overall ambiance, energy efficiency, and wellbeing of the occupants.
Firstly, natural light can have a deep effect on our mood and productivity. Exposure to natural light helps regulate our circadian rhythms, which can improve sleep quality, boost energy levels, and even enhance cognitive function. By designing spaces that maximise natural light, you can create a more inviting and uplifting environment for your home.
Also vitally important, natural light can also contribute to the energy efficiency of your home. By allowing sunlight to enter your living spaces, you can reduce the need for artificial lighting, which can lead to significant energy savings. Natural light can also help regulate the temperature of your home, potentially reducing the reliance on heating and cooling systems.
Architectural Strategies to Increase Light
When it comes to creating a bright and airy atmosphere, innovative lighting solutions and architectural elements can make all the difference. From floor to ceiling windows to the incorporation of natural light-reflecting materials, there are various ways to enhance the luminosity and openness of a room.
Strategically placed windows and skylights to allow sunlight to penetrate deeper into the interior. Large windows, skylights, and roof windows can allow an abundance of sunlight to flood the space, creating a sense of spaciousness and warmth. Skylights above a stairwell allow the sun’s rays to flood through from above, deep into the level below. Complementing these natural light sources with carefully selected artificial lighting, such as recessed step lights along stairs, can further accentuate the bright and airy aesthetic of the whole home.
The use of light-coloured and reflective surfaces, such as glossy tiles, mirrors, and metallic accents, can help to bounce and distribute light throughout the home, creating a more open and luminous feel. Including these elements into your design can result in a harmonious and visually appealing space that exudes a sense of brightness and airiness.
Incorporating glass interior elements like the balustrades, stair railings, or even stair treads will allow light to pass through different levels and maintain an open feel while replacing a solid wall with glass partitions or using interior windows also lets light flow between rooms while maintaining a separation of spaces.
Finally, high ceilings can make rooms feel more spacious and allow more natural light to penetrate deeper into the interior. Vaulted or double-height ceilings are particularly effective at helping light move between floors, brightening up both levels of your double-storey home.
Implementing lighting-focused design elements can dramatically improve the brightness, ambiance, and overall liveability of a double storey house. Careful planning during the architectural phase is the key to creating light-filled, energy-efficient 2nd storey house extensions. Melbourne homeowners keen on building up should get in touch with the team at Duncan Thompson Extensions today. We have been creating high-quality double storey additions for clients throughout Melbourne’s eastern and bayside suburbs for over 35 years. Call 9836 8655 or enquire online now.
