Waking up in the dark, coming home in the dark, grey skies, and colorless ambiance.

Does that ring a bell? More than half a year has gone by, and there’s only one month of summer left before the cold and dingy days hit us hard. Starting from fall till the end of winters, most of us will be experiencing what is called a seasonal affective disorder. It’s a type of depression offset by seasonal change and cold/dark surroundings because of the weather.

On the bright side, you can make some changes in your home to avoid the seasonal mood changes caused by the chilly weather in the USA during the winters. The keyword is natural light! By following a few simple tricks, you can make your home bright and lively to avoid the onset of seasonal affective disorder. Here are the top tricks to amplify the natural light coming into your house.

Use Light Color Scheme for Your Walls

The interior wall color is the best way to reflect natural light into your home. The Light Reflectance Value (LRV) ranges from 100% for pure white to near zero percent for black. In case you want more light inside your home, there’s nothing better than stark white walls. However, pure white is not everyone’s taste. In that case, go for lighter neutral colors or shades of white.

Now the most crucial part, paint your ceilings white. Since white reflects light the best, most roofs are painted white. You can choose flat white over glossy sheen because the matte finish will reduce the glare.

Make Your Walls Reflect More Light With Higher Gloss Paint

Scientifically speaking, the higher the gloss level, the higher will be the light reflectance of the paint. Simply speaking, a glossier sheen will bounce off more light compared to a matte sheen. This is the same principle as the mirror, and we all know mirrors reflect light like there’s no tomorrow.

However, the glossy sheen is not the be-all, end-all of it. You can go a notch higher to enhance the reflectance. For example, if matte is your preference, opt for eggshell, and if eggshell is what you like, then go for semi-gloss and so on. You can go all the way to a high gloss; bear in mind that glossy walls will have more glare, especially in artificial light.

Opt for Shiny Surfaces Inside Your Home

In spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, opt for shiny surfaces. One of the most preferred ways to do this is to use glass tiles in the kitchen or bathroom backsplash. If the light is correct, the glass tiles can reflect almost 100 percent of the light that makes contact with them.

The next best option is highly glossy ceramic tiles, which have almost the same reflective effect as glass tiles. You can also choose plain white subway tile or metallic backsplash tiles with bright light for maximum light reflection.

Go for a light color scheme and keep it consistent throughout the wall, backsplash, and cabinets to reflect natural light the best and make the space feel more spacious and lively. Additionally, you can add metallic, glass, or mirrored accessories to make the best natural light available and keep your home trendy.

Install Glass Windows and Doors

If you have the budget for it, there’s nothing better than ceiling-high doors and windows. Particularly, the ones with all glass construct and wooden frames. One of the best options is glass bi-folding doors. These can transform an entire wall into a window to the outside. Not only will you be treated with an excellent view, but you also get the best natural light levels inside your home.

Another application is to have glass blocks on walls. Replacing sections of your exterior walls with glass blocks can bring in natural light in spaces where otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. But bear in mind, you will need to have a wall stud system just like windows to ensure the structural integrity around the glass blocks.

Use Skylights in Your Ceiling

This is a more modern and most effective method to pull in natural light in your home. In an architectural context, skylights are often referred to as windows for the roof. Not only do they provide another perspective of the view outside, but they also face upwards and bring in light through the day hours. The best part is that skylights are seldom covered by any foliage or object and give a consistent supply of light.

By bringing in more natural light in your home, you’re trying to recreate the bright and chirpy summer effect inside the house. With these tricks, not only will you be waking up to sun rays falling on your face, but you also reduce the risk of seasonal affective disorder to a large extent.