Hunter Douglas Silhouette® window shadings
Natural light: do you get too much? Not enough? Whatever your situation, you can make the most of it with a little management. Here are some pointers to think about as you develop your décor to help you make sure you’re making the most of the light.
Direction and Time
Do your windows face north, south, east or west? This will determine when you’ll get the best light.Set your space up to flow with your life habits. If you’re an early-morning yoga practitioner, say, perform your sun salutations with the actual sun near an east-facing window!
If you like to relax with a book before dinner, set up your reading nook in a west-facing space to get the afternoon rays on your pages.
North- and south-facing windows get more indirect light, but they can still be quite bright. Observe your space to make the best choices.
Keep this time-of-day thinking in mind for children’s play spaces, art and crafting studios, office spaces and at-home movie-watching.
Not Enough Light
If your space doesn’t get as much natural light as you’d like, don’t despair. Try not to block the light with furniture or other items. But if you have to, get creative! Choose open-frame structures, glass or other types of pieces that let as much through as possible.
Use crisp, bright colors to give the illusion of light. You’d be amazed what a shot of sunny yellow or snowy white can do! Avoid dark colors and subtle tones – dark will make a room feel closed in, and delicate pastels won’t reveal their full glory in a dim space. Stay away from heavy draperies. Opt instead for light-diffusing window treatments that draw in and magnify the light.
Too Much Light
Yes, there can be too much of a good thing! In a space that gets tons of light, be careful to keep delicate fabrics and art pieces, such as old photographs, away from the glare so they don’t get bleached. Face your computers and televisions away from windows that let light in during your usual screen times
Choose window treatments that help manage the light, so you get UV and glare protection without sacrificing illumination. Silhouette Window Shadings are a great bet, as they combine a blind with a sheer shade so you can let in just the right amount for your needs at any moment. As an added benefit, you can also add a room-darkening roller shade. to combine two kinds of light control in to one.
Use matte or eggshell-finish paints for the walls – glossier paint will reveal imperfections. Or, take the opposite approach: go for trendy bold wall textures instead, which look best in bright light.
Natural light is powerful, but if you can harness it, the effect can be just right.
