One of the best things about spring is more sunlight. Natural light brings many benefits to a home, can lift our spirits and makes us less reliant on the use of artificial lighting, which is good for the environment.

Not all homes are positioned in the right spot to receive ample sunlight but luckily there are tricks and tips designers and architects use to bring more light into a space, so here are some you can try in your own home. Let the sunshine in!

1. Try a transom

The small glass panes above door frames are called transom windows, and they were initially used to allow more airflow into a room as a design compensation for a lack of central air and heating systems.  As well as letting sunlight stream in, they are a valuable aesthetic feature, once a signal of elegance and wealth and remain classic, stylish additions to any home.

2. Clear boundaries

If you have difficulty letting sunlight into all areas of your home, consider replacing walls with glass from ceiling to floor. If this isn’t something you’re able to do to a full wall, then focus on one section instead to diffuse light. This method is particularly effective for smaller spaces, and glass walls can be used as a partition between different rooms such as a kitchen and dining room.

3. Create more space

Should practicalities and budget allow, knock down walls and turn your living areas into one large open space. This is a more expensive method, but also one which will free up your space and bring in the light at the same time. If you have a small home then this is a perfect way to maximise your interior. Small flats, for example, usually have problems with light so this may be the best way of tackling the problem.

4. Dabble with décor

If knocking down walls and adding new windows isn’t practical, apply some simple interior design tricks instead. Place mirrors in your home so they reflect the light to unlit areas - particularly useful for spaces which don’t have many windows or are too small for major construction projects. Utilising colour is another cost-effective way to bring sunlight in. Lighter shades reflect light, so use them on walls and furniture to enhance light levels in any room. These tactics are something you might want to incorporate in hallways as these spaces often lack natural light.

5. Give me shelter

You may have a fixed canopy in your garden to allow you to sit outside and enjoy sunnier days, but they can limit the amount of sunlight entering rooms at the back of the house (especially during winter months when sunshine is particularly scarce). Installing retractable awnings allows you to easily control the light - a simple solution that won’t leave any lasting impact on the exterior of your home or require significant structural change.

6. Look to the sky

Perfect for houses and rooftop apartments, skylights are sophisticated ways to brighten up a space without losing interior wall surface. This is also a practical option if you don't want to trim down trees around the house that may be blocking out daylight. Some skylights can be remote control operated too, meaning one click of a button can increase or decrease shade to easily control the amount of light in the room. Perfect for stargazing on a clear summers’ evening!

About the author: Our guest blogger Hannah Thomas is a gardening and home décor enthusiast with a passion for interior design. She says the garden is the place where she feels most comfortable and is happiest learning, exploring and smiling. 

What are your favourite tips for letting sunlight in your home? Let us know in the comments.