3 Simple Ways to Increase Natural Light in a Room (No Painting or Construction Necessary!)

Natural light. Something we intuitively love.

Uplifting and inspiring, natural sunlight evenly illuminates interiors with balanced, pure light that makes everything look better, and by extension, makes us feel better. 

So what to do if your home doesn't have natural light in ample supply? 

While tips like installing skylights and larger windows help, sometimes a more impermanent, simple solution is necessary. 

If your home lacks windows, or you're trying to get the best use out of a basement, the following three simple tips will help you in your quest to increase natural lighting. All without having to paint a single wall! 

Use Reflective Objects

Reflective objects such as mirrors and glass ornaments, such as bowls and vases will serve a dual purpose in a room sans natural light. Mirrors can make spaces look larger than they really are, while also helping to reflect light. 

Glass will also catch light nicely and can add a sense of depth, brightness, and clarity to a room. 

Include Natural Elements

Fill your room with plants and flowers (make use of your glass vase!)  Incorporating natural elements into your space will help "enliven" it. 

Be Strategic About Your Lighting

If a room is low in natural light, you're going to need light bulbs to help illuminate your space in the first place.

If you choose the proper lighting, it can help brighten up your space with vivid color, while also adding interest and creating the illusion of depth. 

Use High CRI Light Bulbs

In a case where you don't have natural light, a light bulb with high CRI is one of the most critical factors to look out for. 

CRI, or color rendering index, is - in our humble opinion - a measure most indicative of a light source's quality.

CRI measures on a scale of 1 to 100 how accurately a light source reproduces colors as compared to natural sunlight (which has a CRI rating of 100, naturally). 

A light bulb with a CRI above 90 is considered good and above 95, excellent for color vibrancy and a more natural-looking interior.

Next, layer your light in a visually interesting way

Now that you have the light bulbs chosen, you'll have to arrange your light in a visually interesting way. 

The key to this is understanding the three types of lighting: 

Ambient, general lighting, which blankets your space with general light. 

Accent lighting, which adds visual interest to a room by accenting architectural elements or highlighting works of art. 

Task lighting, such as a desk lamp or floor lamp to bring more focused light to an area. 

We generally advise customers to use cooler light (anywhere in the 4000K-5000K range) for their ambient overhead lighting, and to choose warmer light for accent lighting. 

We hope this helps! 

These quick tips should help you optimize the needs you and your space require and deserve, all without lifting a single hammer!

Some more resources:

Thanks for reading! We live and breathe natural, beautiful lighting. 

Now more than ever, our homes are our sanctuaries. All the energy you put into planning out and improving your space will reward you tenfold! 

If you're looking for the highest CRI standard light bulbs and flood bulbs for your home, we recommend any Chromalux® full-spectrum lamps. Chromalux® is the original "natural light" light bulb for health and wellness that, plainly put, makes any space look better. 

Browse our best-selling full spectrum natural light bulbs!