How to make your home feel lighter and brighter

The welcome arrival of spring means natural light levels are once again improving, benefiting our homes and gardens as well as our own mental health. The days are longer, the sun is shining more brightly, and the gloom of winter has finally been banished for another year. With less reliance on artificial light and more reason to keep the blinds open, this is an ideal time of year to make your home feel lighter and brighter.

Some jobs need to wait until new plasterboard has dried out, but others can be tackled straight away. As well as accentuating the airiness and neutral décor every new Cruden home is built with, the following suggestions will maximise the brightness of any property…

Choose pale decorative tones

If you’ve ever had the misfortune to find yourself in a room decorated in black, you’ll know how gloomy even a bright south-facing apartment may feel. Lighter shades make rooms seem bigger, brighter and more welcoming, and are highly recommended for smaller apartments, north-facing rooms or internal spaces. Feature walls are falling out of fashion, but wallpaper is back in and a textured (rather than patterned) paper in a light colour adds character and warmth to any apartment.

Pick effective lighting

Our new homes are supplied with ceiling pendant lights, but the only limit to interior lighting is your imagination. From kickplate LED bulbs in kitchen cabinets or stairwell risers through to chandeliers and motion-activated magnetic light bars, you can endlessly personalise your home’s artificial lighting. Full spectrum lamps are bulky but replicate the brightness of natural daylight, as well as reducing the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. LED lighting is energy efficient, and colour-changing bulbs add character. 

Keep windows clear

Cruden properties tend to incorporate generously sized windows, so it would be a shame to obscure them behind a sofa or bedframe. Equally, installing plantation blinds with thick slats or dense fabric blinds will reduce light ingress from outside. Bottom-up blinds let sunshine stream in while ensuring privacy from passers-by, and floating blinds are adjustable in either direction. If you’re going to install curtains, ensure they can be fully opened or tied back. Regular window cleaning (inside and out) also optimises light flow.

Deploy mirrors cleverly

Mirrors are great for reflecting light around the house, particularly throughout internal spaces. Hang mirrors on the opposite wall to windows, in stairwells without a window and in internal spaces like utility cupboards. It’s also a great idea to buy lightweight mirrors and stick them inside wardrobe doors, to help while you’re getting dressed. Mirrors can be statement pieces in their own right, particularly when hung above fireplaces or dining tables, and interior designers will sometimes ensure lamp light bounces off mirrors to double its impact.

Position furniture optimally

Although we’ve previously recommended shelving units and wardrobes which extend up to the ceiling, there are occasions when lower furniture works better. A sideboard permits more natural light past it than a Welsh dresser, for instance. Ensure furnishings aren’t standing in locations which might block light or restrict access, such as a chest of drawers which makes it impossible to walk past while holding a laundry basket. Dark woods like mahogany are stylish but lighter shades (ash, beech, oak) contribute to a greater sense of interior lightness.

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