Daylighting is an interior design concept that uses natural light to illuminate indoor living spaces. It takes advantage of reflective surfaces and the placement of fenestrations like windows and doors based on the home’s location and orientation relative to the sun. It is a crucial aspect of home living that emphasizes visual comfort without relying too heavily on artificial lighting. Plus, natural lighting has been linked to improved health and productivity.
Here are tips to help you achieve effective daylighting using windows.
1. Ensure Balanced Lighting
Overdoing daylighting can lead to glare which can be uncomfortable to the eyes. To avoid this, make sure that sunlight entering your home comes from at least two directions. Multiple sunbeams help remove bright visual spots inside your home. If a room cannot have more than one window, consider installing either a bay or bow window. It is a type of protection window that has multiple glass panes angled to bring natural light in different directions.
2. Utilize Reflective Surfaces
You can bolster your home’s daylighting needs by taking advantage of reflective surfaces. Tiles on walls and floors help scatter natural light. Hanging a mirror or painting the walls with a lighter color further brightens the interior.
3. Choose the Right Window Glazing
Natural light also comes with ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation that can impact your home’s comfort levels and cause fading on your carpets and furniture. When choosing new windows for your home, consider those with glass that has low emissivity (low-E) coatings. This important component helps prevent solar heat transmission while sunlight enters your home.
Turn to Renewal by Andersen® of San Francisco for your window replacement needs. We install high-quality replacement windows that are not only beautiful, but can also contribute to lowering your energy bills. Call (866) 609-5033, or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. We serve homeowners in San Francisco, CA, and the surrounding communities.
