Unless you're lucky enough to live on a corner lot with side windows, chances are the middle of your house is lacking natural light due to the nature of its long and narrow footprint. Natural light highlights architectural features, creates visually appealing spaces and is associated with numerous health benefits such as improving sleep, mood, and cognitive performance. This is precisely why natural light enjoys broad popularity and allure, making it a worthwhile investment.
Here are some tips to increase natural light in your townhouse:
- Install windows that are wider or longer, reaching to the floor. Alternatively, convert windows into doors that open onto a new outdoor space.
- Reconfigure the layout to create a more open floor plan, allowing more natural light to reach the center of the house.
- Add skylights to bring in additional light.
- Open up the rear exterior wall on the garden or parlor levels, replacing it with oversized windows or a spectacular glass wall, creating the added benefit of integrating the interior with your outdoor space.
To enhance light without major construction consider the following:
- Choose wall finishes that reflect light. Think light creams, pastels, or white with reflective paint finishes such as eggshell or satin.
- Select lighter-colored flooring and avoid dark woods that absorb light; this includes dark window frames.
- If you have brick walls use techniques like pickling or painting to maintain texture while allowing light to bounce around.
- Install large mirrors to reflect light.
Keep in mind that if you are in a historic district or have a landmarked building, you may need approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Visual changes at the back of the house, unseen from the street, have a higher chance of approval since they preserve the historical character of the neighborhood. Hire an architect with landmark experience to guide you and provide insight into the likelihood of approval.
