Natural light has many benefits for the body and soul. Sunlight helps the body generate vitamin D while it lifts spirits and relaxes tired minds. Dark rooms are often associated with sadness and depression, so here’s a few tips for brightening up your home with natural light. Even your plants will thank you for it!

Install a Skylight

Skylights bring a flood of natural light into your living space, even on rainy days. At night, the moon and stars create an ambient glow indoors. In bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens, skylights also add warmth, beauty and value. Choose a reputable company for their installation to ensure they won’t leak in bad weather.

Add Sliding Glass Doors

If you have a deck, patio or a pleasant back yard, sliding glass doors will enhance the view while they bring extra sunshine into your home. Because this is a higher-ticket way to enhance your indoor lighting, Samuels Glass recommends shopping around for the best quality and value before choosing an installer.

Clean the Windows 

It’s amazing how much light a dirty windowpane can block. A good cleaning, inside and out, several times a year is in order. Make your own window cleaner with 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white vinegar and a squirt of dishwashing soap. That film of soot and dirt will come right off, leaving your windows sparkling and your whole house brighter.

Hang Sheer Curtains

Dark curtains block light. Try light-colored or white sheer fabric for your curtains and you’ll notice a big difference. If that isn’t an option, extend the curtain rods so that you can pull the curtains back all the way to the frame, exposing the whole window surface. Another option is to install the curtain rods halfway down the window so that the top half is completely uncovered.

Paint With Light Colors

Dark colors absorb light, making rooms seem smaller. Light colors reflect natural light, amplifying it and making the space seem expansive and airy. If you’re painting a dark wall, buy a high-quality primer to avoid the need for second and third coats. This is the most labor-intensive way to increase natural light in your home, but it works like a charm!

Natural light helps people wake up more easily, feel healthier and respond better in stressful situations. Follow one or all five of these tips for a brighter home and a happier outlook.