If you recently bought an older home or have been living in one for a while, you might feel like your home is a little dark or even a bit cramped. For the last several years, open concept has been a popular design choice when building or renovating homes. However, in past decades, the opposite has been the preferred choice, so many older homes have a lot of separate rooms. The kitchen might be closed off from the living space with a separate dining area and so on. As more of us get acclimated to open concepts, returning to our closed off homes can be a little unpleasant. With these tips from The Drapery Guy, you can take steps to open and brighten your home.
Planning a Renovation
The best way to completely open and brighten your home is to plan a renovation. If you’re truly dissatisfied with the layout of your home, the sure-fire way to address those issues is to knock down some walls. With a more open space, even the smallest of houses feel a bit bigger. As you plan your project, you can consider what you want the layout to be, what colors and finishes will brighten the space even more, and what accents will enable you to take advantage of your new design. While this option offers the best results, it is also the most expensive. If you’re not ready for a major project just yet, considering the lighting in your home can help brighten the space.
Considering Lighting
If you do live in a home with many separate rooms, you need a lot more lighting than other homes might. This is because without an open concept, the lighting in one room can’t flow into another. The best way to light a room and brighten your home is with a light that can ‘flood’ the space. Unfortunately, a lot of older homes were designed with outlets connects to light switches so you could use lamps in different corners. However, a light in a corner is not put to its best use because it can only light a certain area. On the other hand, lights mounted on the ceiling can better brighten the center of a room. The lightbulbs you choose will also have an impact. Soft white incandescent light bulbs create yellow light that can seem dimmer. LED light bulbs offer blue light, often call daylight bulbs, that mimic sunlight. These are often brighter and more energy efficient.
Installing Window Treatments
As you consider lighting, you also should make sure you take advantage of natural light offered through the windows in your home. However, you do have to balance your desire for natural light with your need for privacy. With modern window treatments from The Drapery Guy, you can maximize your light control while still protecting your privacy. Hunter Douglas Silhouette® Window Shadings are made with S-shaped vanes of fabric and two sheer fabric panels. This allows you to raise and lower the shadings as need while offering the option to simply adjust the vanes of fabric to let light filter through the sheers. These shadings offer the flexibility of blinds with a cleaner style since cords and cables aren’t needed to connect the vanes of fabric.
While planning a renovation can take a while, you can get started brightening your home with natural light by visiting The Drapery Guy in Westlake Village, California. Serving the surrounding area, including Malibu, Thousand Oaks, and Bell Canyon, we can help you find stylish options that fit in with a bright design. Contact us today for a consultation!
