As the dark evenings of winter give way to brighter weather, it’s natural to want to let the maximum light into your home.
Not only does this increase the pleasant effect of spring weather, but it is also great for your wellbeing.
Natural light is a great source of vitamin D, and is an important contributor to good health, including a strong immune system and healthy bones, and it can also play a role in ensuring that you get a properly refreshing night’s sleep.
Controlling the light levels in your home during the day is centered on your windows, but when it comes to windows, there are a number of competing priorities.
Our windows are not just the frames through which we see the world, and the main source of light in our homes – they are also part of our domestic heat regulation structures and can prevent privacy issues.
Fortunately, there are a number of window dressing solutions that can help you to maximize light in your home, while not sacrificing privacy, security or temperature control.
Sheer Curtains
Curtains are the traditional window dressing, and while they can offer an aesthetic flexibility due to the variety of patterns and materials available, the typical curtain can block out much of the daylight.
Even when fully open, curtains can reduce the level of light into a home as they impinge on the flow of light, but there are options that retain the aesthetic qualities of the curtain while letting in more light.
Sheer curtains, made from voile or chiffon, are an ideal choice for windows where you want to let in the maximum amount of light, without compromising on your privacy.
If you use sheer curtains in combination with a narrow curtain rod that fits inside the window frame and ensure that the curtains are hemmed below the glass, then they will be unobtrusive.
You can even fit them below the top level of the window, to let more light through, without enabling outsiders to see inside most of the room.
Another option that can provide a real aesthetic appeal is sheer panel curtains.
These fabric panels often feature bold floral patterns in colors that can be coordinated with your domestic style.
When matched with a narrow curtain pole and small iron curtain rings, sheer panel curtains can give a pleasant, vintage appearance while admitting most daylight.
For kitchen windows, there is the option of a café curtain or half-curtain.
This is an ideal style of curtain that can offer a degree of privacy, but also lets in plenty of light, and will look great with café rods, which can be fitted easily into the window recess of your kitchen.
Consider Shutters
Shutters are not a common choice in the US, except as decoration, but they do offer an excellent alternative to curtains, and they can significantly improve the aesthetic appeal of your home.
There is a wide variety of shutters available from wooden shutter blinds to waterproof vinyl shutters that offer long-term protection against humidity and water damage.
Crafted shutters offer good value for money, as they are usually constructed from fiberboard, and you can usually find shutters in a wide choice of colors and styles to fit the aesthetic of your home.
The Beauty of Blinds
Blinds are an excellent choice as a compromise between curtains and shutters.
Venetian blinds are well suited to kitchens and bathrooms, and come in a variety of materials, including wood, plastic and metal.
Being easy to clean, they are extremely practical and enable you to precisely control the level of light in your home, while offering strong privacy protection.
Roller blinds can look great in conservatories, where they provide a strong contemporary feel, and can be chosen to coordinate with furniture and wallpaper to create a stylish effect.
Finally, it’s worth taking a look at shutter blinds. These are available in a wide choice of materials and colors and can be made precisely to fit your windows.
They combine the precision of blinds with the additional privacy and security of shutters and can give your home a European atmosphere.
Conclusion
Maximizing the light in your home is a priority at this time of year, and fortunately there is a range of options available to help, from stylish shutter blinds, to delicate voile curtains, that will enable you to boost the light levels in your home while protecting your domestic privacy.