So, you’ve finally found that luxury home you’ve been dreaming of, and it’s pretty near to perfect. With spacious rooms, a sprawling garden and even an indoor heated swimming pool, it ticks almost all the boxes – but there’s just one problem; it’s dark.
Lighting, whether good or bad, can make all the difference to the feel and atmosphere of a home, and failing to get it right can quickly make even the roomiest of houses suddenly feel dingy and cramped.
There’s only so much that artificial installations can do, and at times, can emphasise the feeling of darkness and lack of space all the more in a room that is devoid of natural light. Homes that have few or small windows will often suffer from this affliction, particularly when darker shades have been chosen for the interiors.
So, what’s the solution? A number of leading interior designers say roof windows are a great way to introduce some natural, beautiful light into your home – and the good news is, the additional benefits are many. Not only do they have the power to effectively lighten the mood and the atmosphere of any room, but they also act as insulators – not to mention giving you a pretty good view of the sky for those who enjoy a good sunrise or a spot of night-time star-gazing.
Choosing the right skylight for your home requires some careful thought – it’s not a case of one-size fits all, and the same goes for choosing where exactly to have it installed.
Before long, you can be well on your way to brighter days – so read on to find out how.
The right roof window for your home
Before you even get started with shopping for the perfect roof window, there are a few things you need to consider first. You may need to apply for planning permission from your local council, so be sure to look into this in advance of making any plans.
The great thing about skylights is that they don’t take up valuable wall space like normal windows do. The more wall space you have, the more flexibility you have with how you choose to lay out your room, allowing you to create a more spacious feel overall.
Think about the location of your new roof windows – will they be north-facing, east-facing, west-facing, or south-facing? The direction in which they will be facing matters more than you think, as the amount of light they allow to enter your home will differ, and the time of day at which they are the most efficient, too. South-facing windows bring light and warmth throughout the year, and are a great option for people who live in colder climates. North facing windows bring the same amount of light, but it won’t be as warm or as bright, while east and west-facing roof windows will bring the beautiful orange light of the sun – only the intensity and brightness will vary.
If you’re looking to place a roof window in the living room, think about how that amount of sunlight and warmth will affect your everyday life, and choose according to your needs.
Types of roof windows
As with all types of windows, there are a variety of different roof windows and skylights to choose from, so take the time to get to know your options before you start shopping.
If you have a pitched roof, centre-pivot roof windows are your solution. These windows have a single panel that tilts in the middle, and essentially just hang open until you decide to close them. Do bear in mind, however that, for this reason, they tend to take up more space than other options. Consider getting yourself a window with an electronic remote-control frame that allows you to manipulate the window from afar, especially if it will sit in a hard to reach position that is high in the roof.
Top hung roof windows are very similar, but do not pivot in the centre. Instead, they open up from the top, never obstructing your view, and are great for cramped spaces, like the bedroom.
If your roof is flat, you may wish to choose a centre-pivot window, or even opt for a sun tunnel. Comprised of circular tubes that reflect a great amount of sunlight and direct it into your desired room, they are a great option for rooms that don’t receive plenty of natural light and are particularly shrouded in darkness.
Want to go for the wow factor and ramp up the natural light levels even further? Why not have multiple roof windows installed right next to each other in a row, to create a stunning atrium wall?
Whichever roof window you opt for, this simple method is guaranteed to lighten the mood in even the darkest of homes. So, don’t put up with having to sit in the shadows a moment longer.
