Spring Forward: How to Maximize Natural Light Through Your Windows After Daylight Saving Time
As we all spring forward for Daylight Saving Time, we add extra daylight hours, which in turn makes this time of year the perfect time to maximize natural light in your home. One of the easiest and best ways to maximize the natural light in your home is through optimizing your home’s windows. Whether you’re planning a full window upgrade, or just looking for some simple modifications or mild upgrades, American Remodeling has you covered. Improving how your windows harness the sun’s energy and UV rays not only brightens your space, it may boost your mood, and save on energy costs.
In this post, you’ll be able to learn more about how to make the most of your new windows during and after Daylight Saving Time, the various types of window upgrades, and design tips which can help allow as much light into your home as possible. Feel free to contact us if you need urgent window replacement and we’ll be sure to respond to your message as soon as possible.
Upgrade to Larger or Additional Windows
If your home lacks natural sunlight, you should consider installing larger windows or adding new windows in key areas throughout your home. Our team of window installation experts will be happy to guide you on the best places to upgrade or install new windows. Here are some options we recommend to our customers:
- Floor-to-ceiling windows – These windows are perfect for modern homes and they provide maximum daylight sun exposure to flood any room they’re in with bountiful amounts of sunlight
- Bay or bow windows – These windows extend outward, capturing sunlight from multiple angles throughout the entire day
- Transom windows – These smaller, higher-set windows above doorways and other windows allow for smaller, yet effective amounts of sunlight to enter the associated room without having to sacrifice privacy
- Skylights and sun tunnels – These windows are perfect for bringing in natural light into any room without wall space for you standard form of windows
Pro Tip: South-facing windows will typically capture the most daylight, while east-facing windows bring in gentle morning light, and west-facing windows provide desirable amounts of warm afternoon sun.
Clean & Maintain Your Windows for Maximum Sunlight
Any form of dust, dirt, or smudging can effectively block up to 20-30% of natural light from coming into your home. With the longer daylight hours in effect, now is the ideal time to give your windows a thorough cleaning, inside and out.
How to Get Your Windows Sparkling:
- A vinegar and water solution allows for a streak-free, eco-friendly clean
- Cleaning window sills and frames will help to reduce excess dirt and dust buildup
- Be sure to remove any noticeable debris or mold from your window screens, as this could be diffusing sunlight
- If your windows are difficult to access, or you have many windows throughout your home which require professional cleaning, you should reach out to a window washing company
Bonus: Clean windows not only allow additional amounts of light into your home, they improve overall curb appeal
Swap Out Heavy Window Treatments
Darker, thicker curtains can certainly block a significant amount of sunlight, if that’s what you’re looking for (ex.: for bedrooms to improve sleep quality), but if you’re seeking out more sunlight throughout your home, you’ll want to select from the following options:
- Sheer curtains – Sheer curtains are able to partially filter light and soften the glow of the sun, yet they still allow for a good amount of light to fill the space
- Solar shades – Solar shades help to reduce glare and heat during the warmer months while still allowing a good amount of natural to be let in
- Top-down, bottom-up shades – These shades help to adjust sunlight coverage while allowing a large amount of brightness in
- No treatments at all – If privacy is not a concern, leaving windows completely bare in specific rooms will allow the most sunlight into the room
Pro Tip: Choosing white or lighter colored window treatments can reflect more light into the room
Use Window Film to Reduce Glare Without Blocking Light
One of the most common concerns from homeowners is the large amount of glare and potential heat build-up with larger, sunlight-filled windows. This is especially prevalent with south-facing or west-facing windows:
- UV-blocking film: UV-blocking film has the ability to effectively and efficiently reduce glare and protect furniture, photos, electronics, etc… from sun damage
- Frosted film: Frosted film adds a level of privacy without having to fully sacrifice sunlight
- Reflective film: Reflective film helps to control heat while still allowing plenty of light to make its way into your home
This is a cost-effective way to enhance the comfort of your home while making the most of your daylight saving time
Trim Trees & Outdoor Obstructions
If your windows happen to be blocked by any overgrown trees, bushes, or nearby structures on your property, your windows may not be reaching their full potential when it comes to allowing sunlight into your home. Below are some tips to help allow more sunlight into your home:
- Trim tree branches which shade any windows, especially in the areas of your property which are within the south and west side
- Remove any climbing vines or dense shrubs near your windows which are obstructing sunlight
- If you happen to have any outdoor structures which are blocking sunlight from reaching your windows, such as pergolas or awnings, you may want to adjust those structures or consider relocating them altogether if they are fully blocking or significantly blocking sunlight
Add Reflective Surfaces to Amplify Natural Light
As light enters your home, be sure to maximize its effect by using reflective materials in a strategic fashion throughout your home’s interior:
- Try to place mirrors opposite of your windows, as this will allow the entering sunlight to bounce deeper throughout the room
- Choose lighter-colored walls and ceilings (soft whites, beiges, pastels, etc…) to allow your spaces to feel even brighter when the sunlight enters your home
Consider Energy-Efficient Window Replacements
Modern windows have significantly improved energy efficiency and can save you quite a bit of money during the warmer and colder months, as they have much better insulation qualities than older, out-dated windows. Additionally, modern windows allow more natural light into your home while at the same time maintain a higher level of energy efficiency through improved insulation qualities.
Seek out windows with:
- Low-E (low-emissivity) coatings: Low-Emissivity Coatings allow sunlight into your home while reducing the overall heat gain simultaneously
- Double- or triple-pane glass: Multi-pane glass windows create further levels of insulation and UV protection
- Thin-profile frames: A thinner profile window frame allows maximized glass area and daylight exposure
Choosing to replace windows is not only an investment in improved lighting throughout your home, it’s also an investment into improving energy-efficiency throughout the year which ultimately results in significant cost savings.
American Remodeling is Here to Help You Welcome the Extra Daylight!
As we begin to move into the longer days of spring and summer, making a few modifications and improvements to your existing windows can dramatically improve the amount of natural light within your home throughout the day, improve the overall aesthetic of your home, and improve the energy efficiency of your home throughout the entire year. Through deep-cleaning your home’s windows, swapping out heavier curtains for sheer curtains, trimming or removing outdoor obstructions, or even investing in new windows can all improve the natural light your home is able to welcome in. These tips, tricks, and changes will help you make the most of the spring and summer months. Feel free to contact us today to begin the process of having new windows installed throughout your home for the best spring and summer yet!
