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  • We wrote in a previous blog about the benefits of natural light to the mind and body, but it can also provide an advantage for your pocket too. It makes sense that something that improves both mental and physical health in a house would also increase its value and that is certainly the case with natural light. A recent survey found that 84 percent of home buyers valued the amount of natural light in a property as the most important factor in their search. So how do you increase natural light in your home to increase its value?

    Thankfully, there are a few methods of maximising the amount of sunlight shining into your property, which we have compiled here to help you out and set you on the route to boosting the price of your home.

     

    Get Clever With the Paint

    A little decoration can go a long way when it comes to harnessing the sunlight in your home. Having dark, cluttered walls sucks the light out of the room and gives a murky feel to the place when prospective buyers are looking around. Even on a sunny day, it is difficult for house buyers to see past the gloom caused by the dark decor.

    Using pastels and light tones, even white, on your wall transforms it and reflects the natural light around. This makes everything seem brighter, which is what buyers are looking for. It also gives the impression of space and makes the room look bigger than it actually is. It will certainly stick in the minds of the buyers and light, airy and fresh.

    As well as giving the internal decoration and refresh, another trick is to paint the fascias, soffits and bargeboards. The fascias are the area to which the guttering is attached, the soffits are the underside of the fascias, and the bargeboard runs under the roof on the gable end. Painting these elements white helps add to the airy feel, and they can help reflect sunlight down into the windows too, helping with your plan to increase natural light in your home.

     

    Mirror Mirror On the Wall

    Another trick to get that light bouncing around the home is to hang mirrors in places where it streams in. They reflect it around and can also be used to direct the natural light to any areas of the home that are usually missed out by it coming through the windows because of the layout of the property.

    Place the mirror either opposite or next to a window and it will be able to draw out the light even on those gloomy winter days. It’s a great trick and can really improve your mood and the attractiveness of your property to prospective buyers.

    Another benefit of mirrors, and something they have in common with light paints on the wall, is that they make the room look larger, so this is definitely a tactic you should consider.

     

    Timing is Everything

    If you have a home that attracts a good deal of natural light, then make sure you show it off. Try to arrange viewings for the point of the day when it is at its strongest in your home. Many house viewings currently are preceded by a virtual viewing, and you should film this at that time too. Make sure you show off your home’s potential to draw in natural light at every opportunity.

     

    Install a Rooflight

    Another way of harnessing the power of the sun is to install a rooflight. Due to their angle in the roof, they can increase natural light in your home, both with direct and indirect light, depending on the position of the rooflight, the time of day and the time of year.

    They come in a range of sizes that you can choose from, depending on budget and what you want your rooflight to align with in your home. It might be that you want it to sit directly above the dining table to bring daylight to your family meal times. In addition, you could be looking for natural light to improve the conditions in your home office or studio.

    Whatever type and size of rooflight you opt for, the amount of natural light it allows into the home will make you feel more awake, more alert and will impress prospective buyers seeking out that natural light they need to make their new home extra special.