By the time the New Year starts, most people are sick of staying indoors and would love to see some nice, sunny weather. Here are a few ways to make your house look light and feel bright in the winter months.
Give Your Window Screens a BreakHouseLogic recently stated that you will get 30 percent more sunlight shining into your home when the screens are off the windows. Keep your screens in a garage or basement where they won’t get damaged and put them back on in the spring. Not to mention – sunlight warms your room and will save you money on your heating bill.
Change Your LightbulbsReplace yellowy incandescent light bulbs with LEDs which produce a brighter, whiter light. Keep in mind that the higher the K rating on the bulb, the cooler and whiter its light. For cool, white light, go for a bulb rated 3,500K to 4,100K. For a blue-white light that’s most similar to natural sunlight, use a bulb between 5,000K and 6,500K.
Hang MirrorsBounce the light around a room by hanging decorative mirrors on the walls. If you don’t want to see your reflection in every wall you walk past, use a large, rounded mirror — also known as a fish-eye mirror. It will amplify the light in a room better than a flat one. Another option: Hang a gallery wall of small mirrors.
Clean Your WindowsDirty windows will block a lot of that natural sunlight from coming into your home. Experts say to clean the glass on the inside at least once a month and the glass on the outside of windows once a year.
Swap Your Solid Front Door for One with Glass InsertsA solid front door can make your house’s entry way feel dark. Get rid of it and install a half-light or full-light door that lets the natural light stream in. Not only does this help with the interior of your home, it boosts curb appeal which equals higher resale value.
