Harness Natural Sunlight To Brighten Up A Dark Room With Smart Skylights

If your home feels too dark during the day and you're constantly turning on the lamps before the sun goes down, finding a way to get more natural light into your space is the obvious solution. However, this is a considerable challenge for most homeowners. The direction and placement of your windows, the arrangement of the room, and of course the weather are all outside of your control. Using light, warm colors in your interior design plans, taking down heavy drapes, and putting up mirrors are just a few of the ways you can brighten everything up. One of the most effective ways to upgrade the natural light in your home, though, is to install a skylight.

A skylight not only allows you to incorporate more natural light into your space, but may reduce your energy costs as well, through the process of solar heating. Smart skylights, like the Solatube Skylight Kit will also allow you to maintain control of how your rooms are lit with a dimmer system, which helps ensure that you can always create the perfect ambiance for any occasion.

Tubular skylights like those shown in the video are a popular choice for many homes. The fixtures reflect light downwards into the space with a series of mirrors, and sometimes come with a daylight dimmer, which gives the homeowner full control over how their space is lit. There are a few design considerations you might want to think about, however, before choosing to install this kind of smart skylight in your home.

First, you'll need to review the size of your space. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a skylight shouldn't occupy an area larger than 5% of the room's available square footage, particularly if there are a lot of nearby windows. The direction of the skylight also matters, as this will determine when the most natural light and solar heating is available each day. The glazing and the angle of your skylight are worth reviewing prior to installation as well, since both factors will affect how much heat can come in. Finally, make sure to check whether or not the skylights you're purchasing are Energy Star certified for your region. Fixtures that are designed to match your climate zone will help you reduce your energy costs at home, in addition to elegantly illuminating rooms that are too dark.