There are many benefits to letting more natural light into your home. Natural light is healthy — it helps our bodies produce vitamin D and can lift our mood. It helps houseplants to grow while killing unwanted fungi like mould. Allowing sunlight into your home also reduces reliance on electric lighting, helping you to save money on your energy bills. You can let more light into your home by adding more windows and by keeping the curtains open. However, this can have its drawbacks - if you live on a busy street, you could have lots of people staring into your home. To allow in light without feeling like you’re living in a fishbowl, you need to consider alternative methods. Below are just a few great ways to maximise natural light in your home while maintaining privacy.
By Team Savant
Image: Roberto Nickson
Net and Voile Curtains
Net curtains and voile curtains could be a great solution. Both options allow light to pass through while distorting the view inwards. Net curtains typically consist of knitted coarse yarn. They are sometimes patterned with leaves or butterflies and are usually plain white or cream.
Voile curtains on the other hand are made up of much more tightly woven thread giving them a slightly opaque look, while still being translucent enough to let in sunlight. They come in a variety of different colours and are usually not patterned.
Both options are typically used alongside regular curtains. When you want to block out all light, you can close both sets of curtains. When you want to let in light but maintain privacy, you can open your regular curtains but keep your voile or net curtains closed.
Blinds and Shutters
Blinds and shutters can also be used to let light into your windows while maintaining privacy. They allow a full level of light control to suit your needs. The slats meanwhile help to distort the view in. Blinds are the most common option. They hang loose from the top of the interior window frame. On top of opening the slats, you can raise or lower them to let in more light if you wish.
Shutters are typically fixed to the window frame — you can open and close the slats, but can’t raise or lower them like blinds. The advantage of them is that they can provide added insulation and security, along with privacy and light control.
While voile and net curtains are often used alongside regular curtains, blinds and shutters are typically used on their own. That said, you can pair blinds and shutters with curtains if you want.
Frosted Glass
Another solution is to use frosted glass. You can’t see clearly through this glass, however light is still allowed to pass through.
Frosted glass is not a good solution for windows in which you want to enjoy the view. However, it can be useful for windows where a view isn’t necessary and privacy is important such as bathroom windows. Some people also install frosted glass front doors to let light into their hallway while maintaining privacy. You can also use frosted glass interior doors to help sunlight access inner rooms.
Frosted glass windows can be paired with curtains or blinds for times when you want to block out all light. There are different types of frosted glass that could be worth looking into.