Natural light adds warmth and beauty to a home, as well as providing a free mood booster. Here are four ways to maximize the amount of sunlight in your space.

Choose lighter paint colors. Walls painted in creamy whites or light grays with a satin finish will brighten up a room and reflect more light. You can also paint the ceiling a lighter shade than the walls to give the illusion of more height and airiness. Painting the window trim white will also give the appearance of larger windows and a brighter room.

Create Reflection. Large mirrors can magnify the incoming light to further brighten a room. If an area receives little direct sun, try hanging a mirror in the hallway to reflect light into the room. Installing glass tile or another type of glossy backsplash in the kitchen can also reflect the sun’s rays throughout the space.

Minimize window treatments. If privacy isn’t a concern, skip the blinds and curtains to let in as much light as possible. If coverings are a must, choose a style of blinds that’s easy to open and close, and opt for breezy white curtains.

Install more windows. If your budget allows, install bigger windows or add skylights to increase the amount of sunlight coming into a room. Adding a front door with a frosted glass window or French doors leading to a patio can also flood rooms with extra light.

-Homeowner’s Update