Light. Open space. Most people love to walk into a home and catch a glimpse of lighting coming through a bank of windows, look up to a skylight, or across the room to French doors leading to a patio.

Where to Add New Light?

If your house is lacking some of that open space design, here’s what to do. Walk through your house and look for a few places where natural light would make a difference. Start with your foyer. If there are not many windows or the door does not feature any glass or sidelights, consider buying a new door or shopping for replacement windows.

Replacement windows can make a huge difference in the way you perceive your house, along with the actual light coming in. This is true in a family room and kitchen, as these space are so widely used. If they are dark and somber, your mood may reflect it.

Adding Light in Different Remodeling Projects

In a kitchen remodeling, you can add light through the overall layout (removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room, for example) or by adding larger replacement windows. If you have a small door leading to the yard, consider adding a sliding glass door or French doors to maximize the light and view.

In the family room, look for volume. By adding a bank of windows near the ceiling you can capture great views from outdoors and enhance the room design. Scroll down to the third picture in this family room remodel and you’ll see what I mean.

If you are adding windows, make sure you compare all brands, as they offer different styles, colors, and energy efficient features. This should get you started with replacement windows comparisons. Also consider skylights, glass blocks (great in a bathroom setting) and glass doors on cabinets to help transfer light.

You should quickly see the benefits to a light, open space.