4 clever design ideas to help chase away the winter blues in your home

The short days and chilly temperatures of winter can all too easily affect how our homes feel and how we feel in them.

But embracing some smart design tactics can transform a space that feels dark and cramped into one that feels light and spacious all year round.

Whether you have plans to add more space with an extension or transform your attic with a loft conversion, or simply want to make existing rooms work better for your lifestyle, factor in these style possibilities.

1. Maximise daylight by bringing in light from above

With the short days of winter, it can often feel like a struggle to get light into a home at all, which can make it appear dull and gloomy - so it’s no wonder that 24% of homeowners renovate specifically to brighten darker rooms, according to new research from VELUX.

A good solution to this is to make the most of the daylight you do get, as well as the added temperature of any solar gain that comes along with it, and maximise how much of it comes into your home. A key way to do this is to bring in light from above with a roof window.

Not only will this make a space feel much lighter and more spacious, but it can also help warm up rooms naturally. The solar gain, when coupled with energy-efficient glazing, means the room will warm in the sunlight, reducing your energy bills in the process.

This daylight-led design can be a particularly effective choice as part of a kitchen extension, where a rooflight can not only flood the space below with natural light, but also create a real sense of wow factor.

2. Blur the boundary between indoor and out

If the winter weather means you’re not out and about as much as you would be in the warmer months, a lack of natural light in your home can leave you feeling cooped up and miserable. If you feel that way, you’re definitely not alone, as the VELUX research found that 30% of people say that natural light positively impacts their wellbeing.

Fortunately, maximising the amount of daylight you get into your home can help boost your mood and concentration levels, as well as improving your circadian rhythm, which will support your mental wellbeing. Smartly situated windows can also help improve your connection with the outdoors, which can also have a positive effect on how you feel when you are at home.

Beyond that, it’s also important to ensure a steady supply of fresh air in order to maintain a healthy home. Even in winter, it’s crucial you open your windows for a short time every day to not only improve indoor air quality, but also to prevent condensation, dampness and mould.

If you have plans to convert your loft, ensuring you have a supply of fresh air will be essential. After all, hot air rises, and if you don’t have adequate ventilation, a loft space can soon feel very stuffy.

3. Embrace smart decor choices

While you can maximise daylight and connection with the outdoors with roof windows, you’ll achieve the best results if you combine that with some strategic decorating choices too.

Choosing a light colour palette will make a small space feel as open and airy as possible. This works wonders in spaces such as stairwells which often sit in the centre of a home’s floorplan, and furthest away from windows. Another solution here is to add a roof window or light tunnel above your staircase to transform it from somewhere dingy to somewhere drenched with daylight.

Elsewhere in the home, well-placed mirrors can also help bounce light around a room, and give the sense of larger room proportions. Opting for gloss finishes on kitchen cupboards or worktops can have a similar impact.

4. Make light a feature

Whether you’re using artificial lighting or daylight, turning this into a feature of your home’s design can transform how your home looks and feels.

A combination of large picture windows, sliding patio doors and roof windows can flood your home with natural light, and seemingly reduce the boundary between indoor and out. This will not only make your home feel bigger and brighter, but will also give you an opportunity to embrace views of the garden. All of which will boost your mood and sense of wellbeing while at home.

However, when the sun sets early in winter, all is not lost. This is where layered lighting can be used to great effect. Combining ambient, task and accent lighting will ensure your home can still function well and look great, even when the sun goes down.

For more ideas and information on making the most of natural light in your home, visit velux.co.uk.