In this article, we share four strategies to bring in an abundance of natural light in your renovation. These techniques transcend the immovable aspects of NYC real estate. We use them with our clients and offer them to you as inspiration.
Most apartments have a finite amount of potential natural light based on fixed factors, and you can’t add more windows.
Accept these constraints and focus your efforts on optimizing the light you receive.
Think expansively. Your gut renovation allows you to rethink the flow of sunlight throughout your floor plant to maximize daylight per square foot.
These spatial design choices allow natural light to travel deeper and more expansively into your living areas, helping you achieve a brighter and more enjoyable home.
For example, replacing a solid wall separating rooms with wide pocket doors establishes sightlines that illuminate previously divided spaces with cheerful sunshine. In recent projects, I’ve achieved remarkable 40-45% increases in overall brightness simply by thoughtfully reconfiguring the layout – akin to the difference in daylight between New York City and Miami during winter!
Tap into a dormant strength. Maximize window visibility from various vantage points to amplify the sense of natural light. Strategically position door openings so you can see multiple windows simultaneously. Better sightlines to your windows will make your home feel brighter by ensuring your windows are easily visible.
The more windows you can see, the greater the sense of sunlight and brightness. Views of the sky or sunlit surfaces reflecting light will enhance this effect.
In addition, in rooms without direct sunlight, the glow of outdoor light can reach deep into your apartment, beyond the reach of direct sunlight, and enhance the feeling of brightness. In other words, the more you perceive the light, the more you’ll feel its presence.
Rethink what is. In prewar apartments, spaces like kitchens and dining rooms were often positioned as secondary rooms without emphasizing window views. Your renovation empowers you to recenter these high-traffic areas around nearby windows to spotlight the views.
Windows are your untapped resource. When you rethink the relationships among your rooms, you can highlight and celebrate the windows.
Pro Tip: Adjusting a room to center on an existing window is most effective in entertaining spaces.
Light constraints: If permissible, replace your old windows. Advances in window technology enable larger panes of glass with slimmer sashes compared to older windows. New windows in your existing window openings can substantially boost natural light, a valuable attribute homeowners look for. Bring more light into your rooms.
Pro Tip: If your building allows, add or enlarge windows (usually only allowed on the rear facade). It will dramatically increase natural light in your home.
Maximize your experience of natural light in your renovated home by exploring these strategies. Expand how daylight penetrates your spaces through an open layout with thoughtful wall openings and room connections. Prioritize sightlines that showcase multiple windows from key living areas. Reposition rooms like kitchens and dining areas to be center and celebrate nearby windows. And if feasible, enhance illumination by installing new windows with larger expanses of glass.
Expanding how sunlight penetrates your space will reframe your perspective and create positive change. Your renovation will be filled with an abundance of natural light that boosts your daily experience and well-being!
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