Installing skylights in your home will brighten up a room and add an element of design and functionality that’s hard to beat. Are you considering home renovations to bring in some extra light?
Installing Skylights can be a beneficial addition to any room in your home. Their rooftop location gives skylights unique characteristics that can give you many advantages.
Skylights’ many different styles and features give you more control over how they look and the benefits you get from them.
Keep reading to discover the seven benefits of adding a skylight to your home design.
1. More Natural Light
Installing skylights is a simple way to get more natural light into your home. It can complement the light you already get from windows in the room.
Skylights are also a good solution in dark areas without windows, such as hallways or interior bathrooms. Those spaces would otherwise rely on artificial light all day and night. Skylights brighten those spaces and make them feel more cheerful.
Since skylights are on the roof, they capture the sunlight longer than windows. Depending on the skylight’s position, you can capture sunlight all day.
Having overhead natural light can take the place of artificial lighting for the majority of the day. Natural light is often more appealing because it’s less harsh than artificial light. You might find seeing what you’re doing in natural light easier than with artificial light.
It also helps reduce your electric bill since you don’t have to run your lamps and overhead lights as much. This saves you money and reduces your carbon footprint, which is good for the environment.
2. Heating and Cooling Benefits
The heat from the sun also comes through the skylight, which can help save energy. In the winter, the sunlight from the skylight can make your space feel warmer.
The amount of heat you gain in the winter from your skylight depends on the characteristics of the skylight. Some skylights have glazing or tints to cut down on the UV rays that penetrate the material. This can reduce how much heat enters your home.
The solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) measures how much heat will come in through the skylight. A high SHGC means more heat enters your home through the skylight. If you want the benefits of warmth in the winter, choose a skylight with a higher SHGC.
The size of the skylight also affects how much heat you can get in the winter. A larger window area lets in more sunlight and heat.
In the summer, that extra solar heat could make your space feel hotter than you’d like. For those times, skylight shades blackout the sunlight easily. This gives you full control over when you have sunlight and when you get shade, so you can still enjoy the warmth in the winter without excess heat in the summer.
If your skylight opens, you can use it to make your room feel more comfortable. The breeze from the skylight can help cool the room. You can also create a cross breeze by opening the skylight and windows.
These heating and cooling benefits year-round can reduce your utility bills. By keeping your home cooler and warmer when appropriate, the skylight can reduce your need to run your HVAC system as often.
3. Privacy
Skylights are a good way to get natural light and beautiful outdoor views while protecting your privacy. Traditional windows offer those same benefits, but others can see into your home. That’s not as big of a deal in a living room or other shared spaces. However, you’ll want more privacy in your bathroom and bedroom.
With skylights, you can get more sunlight and views you want without letting others see inside your room. This can be beneficial if you live in a neighborhood where houses are close to one another.
4. Ventilation
If you choose a skylight that opens, you can enjoy the benefits of increased ventilation and air circulation in your home. Getting more fresh air into your home and eliminating odors is easy. Opening a skylight can also help remove excess moisture, reducing the risks of mold and mildew growth.
5. Larger Feeling in the Room
Skylights can give the impression of a bigger room in a few ways. A brighter space seems larger and more open than a dark room so that the natural light can boost your room.
The skylight also connects the room to the outdoors and visually removes the ceiling. This can give the room a more expansive feeling since the view continues instead of being cut off by the ceiling. It can give the illusion of a bigger space overall or a higher ceiling. This benefit makes skylights ideal in smaller rooms that feel cramped.
6. Aesthetic Value
A skylight draws the eye to the ceiling, making it a beautiful focal point in the room. With many styles and shapes available, skylights easily fit into your current room design while adding a decorative touch. The added aesthetics can be a selling point when you sell your home.
Skylights can also improve the overall aesthetics of the room. Natural light makes the colors in your room seem more vivid and appealing. The light can also highlight certain architectural features in the room to make your overall design more prominent.
7. Health Benefits
Having a skylight could give you some health benefits as well. Sunlight is important to keep your vitamin D levels up. Vitamin D has many health benefits, including strong bones and immune function support.
Natural sunlight can also boost your mood. You might feel happier and more creative with the natural light in your room. It can reduce stress and anxiety to help you feel better overall.
Benefits of Installing Skylights
Skylights can work in any room and offer many benefits, from aesthetics to energy savings. Understanding the benefits and what you want from your skylight helps you choose and design the perfect option. Explore our archives for more tips on designing your home.