Whenever you’re renovating living spaces in your home, it’s important to take into consideration natural lighting. Sunlight can transform how a space looks and feels, and even improve functionality. When it comes to your kitchen, natural light can be easy to overlook but incorporating it into your new design offers several advantages. Whether it’s through the strategic placement of windows or doors, allowing natural light to flood into your kitchen can create a space you enjoy spending time in throughout the day.
If you’re planning a kitchen renovation, below we have explored the importance of natural light in kitchen design and provided some practical advice on how you can incorporate more natural light into your new living space.
The Impact of Natural Light on Interior Design
Natural light is a powerful design element that can influence the overall appearance and practicality of your new kitchen. It’s also known for its ability to impact the mood in a space and incorporating natural light can make the kitchen feel more welcoming. It can even help boost energy levels, making cooking and socialising in your dream kitchen more enjoyable.
Natural light is particularly impactful in small kitchens and can make the room seem more spacious. When focusing on natural light, you can enhance the colours of your kitchen cabinets, worktops and flooring too, giving the space a fresher feel. Not to mention, it can connect your indoor living space to your garden and help bring the outdoors in.
Ways to Bring Natural Light into Your New Kitchen
Bringing natural light into your kitchen can transform it into a bright and airy space. Here are some effective strategies to increase natural lighting in your new design;
Windows
Adding more windows to your kitchen is one of the most straightforward ways to increase natural light. Think about where the sun rises and sets, and position the windows to make the most of morning or evening light, depending on your preferences and routine. Large windows not only add more natural light but also enhance the visual appeal of the space. Positioning windows on multiple walls can also distribute light evenly throughout the room and even improve ventilation, making your kitchen feel much fresher.
Exterior Doors
Incorporating glass doors into your new kitchen design, such as bi-folding doors or sliding patio doors, can significantly increase the amount of natural light entering the room. These doors provide the added benefit of easy access to outdoor living spaces, making them perfect for kitchens that open onto gardens. Glass doors can also be an eye-catching feature in your newly designed kitchen and they’re ideal for large, open-plan spaces with kitchen islands or seating areas, turning your kitchen into the perfect place to spend time throughout the day.
Skylights
For smaller kitchens or kitchens with limited wall space for additional windows, skylights are an excellent alternative. They don’t take up valuable space you might need for cabinets or appliances and they provide top-down natural lighting that can brighten central areas of the kitchen that windows might not reach. Skylights can make the whole kitchen space lighter and more airier. Not to mention, operable skylights can help in ventilating your kitchen, improving both the ambience and air quality.
Maximising Natural Light in Your Kitchen Design
In addition to incorporating new windows and doors into your kitchen, there are a few ways you can enhance sunlight. To ensure your kitchen makes the most of natural light, even during the winter months, consider the following;
- Strategic Kitchen Layouts – When planning your kitchen layout, consider how to best use natural light sources. Make sure you’re not covering windows with storage solutions and preventing light from entering the room. Positioning your main work areas, like the sink or hob, near windows can also make using your kitchen easier and more enjoyable. An open-plan layout can help light travel further into the room, brightening every corner.
- Light Colours – Light colours reflect natural light, making them a great choice for kitchen colour schemes. Opt for light-coloured walls, cabinets and countertops to make the space feel brighter and larger. Soft shades of white, cream or light grey are versatile and can help maximise the impact of natural light. Use paint with a satin finish to enhance light reflection without the harshness of a gloss.
- Reflective Surfaces – Integrating reflective surfaces into your kitchen design can also amplify the amount of natural light. Consider using glass tiles for backsplashes or polished stone countertops, these materials help reflect light throughout the kitchen and enhance the overall brightness of the living environment.
- Right Window Coverings – Choosing the right window coverings is crucial for balancing light and privacy. Opt for sheer fabrics that allow sunlight to come through while providing privacy and reducing glare. If privacy isn’t a concern, consider retractable options like blinds to maximise light. In the kitchen, shutters allow you to control the intensity and direction of natural light throughout the day, adapting to different needs.
- Supplementing with Artificial Light – While maximising natural light is ideal, including well-planned artificial lighting is key for ensuring your kitchen is usable at all times of the day and during all seasons. Incorporate a variety of lighting types, such as under-cabinet lights for task lighting, pendant lighting over islands for ambient lighting, and lamps in dining areas for accent lighting. Consider dimmable options and smart lighting systems that can be adjusted to complement natural light levels throughout the day, ensuring a seamless transition between day and night in your kitchen.
Designing a New Kitchen in Beaconsfield
It’s fair to say that natural light shouldn’t be an afterthought when you’re designing a new kitchen for your home. Incorporating natural light into this living space offers several benefits and can make a big difference to the overall look and feel of the room. If you’re unsure how to best use lighting to your advantage, contact our team at Ashford Kitchens & Interiors today for some tailored kitchen design advice. We can help you create your dream space that incorporates the latest kitchen trends with timeless elements to ensure you love the design for years to come.
You can turn to us in confidence for a new kitchen in Beaconsfield knowing we have decades of experience and only use the highest quality materials throughout our kitchen designs. Whether you want a modern kitchen or something more traditional, explore the collections on our website today or pop into one of our showrooms for some inspiration. Our expert in-house designers will be happy to discuss your ideas in more detail and show you a range of options for your new kitchen design. You will be in very good hands with Ashford Kitchens & Interiors.