When it comes to interior design, there’s one element that you have to consider room by room, no matter what other features you want to include – and that’s natural light!

The amount of light you have to play around with in different parts of the house will inform all sorts of other decisions you have to make, helping to create different moods and changing the energy of your rooms in an instant.

There are also various little tricks of the trade you can employ to maximise the amount of light you have to play with, even if you have darker spaces that don’t have big windows and which limit the light that comes flooding in.

As essential as lamps and other lighting systems are, there’s no substitute for the real thing and a successful interior design scheme will factor in natural light, combining it well with other light sources to create a welcoming look and feel.

From a health perspective, natural light at home is also a must. It can help keep seasonal depression at bay, gives you your daily intake of vitamin D and can help you improve your sleep quality and quantity… giving you a serious health and wellbeing boost!

So how can you go about maximising the amount of natural light you have?

First of all, think about your choice of paint. By going for lighter, brighter colours, you’ll help the light you have bounce around the room, making everything feel a lot fresher and airier. Don’t forget to paint the ceiling in a light colour, either, and it might be a good idea to go for something with a matte finish to help reduce any glare you might experience.

The use of mirrors is another brilliant – and relatively inexpensive – way to increase the light in any given room. Mirrors reflect light, so can make it seem like there’s twice as much of it in the space.

You could even extend this to other reflective surfaces, including glass or glossy ceramic tiles, subway tiles on the walls, metallic fixtures and fittings… there’s a lot that could be done.

And don’t forget about the flooring, either! If you’re keen on carpet, just go for something in a light or neutral colour, but you could really up the ante by using stone, ceramics or wood with a polished finish – a beautifully contemporary way to update your home and make it feel even more light-filled than before.

Of course, you shouldn’t neglect your artificial lighting altogether, however, and a successful lighting system will combine both artificial and natural lighting. Don’t forget to bear task lighting and accent lighting in mind when putting your design schemes together… you’re sure to be delighted with the results!

Looking for interior design companies in Chelsea at the moment? Get in touch with the Cochrane team today.