Few things affect how we feel at home as profoundly as natural light.
In fact, natural light has been linked to better sleep, increased productivity, reduced stress, and improved immune function…
…But, while those facts are compelling, they’ve also become a bit…common knowledge!! Everyone talks about vitamin D, being more focused, or feeling happier. There are other benefits, though that don’t get any airtime in the renovation industry…and I’m here to fill that gap!!
Natural light is crucial for your health, and it’s also transformative to your home’s architecture, art and décor, entertaining style, and the way you enjoy time in each space. It boosts your home’s resale value, too, by elevating spaces to feel more tailored, expansive, even indulgent.
Just look at these 12 ideas that elevate homes and redefine the real and total power of natural light…
1. Floor-to-Ceiling Minimal Frame Windows
With these near-frameless windows, walls seem to vanish altogether as your floor-to-ceiling panes (and the views through them) take center stage. Not only does this bring in MUCH more light, but you’ll spend more time visually connecting to your gardens, terraces and far-off views…
(Biophilic and indoor-outdoor designs are sticking around for good reason.)
Why it works
Modern pane manufacturing plus something called “thermally broken frames” allow us to build larger windows today than ever before.
How to up your game
Make it even more luxurious by choosing an ultra-clear, low-iron glass for a degree of clarity that enhances views even more. Or integrate smart-tinting technology that adjusts with the sun…and your schedule!!
2. Oversized Pivot Doors Using Glass Inserts
Oversized pivot doors are an architectural choice that doubles as a statement piece. Instead of a traditional hinge, they rotate on a central axis, which allows for larger panels and therefore more glass…meaning more light!! Your grand entrance becomes brighter and more sophisticated.
Why it works
Unlike traditional swing doors, pivot doors can support much larger panes of glass, letting more natural light in.
How to up your game
Opt for custom-crafted doors with architectural glass and built-in smart locks, making this a security-forward addition as well as a beautiful one.
3. Skylight Corridors or Glass Roof Panels
Overhead glazing changes everything.
So ask yourself…what’s to stop you from installing a linear skylight that runs the length of a hallway? Or a strategically placed glass roof panel over a dining area? Light pours in from above, changes throughout the day, and lifts the ambiance in a breathtaking way…
Why it works
Overhead natural light sources create an immersive brightness (whereas others serve a more decorative purpose). This makes a big difference in a high-end space.
How to up your game
Make it even more luxurious by installing smart skylights with electrochromic glass. You can adjust their tint, and some models open automatically for fresh air when conditions are right.
4. Interior Glass Walls
Interior partitions room to room don’t have to block light. With glass walls or space dividers, your environments maintain separation while allowing sunlight to flood through.
Why it works
Light travels freely, even into the most interior rooms of your home. They don’t have to be condemned to feeling dim!
How to up your game
Choose switchable privacy glass for guest rooms, offices or studies. These use high-tech glass that can switch from clear to frosted with the flip of a switch.
5. Light Wells with Mirrors
Light wells (vertical shafts that pull daylight down into the core of a home) are a classic architectural solution. Paired with mirrors or metallic surfaces, the light bounces and refracts to create a glow wherever you guide it.
Why it works
Light wells are an especially elegant solution for landlocked rooms (or even closets)!
How to up your game
Surround a light well with custom mirrored panels or metallic surfaces to increase the brightness and add exceptional visual interest!!
6. Clerestory Windows
Clerestory windows are set high on walls, usually just below the ceiling line. There, they create a natural glow that shifts with the sun. The effect is both practical and, when designed right, poetic.
Why it works
Clerestory windows maintain privacy while allowing long and soft rays to enter and move throughout a space. In homes with vaulted ceilings, they add architectural dimension and fill the space with gentle, indirect light.
How to up your game
Frame clerestory windows in custom trim and millwork for a layered glow and some shapely shadows!!
7. Solar Tubes with Integrated LED Hybrid Systems
Solar tubes are an unexpected upgrade in luxury homes, but they’re also a smart way to discreetly capture and channel sunlight from your roof. They flood a space with soft, natural light, and with any new hybrid model, the effect can continue into the evening.
Why it works
Solar tubes funnel sunlight from the roof into small or internal spaces for a surprising impact.
How to up your game
Upgrade to a hybrid model with tunable LEDs that supplement natural light when the sun goes down.
8. Reflective High-Design Ceiling Finishes
In a well-designed room, ceilings are yet another feature to leverage. When finished with light-reflecting materials, your ceilings can be beautiful and help distribute sunlight throughout the space.
Why it works
Reflective surfaces help distribute sunlight without any scattered or harsh glare.
How to up your game
Use a polished Venetian plaster or lacquer finish in pale tones for that unbeatable, upscale shimmer.
9. Custom Light Shelves
A light shelf might sound simple (or even a bit odd), but when one is custom designed, it can be functional and sculptural. These shelves are horizontal surfaces that sit near windows and bounce sunlight upward across the ceiling, while reducing direct glare.
Why it works
Light shelves enhance efficiency and eliminate glare, especially in sunny climates or in east or west-facing rooms.
How to up your game
Motorized or seasonally adjustable shelves with decorative finishes add function and artistry you can play with!!
10. Automated Sheer Shades
Selecting the right window treatments is a “must” for energy efficiency, privacy, and to protect your selections from direct light. But you also want to let light in!! You can have it all by layering automated sheer drapes with hidden blackout shades, giving you complete control over brightness.
Why it works
Layers of light control allow a room to evolve throughout the day (and for every need or event).
How to up your game
Tie your window covering system into a full home automation suite, synchronized with lighting, HVAC, and privacy settings.
11. Indoor Atrium with a Retractable Roof
Nothing transforms a floor plan like a central courtyard.
Why not stop a moment, just to think about that?!
In the context of modern luxury homes, when an indoor atrium is designed with a retractable roof, the space becomes a luminous core of your home that shares daylight with every adjoining room. It’s a private oasis…a natural light engine…and it can COMPLETELY change the entire mood of your home.
Why it works
Courtyards bring natural light to multiple rooms and establish a matchless indoor-outdoor flow.
How to up your game
Install a retractable roof with climate control and rain detection for year-round enjoyment.
Just look at how we did that in this award-winning indoor-outdoor pool cabana and nearby spaces…
12. Expanded Transoms Around Doors
Entrances are what first set the tone for your home, and transoms bring warmth and energy as soon as people step up to the door. Built above and alongside an entryway, transom panes welcome light into an otherwise overlooked area.
Why it works
These vertical and horizontal window panels add brightness without compromising privacy.
How to up your game
Elevate your foyers and hallways into total elegance with a custom-etch or frosted glass displaying patterns that echo your interior architectural motifs.
BONUS! Reflective Exterior Hardscaping
Your home’s exterior plays a more powerful role in lighting than many realize!! When pale stone patios, pools, or water features are placed near large windows, they BOUNCE daylight into your home. The effect is subtle and utterly delightful, with light shimmering off the garden into your living room…
Why it works
Light-colored or reflective surfaces near windows naturally bounce soft, ambient light inside.
How to up your game
Use honed stone, water features, or even metallic sculptures near south-facing glazing for a vibrant daytime glow.
Which Light-Loving Upgrade Is Right for You?!
Take just a minute to try something…
Pick the ONE room in your home where the natural light feels the most magical…then ask yourself, what if every room felt that way?
Then, ask what that one room has that others don’t. Is it more beautiful during a certain time of day? Is it facing the right direction? Does it have the best windows?
The chances are that your answer will hint at which of these 12 upgrades would make the most sense for other rooms, too.
Remember…luxury isn’t about having everything, it’s about having the right things that elevate the time you spend in your space. With the right strategy for natural light, your home will breathe, glow, and inspire every hour of the day.
Reach out to us now to get started on your favorite idea!!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
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