10 Smart Ways to Shine the Light on Your Terrace
Discover some creative ways to bring more light into a terrace for a lighter, brighter home
Anna Tobin
3 March 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist and editor. I regularly contribute to all the UK glossies and the national press and international press and I run www.dontcrampourstyle.com, the blog for people who live in homes that they've physically outgrown. Follow me on Twitter @theannatobin or contact me via www.annatobin.co.uk
Houzz UK Contributor. I am an experienced lifestyle journalist, interior stylist... More
With windows only at the front and back of the property, the middle section of a terraced house or flat can sometimes appear gloomy. Customise your home for sunshine with these clever design tips, which will illuminate even those central, shadowy corners with natural light.
1. Opt for glazed internal doors
They may cost a little more than solid doors and have an extra expanse of glass to keep clean, but glazed doors are worth it for the extra rays of sunlight they’ll bring into your rooms.
An additional internal glazed area above the doorway, as seen here, can turn a simple entrance into an interesting architectural feature, as well as bring in that little bit more light. It’s also worth maximising the glazing in your external doors, providing it doesn’t compromise their security features.
Considering internal windows and glazing?
They may cost a little more than solid doors and have an extra expanse of glass to keep clean, but glazed doors are worth it for the extra rays of sunlight they’ll bring into your rooms.
An additional internal glazed area above the doorway, as seen here, can turn a simple entrance into an interesting architectural feature, as well as bring in that little bit more light. It’s also worth maximising the glazing in your external doors, providing it doesn’t compromise their security features.
Considering internal windows and glazing?
2. Consider an inside window
Replacing an internal wall or section of a wall with a window can instantly brighten up central areas of a terraced home. It can also make a lovely feature, like this Crittall-style design. If you have children, it means you can keep a closer eye on them when they’re in the room next door too.
Replacing an internal wall or section of a wall with a window can instantly brighten up central areas of a terraced home. It can also make a lovely feature, like this Crittall-style design. If you have children, it means you can keep a closer eye on them when they’re in the room next door too.
3. Let in light between the stairs
Open stair treads and glass balustrades, as shown here, allow light from the entrance hall and landing windows to travel right into the centre of your home. They can also create attractive shadows and strips of light across the walls and floor.
Open stair treads and glass balustrades, as shown here, allow light from the entrance hall and landing windows to travel right into the centre of your home. They can also create attractive shadows and strips of light across the walls and floor.
4. Allow light through the stairs
For an ultra-contemporary feel, consider installing glass stair treads like these ones.
There are strict Building Regulations when it comes to stair design, however, so if you’re going bespoke, make sure your plans comply with the regulations prior to construction to avoid a very expensive mistake.
Stairs that elevate the style of your home
For an ultra-contemporary feel, consider installing glass stair treads like these ones.
There are strict Building Regulations when it comes to stair design, however, so if you’re going bespoke, make sure your plans comply with the regulations prior to construction to avoid a very expensive mistake.
Stairs that elevate the style of your home
5. Install a skylight
The hallways of some terraced homes have no natural light at all. To brighten up such an area, remove the ceiling at the very top of the stairs and insert a skylight into the slope of the roof above. This will instantly brighten things up. If you’re about to embark on a loft extension, it’s the ideal time to make such an addition.
The hallways of some terraced homes have no natural light at all. To brighten up such an area, remove the ceiling at the very top of the stairs and insert a skylight into the slope of the roof above. This will instantly brighten things up. If you’re about to embark on a loft extension, it’s the ideal time to make such an addition.
6. Opt for a sun tunnel
Sun tunnels are special tubes inserted into your roof that snake their way down into whichever part of your home you want to bring daylight to. They contain a highly reflective lining, so they don’t have to run in a straight line from your roof – they can bend around corners and still deliver daylight into the dingy depths of your home.
It makes economic sense to install a light tunnel when you’re making other improvements to your home.
Sun tunnels are special tubes inserted into your roof that snake their way down into whichever part of your home you want to bring daylight to. They contain a highly reflective lining, so they don’t have to run in a straight line from your roof – they can bend around corners and still deliver daylight into the dingy depths of your home.
It makes economic sense to install a light tunnel when you’re making other improvements to your home.
7. Remove the hall wall
Taking out the wall that separates your downstairs living space from your entrance hall ensures the light coming in from a glazed front door, as seen here, travels further into your home. Not only will this help to light the living area more effectively, the open-plan design will also make the whole floor feel larger.
If your hallway wall is a supporting one, you may need to replace it with an RSJ (rolled steel joist) beam to take the load from above.
Taking out the wall that separates your downstairs living space from your entrance hall ensures the light coming in from a glazed front door, as seen here, travels further into your home. Not only will this help to light the living area more effectively, the open-plan design will also make the whole floor feel larger.
If your hallway wall is a supporting one, you may need to replace it with an RSJ (rolled steel joist) beam to take the load from above.
8. Don’t knock the side return
Most Victorian terraced homes were built with a side return – a passageway that leads from a door in the kitchen up the side of the house to the backyard. This allows for a window into the central reception room. It’s very fashionable to build out into this side return, but by doing so, you risk blocking the flow of light into the centre of the house. Consider how much light you would lose before building in this area.
Standout ideas for a unique kitchen
Most Victorian terraced homes were built with a side return – a passageway that leads from a door in the kitchen up the side of the house to the backyard. This allows for a window into the central reception room. It’s very fashionable to build out into this side return, but by doing so, you risk blocking the flow of light into the centre of the house. Consider how much light you would lose before building in this area.
Standout ideas for a unique kitchen
9. Add a glazed extension
If you decide to build into your side return, use as much glass as possible in your extension, so you don’t block the flow of light into that middle room. This glass box extension works wonderfully, and allows light from the side and above to enter the room beyond, so it might actually be brighter than before the extension was built.
If you decide to build into your side return, use as much glass as possible in your extension, so you don’t block the flow of light into that middle room. This glass box extension works wonderfully, and allows light from the side and above to enter the room beyond, so it might actually be brighter than before the extension was built.
10. Make space to reflect
When you’ve maximised the flow of natural light into the centre of your home, it’s time to multiply it. Place mirrors opposite the main sources of light to bounce it further around the room.
Include reflective surfaces too, though you don’t have to go for shiny modern furniture – the polished wood dining table by the window here makes an excellent light reflector.
TELL US
Have you come up with an interesting solution to brighten an area of your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
5 Designer Tricks for Brightening Up a Windowless Bathroom
Let the Sun Shine in: How to Brighten Your Kitchen With Natural Light
9 Simple Happiness Boosters for Every Day
When you’ve maximised the flow of natural light into the centre of your home, it’s time to multiply it. Place mirrors opposite the main sources of light to bounce it further around the room.
Include reflective surfaces too, though you don’t have to go for shiny modern furniture – the polished wood dining table by the window here makes an excellent light reflector.
TELL US
Have you come up with an interesting solution to brighten an area of your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
5 Designer Tricks for Brightening Up a Windowless Bathroom
Let the Sun Shine in: How to Brighten Your Kitchen With Natural Light
9 Simple Happiness Boosters for Every Day
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The Solar Skylight sounds excellent. Does anybody have any info regarding availability in the UK?
Wondering if people have ideas about how best to light the hallway in my terraced flat. I own the top floor in a terraced house, and am just about to do a loft conversion. I plan to install a skylight above the top set of stairs, so I can’t have a pendant light from the ceiling. Meanwhile, the lower stairs are going to get darker, but I don’t want to put a light at the bottom of the stairs as it will shine directly into my downstairs neighbour’s flat (we both have windows above our inside front doors). What do you think? Are wall lights the way to go?
Hi Ruth,
Saw your post and thought of this project LAMILUX installed at a residential home in Dorking.
We specialise in flat roof skylights (or lower pitched roofs) so this may not be relevant if your loft roof is a steep pitch? If this is a flat roof, or if you think we may be able to help with your solution and have any questions or would like to discuss your project, please contact us on 01284 749051 or complete our online enquiry form.