As we think back onto the small homes of the past, many of us remember small, dank, depressing rooms where sunlight was rarely shown. Today’s small homes are designed to feel more open, airy and light. When you are designing a small home, or remodeling your current small house, thinking about lighting can help make the space feel larger.

Natural Light - Using as many windows and skylights as possible, is obviously a great way to naturally light a room. If you are concerned about privacy in a small home, think about a series of small windows that are higher up so light comes in without the entire neighborhood being able to see inside. Clerestory windows are also a great choice for passive solar heating, making your home more eco friendly at the same time.

Uplighting - When we think about lights, we typically think about lamps with shades or bulbs that hang down from somewhere and direct light downward. This type of lighting can make a small room seem even smaller. By including lighting that is focused upwards, the room seems to open because your focus is not instantly drawn to the lower half of the room, instead allowing you to see the entire area.

Indirect Lighting - Indirect lighting is lighting where the source of the light can’t be seen, such as lighting that is above a cabinet or hidden in a tray ceiling. Indirect lighting can help open rooms without adding lamps and other lighting that take up additional space.

Photo by Outsanity Photos

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