A room is not a room without natural light.
Lighting can make or break a space. But sometimes, even the most beautiful pendant lights can’t make up for the lack of natural sunlight. For interior rooms without windows or spaces with lots of nooks and crannies, a skylight may be the perfect touch.
Skylights can add a romantic feel to a room – imagine watching the stars rise! Or, with modern technology, you can even disguise a smaller skylight to look like a regular ceiling lamp. The sky’s the limit… literally. But if you’re worried about difficult upkeep or a daunting installation, read on. We’ve compiled 3 tips from skylight manufacturers to help you get started.
Which type of small skylights to use.
When you think of a skylight, you may picture a traditional rectangular shape, slanted along the path of a roof. But you have more options than that, so make sure to pick one that fits with your style and home.
Traditional Angled Skylights
Traditionally shaped small skylights make a timeless statement and allow a significant amount of light into your home.
VeluxUSA makes angled skylights with built in solar power. You can use a remote to open and close them to let fresh air into your home.
Tubular Skylights
Location: Vista, California
Another more modern option is the tubular (or canister) skylight. A small tube is fed through to the roof where it captures sunlight and funnels it inside your home.
This is the right choice if you can’t cut a large opening in the ceiling, or if you need a smaller shape that can navigate around structural components in your attic. Solatube creates tubular skylights with the highest quality materials that bounce light even around curves in the tube, for optimum brightness.
Architectural Skylights
If you’re looking for a more dramatic touch, or perhaps need more light for an art studio or greenroom, consider an architectural skylight. Lazer Manufacturing in Miami creates beautiful skylights in a variety of shapes such as octagonal, pitched, lean-to, and pyramid. They are also rated for severe weather, including hurricanes.
Best places to put smaller skylights.
Some rooms can benefit from the natural light of a skylight, while others may be overwhelmed by too much light. Consider installing your small skylight in darker places that are shut off from natural light like:
Small or Centrally Located Bathrooms
With natural light, a dingy bathroom can easily transform into a perfect space for glow-ups. You could even add a skylight inside a shower stall for some extra Zen.
Laundry and Mud Rooms
Work rooms can easily accumulate junk, but sunlight has a way of making everything feel cleaner.
Entryways & Hallways
Corridors can make a space feel elegant or cramped, depending on how you light them. With a foyer lit by a skylight, your guests and family will always feel brightly welcomed.
Kitchens
Tip: Try to avoid placing skylights in pantries or closets since UV rays can damage clothes and strip the nutrients from food. Or take extra steps to diffuse the sunlight to protect your belongings.
How to diffuse the light from skylights.
Just as you invest in good blinds and curtains to control how light enters from your windows, consider how you will direct the light from your skylights. A skylight installed in the center of your ceiling can create a glare in just one spot and make people feel like the noon sun is beating down on them.
Consider dispersing the light to illuminate more space and preserve a homey atmosphere with the following tips:
Bounce It
Place a tubular skylight close to an interior wall so the light will bounce off the wall, diffusing softly. This works especially well for lightly painted walls. Many manufacturers sell rotatable attachments that can angle the light depending on your needs.
Dim It
Alternatively, you can use a diffuser or dimmer feature. Companies like Natural Lighting Tubular Skylights create accessories that fit into the opening of your skylight so you can adjust the intensity of light. This feature comes with a remote so you can turn the “sun” down with just a click.
Shade It
If you’d rather treat your skylight like another window, Supreme Skylights Inc. makes solar powered shades to fit their skylights perfectly. You can choose between light filtering or room darkening options, which you also control with a click of a remote.
Disguise It
While many people may love the statement a skylight makes, others may wish to incorporate it into the pre-existing design of their home. Installing a lamp cover or shade over the opening of a round tubular skylight will diffuse the light and make it match all the other ceiling fixtures!
Bonus: Installation and Maintenance
Now that you have ideas for how you want your room to look, don’t forget the practical details!
Installation
- First, check local building codes and regulations to ensure compliance.
- Hire a professional or follow manufacturer instructions carefully.
- Analyze the direction of the sun, the availability of light, and any outdoor barriers (like trees) before installation.
- Install excellent insulation around the skylight to prevent heat loss and gain.
Maintenance
- Check for leaks annually.
- Replace the weather-stripping if it appears worn out or damaged – before a leak can happen!
- Clean off dirt and debris that gathers on the skylight’s surface.
- Maintain the rest of your roof to prevent water infiltration and increase your skylight’s lifespan.
Finally, enjoy your beautiful skylight and your view of the sky!
About the Author
Caylah Coffeen is a writer and editor sharing her insight on unique home products that help readers make their homes feel more like home. She also mentors fiction authors at her publishing company, Creative Cornerstones, based in Huntsville, Alabama.
