Embrace the Sun: Perfecting Lighting & Natural Light

A Place in the Sun

The power of natural light cannot be understated. The American poet, Walt Whitman, famously proclaimed, “Keep your face always toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.” The same can be said for the light in our homes. Embracing natural light blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living to create a more fluid impression of your interiors. Here are Industville’s best practices to improve the dispersion of natural light around your home and how to balance this with atmospheric artificial light.

Natural Light in a New Light

Natural light does not just benefit our interiors; the sun also provides a healthy dose of vitamin D to enhance your physical wellbeing. Our emotional wellbeing is boosted with a more synchronised circadian rhythm, empowering you to wake up with the sun and make the most of the precious English weather. Click here for further reading on the science behind our bodies. Feel more connected to the outside world and take control of your productivity.

Although our lighting uses low energy bulbs, you can cut your energy use further by embracing natural light. Additionally, the natural light provides considerable heating for your home and again reduces the need for high emission solutions. We engineer our lighting to take full advantage of the benefits provided by natural light, using refined, handblown glass to capture the natural luminous glow; even as functionality becomes diminished, our elegant shades continue to shine.

Natural Light Design Practice

Finding a New Direction

Certain areas of your house will benefit more from natural light than others; an office space positioned around a window will improve your productivity, given the increased energy we experience when exposed to natural light. This will also synchronise your body clock with the sun and supplements a deeper connection between you and nature. Browse the full range of our naturally produced lighting.

When sunbathing in the garden, you know exactly where to sit and at what time of day to optimise your tan, this should hold true for your interiors. If your property is starting from the ground up, firstly, be aware that the designer should have an erudite understanding of the way the sun interacts with the site. This will subsequently inform the materials used, the layout of each room and general orientation of the house.

A Force of Nature

The dispersion of light changes according to the materials it passes through. Different shapes cast distinctive patterns, such as a tree in a garden producing a dazzling dappled effect on the corresponding interior. These dynamic shapes are carved from simple, natural formations and highlight understated sophistication with an intimate ambience. Indoor low-profile plants perform a similar function; accentuating natural light with extraordinary shapes.

We wear our natural influences on our sleeve, highlighting organic raffia shapes, which encourage light to flow through seamlessly and broaden your space. Alternatively, we also offer rattan pendants that maintain a more sophisticated structure, contrasted with a natural weave to fully embrace the radiant sunlight.

Manufactured Solutions

The transfer of natural light can also be furthered with artificial means. Mirrors are excellent conduits of light, and their reflective form allows them to blend seamlessly into your interiors without cluttering significant space. Glass lighting can also be of service in this regard, absorbing the natural glow to reflect into your home, underlined with pure, simple patterns to fuse effortlessly with your room.

South-facing windows receive the most sunlight, consequently, transferring light to north-facing rooms can prove challenging. To penetrate light deeper into your interiors, you can take advantage of different materials to promote the travelling light. Surfaces with high albedo (reflectivity) can distribute sunlight deeper into your building than otherwise possible, this would be relevant to light-coloured walls, ceilings and floors.

Colourful Highlights

Industville supply various glass finishes with high reflectivity and effortless elegance. The handcrafted practices our artisans employ, produce a crystalline glass range with remarkable reflectivity. Our sculpted glass shades come in clear and mocha, equal in purity, these distinct finishes give you the opportunity to match the shade to the tone of your room with ease.

With bright colours, glare can become an issue that strains your eyes and disrupts the composition of a room. One solution involves using matte finishes, which can balance the distribution of light more evenly across your space and expertly reduce glare.

We offer a wide range of colourways to complement your space. Our metal finishes come in brass, pewter and copper. These distinct colours offer unique tones to refine the ambience of your interiors, whether it’s a minimalist space which values colourful embellishments, perfect for our radiant brass. Alternatively, you may be looking for a versatile finish that blends seamlessly with contrasting colours, perfectly highlighted by our sleek pewter.

Glaring Mistakes

You can control glare easily with strategically designed windows. Skylights are one tried and tested solution to promote natural light without an overwhelming glow. However, light shelves can also greatly improve the dispersion of light deep into your space, using a reflective surface to generate a strong glow.

We have designed all of our shades to work with natural light and enhance the tone of your space. We don't make lights just for functionalities sake, our ornate fixtures are timeless works of art. Handmade to give you a distinct and elegant impression, our shades gracefully disperse the natural light around your interior and remain spectacular statement pieces regardless of the glow.

We guarantee that our entire Industville lighting range, from glass to alloys, absorbs considerable glare, utilising strong, robust materials to create a clear, soft diffusion of light. Our glass is cut and refined in European factories for a pure, crystalline finish, reducing glare substantially. Additionally, our alloys are cut by skilled artisans to supply equally refined finishes, perfect for muting glare.

Amplify the sunlit appeal of your space with considered window dressings, lightweight cotton, sheer curtains and linen blinds are preferred to heavy window coverings. Heavy coverings can mute the effects of natural light with reduced coverage and a much stronger light absorbent. Alternatively, the lighter options will create a warmer glow to enrich the ambience of your home, whilst muting the suns glare.

I saw the Light

By understanding how light interacts with your space and strategically implementing Industville design practices, you can create a brighter, more inviting atmosphere. Not only will this enhance the aesthetic appeal of your interiors, but it will also contribute to your physical and emotional health, promote sustainability, and increase your overall productivity. By making the most of the available sunlight, you can create a home that strikes harmony with the natural world.