Dark flat: illuminating ideas for a cosy home

There's little that makes a home feel more comfortable than daylight. Here are some tips on how to bring natural light into a dark flat. 

Directing the light 

Densely built-up areas or old buildings with small windows can benefit from skylights. These can be used to bathe stairwells, galleries, or open-plan living areas in soft light. An interesting alternative are light guiding systems with highly reflective surfaces: they direct daylight into windowless rooms that would otherwise have to be lit by lamps. The use of mirrored glazing, blinds with reflective slats, light-guiding glass in skylights, light-scattering glass and other technologies make it possible to control daylight in a targeted manner and to ensure illumination even in deep rooms. The following solutions not only help to save energy but also create a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.

There's little that makes a home feel more comfortable than daylight. Here are some tips on how to bring natural light into a dark flat. 

Directing the light 

Densely built-up areas or old buildings with small windows can benefit from skylights. These can be used to bathe stairwells, galleries, or open-plan living areas in soft light. An interesting alternative are light guiding systems with highly reflective surfaces: they direct daylight into windowless rooms that would otherwise have to be lit by lamps. The use of mirrored glazing, blinds with reflective slats, light-guiding glass in skylights, light-scattering glass and other technologies make it possible to control daylight in a targeted manner and to ensure illumination even in deep rooms. The following solutions not only help to save energy but also create a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.

• Mirrored glazing: The use of special glazing makes it possible to reflect incoming daylight and direct it deeper into the room to provide uniform illumination. 

• Blinds with reflective slats: Blinds with reflective slats can scatter and reflect the incident light to optimize room illumination and minimize glare. 

• Light-guiding glass in skylights: Light-guiding glass in skylights can direct daylight into the room and ensure efficient illumination. 

• Light-scattering glass: Light-scattering glass distributes incident daylight evenly, minimizing shadows and improving ambient lighting. 

• Light sword: The light sword is a technique that directs light into a room to create specific lighting effects and can be used in architectural designs. 

• Laser-cut panels: Laser-cut panels are often decorative elements that can refract and diffuse incoming daylight in special ways to create interesting light effects. 

• Diffuse light redirection with holographic-optical elements: Holographic optical elements can diffuse and direct incident light to create pleasant and glare-free room lighting. 

• Prism panels as sun protection with diffuse light transmission: Prism panels can be used as sun protection while, at the same time, refracting and diffusing incident light into the room. 

On overcast days, in the evening or in windowless rooms, lamps complement daylight to make your home feel bright and cosy. In addition to classic ceiling lighting, “islands of light” and indirect lighting create a bright, cosy atmosphere. This requires different light sources. Here are some ideas for making the most of artificial light. 

A mix of light sources 

The basic lighting in a dark home is provided by a ceiling light. These can be pendants, spotlights, or LED panels that illuminate the room as evenly as possible – preferably with a warm white, dimmable light. Two to three more light sources per room should be added, such as floor or table lamps, illuminated cabinets, wall lamps or floor spotlights. They add accents and create a homely atmosphere. Tip: Think about socket planning early on to ensure there are enough options. 

Lighting concepts using smart technology 

To create an atmospheric ambience, light sources can not only be switched on and off or be dimmed but can be used with pre-defined lighting scenes. This works, for example, with the Gira System 3000, which allows you to control the light manually via a switch or app or automatically via motion detectors. 

Indirect lighting 

Indirect lighting is mood lighting that can be combined with other light sources. The principle: Light is reflected from a ceiling or wall and diffusely scattered back into the room. This creates a soft light that lets even dark corners shine.

The colours of walls, ceilings and other components have a major influence on how bright or dark a room is perceived. Here are a few ideas: 

Bright wall colours maximize daylight 

White wall colours make dark rooms seem bigger, brighter, and friendlier. If you don't want to go for pure white, you can paint your walls in a warm yellow, light grey or pastel shade. These also reflect daylight, but somewhat less than white. The switches from the Gira E3 design line in pure white, sand, or light grey match these colours perfectly.

Choosing the right furniture can also help to brighten up a dark home. Tips to follow: 

Furniture in light colours and wood tones 

Whether it's a birch dining table, a rattan sofa with white cushions or a beige wool rug, light surfaces reflect light and give dark rooms a friendly atmosphere. By contrast, dark furniture absorbs light and makes the room feel cramped. 

Filigree furniture with a clear design language 

If you want to know which furniture is best for furnishing a dark flat, look to Scandinavia and Japan, or pick the best of both worlds: Japandi. During the long winter months, light furniture fabrics and a clear design language create a friendly atmosphere. 

Tidiness for a harmonious whole 

A jumble of furniture, accessories, and textiles can quickly create chaos and disorder in a flat, making it feel cramped. It’s better to combine selected pieces of furniture and a few accessories to create a harmonious whole – less is more.

Looking for easy-to-implement decorating ideas to enhance the brightening effect of daylight? No problem: 

Optical effects with mirrors 

Mirrors are a great way to brighten up dark homes in no time at all. Cleverly placed, they reflect the sunlight coming in through the window; after sunset, you can achieve the same effect with lamps. Several mirrors next to each other make the room appear even larger. 

Depth through contrasts 

Even with light furniture, walls and ceilings, contrasts are important in a dark flat. They guide the eye and create a sense of depth that we find pleasing. Whether this is a bold wall colour, cushions, a patterned armchair, or a houseplant is up to you. 

Cosiness with airy fabrics 

Textiles can also help create a sense of space in dark rooms. Flowing silk or linen fabrics in light or pastel colours create a light and airy feel.