10 Reasons to Love Skylights

During apartment hunting or shopping for a home to buy, one thing that tops many wish lists is ample natural light. And while there’s no doubt that large windows are key, when you add a skylight or two to the mix, the results can be brilliant. From energy savings to mood boosting, here are 10 reasons to love skylights.

1. Skylights add natural light without sacrificing privacy. A skylight in the bath lets natural light sweep in like a window never could, thanks to an overhead view of sky and trees — not neighbors. If the skylight can open, be sure to open it up to vent steam from your shower; if it doesn’t open, a fan that vents to the outside can do the job.


2. Skylights can create a warm glow. Long, slender skylights positioned along a wall cast a warm, indirect light that doesn’t overwhelm a space. Try this moody effect in a bedroom or living room to boost ambient light when overhead skylights would be too much.

Choosing a skylight: If you are planning to add skylights to your home, getting the best you can afford is worth the cost in the long run. Lower-quality or improperly installed skylights can leak, causing major headaches down the road.

How to Add a Skylight or Light Tube


3. Skylights can bring sunshine to a narrow urban lot. If your home shares walls with the neighbors, or is simply so close that side windows would mean you’re peering directly into their homes (and they into yours), skylights can be a smart solution. In this London home, a large skylight and doors opening to the back garden work together to create a light, open feeling on a narrow lot.


4. Skylights can help reduce energy bills. While too many skylights could potentially increase energy costs by letting in too much sun in summer and letting go of too much heat in winter, the right pairing of windows and skylights can be a great benefit. Positioned well, skylights can reduce the need for lamp lighting during the day.


5. Skylights can bring a bit of nature to the city. Looking up at the changing view of clouds floating past or tree branches waving in the breeze, you can forget for a moment that you’re in the middle of a bustling city. Unlike windows, which likely look out at tall buildings, rooftops and power lines, a skylight can give you a slice of the outdoors, free from those symbols of urban life.


6. Skylights can help you wake with the sun. If you have trouble getting up in the morning, a skylight positioned over the bed could be just the thing to get you rising and shining. And when the morning light spills into your room, there’s no need to check your smartphone — all you need to do to check the weather is look up.


7. Skylights can help you grow healthier, happier houseplants. Having enough light to keep houseplants happy is a constant struggle for many indoor gardeners, but a skylight provides an ideal spot for a cluster of houseplants. Just be sure to check the requirements of your plants before moving them under a skylight — some plants do better in indirect light, and a skylight could burn their leaves.


8. Skylights can help boost your mood. Good light is often at the top of home buyers’ wish lists for a good reason — natural light has an undeniably cheering effect. Whether you’re looking for help with seasonal depression that comes with shorter winter days, or simply love the boost that extra natural light gives you, skylights can be a smart way to bring more light into your life.

Boost Your Energy With Natural Light


9. Skylights can help clean indoor air. If you have skylights that open, using them in conjunction with the other windows in your home to create a chimney effect can help clear out stale old air and let in fresh air.

If you are choosing a new skylight to put in, consider how you will be able to access it — if it’s too high to reach, you will need a special pole for opening it, or choose a motorized skylight that can be operated remotely.


10. Skylights can create an outside feeling indoors. In this home without a yard in Fukuoka, Japan, extensive skylights create the feeling of an outdoor courtyard inside. This maintains privacy from close neighbors while giving the family that lives here an airy, open space in which to relax and play.

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An architectural approach to home skylights
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