Poor natural daylight - any websites for idea's ?

Somerset

Trying to get idea's to improve natural light getting into a basment flat. Usual story of windows partly obscured by ground level and staircase wall blocking out light. Thought of painting outside walls white, mirrors etc. Just trying to get idea's really on what other people have done or do - thought there might be websites that advertise specialised products ? geared towards basements.
Thanks

Badger_Lady

I've got a basement level on my house, and it's amazing how different it is just by using the right materials... light colours are a given, but also go for "shiny" surfaces wherever possible, like a polished floor, smooth painted furniture, glass tabletops and silky cushions...

I love shagpile rugs and velvet, but these textured materials absorb light while the smoother surfaces all bounce the light that tiny bit more, so the overall effect is quite surprising.

Badger_Lady

Oo, and "natural daylight" bulbs, you can get them from arts and crafts places - I use that as a central light for dusky evenings etc., but have a nice cosy lamp for night-times.

Somerset

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Oo, and "natural daylight" bulbs, you can get them from arts and crafts places - I use that as a central light for dusky evenings etc., but have a nice cosy lamp for night-times.

I'd not heard of the natural daylight bulbs but someone else suggested them and this website : http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=20690&C=APoint&U=MapAuto: .

I'll try them - are they noticeably different ?. I was wondering if there are any 'tricks of the trade' or technical gismo's. For example I've seen 'sun tubes' but they wouldn't work for me because there's no roof area, but two years ago I'd never heard of them. Wondered if they was any stuff like that.

Poppycat

I just been looking at natural daylight bulbs in a arts shop window tonight funny enough, it looked like a normal light bulb but light blue in colour.

Woby_Tide

install a sunpipe? I think there was another thread about them recently if you search with some responses from people who had installed them

http://www.sunpipe.co.uk/

Somerset

Woby_Tide wrote: »

install a sunpipe? I think there was another thread about them recently if you search with some responses from people who had installed them

http://www.sunpipe.co.uk/

Woby that's what I meant earlier but I called it a sun tube ( couldn't remember what it was called ) but I don't think it would work cos part has to be on a roof and there's no roof area. Thought there might be an equivilant for wall brickwork ? or another wonderful invention ?

I'm going to look through that website though.

Edit : just looked through the other threads and it seems def the light gathering bit has to be located on a roof - so no good to me.

never_enough

I had a basement flat, well it was basement at front & ground level at back as it was on a slope. Anyway, the front had a well a few feet from the window which I painted brilliant white. I also attached a mirror at the side (outside)which reflected light in, but you couldn't actually see the mirror from the windows. Also removed wooden blinds as they made it darker, then anyone could see in... :rolleyes: Got some of those bottom up blinds which gave privacy but still direct sun at top. Also painted outside wall white, put extra lighting outside, fitted brighter bulbs inside or big fittings with several smaller bulbs. Had lots of mirrors & light reflective surfaces, brilliant white ceilings & glossy woodwork. Varnished floorboards made a HUGE differance from carpet, really transformed the place.

Somerset

Any other suggestions or ingenious bits of kit ?

Badger_Lady

Somerset wrote:

I'd not heard of the natural daylight bulbs but someone else suggested them and this website : http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=20690&C=APoint&U=MapAuto: .

I'll try them - are they noticeably different ?.

Sorry - I was away for the weekend!

They do look like blue lightbulbs - basically, the colour of the glass is opposite to the yellow colour of the light, so they balance out and produce a white light. This means you get the full spectrum of colour (hence why artists use them), and it makes everything easier to see clearly without actually making it physically brighter.

The benefit is that it doesn't feel like you've got the lights on - it just feels like the sunlight is flowing indoors more than it actually is. I wouldn't recommend using it when it's dark outside because that feels a bit weird, but it's a great top-up on a cloudy day.