How to Bring More Winter Sunshine Into Your Home

Even though I love winter, I don’t relish the idea of short winter days. Short days combined with a low winter sun means that our home stays a bit on the gloomy side from November all the way through late February. One of the ways I bring in the winter sunshine is to remove all the window screens and awnings from my home to allow as much light as possible indoors. Here are a few additional ways to help bring in the sunshine.

Remove sun-obstructing furniture. Do you have overstuffed chairs, room dividers, or tall etageres that block the light from fully entering your rooms? Moving large pieces out of the sun’s rays and to the side or back of the room will make your living and family rooms look lighter, brighter, and bigger.

Take the houseplants out of the windows. Houseplants can bring a splash of color to a room. Too many plants, however, can restrict sunlight, especially if your plants are double- and triple-stacked in front of the windows. If you can’t bring yourself to throw out some of your houseplants, consider pruning them back for the winter or moving them onto low tables, where they won’t block the sun.

Remove some curtains. During the summer months, curtains can help keep a room cooler. Unless you need them for privacy, removing the curtains in the winter is an easy way to bring more sunshine into your home. If the curtains can’t be taken down, at least open them as wide as possible during the daylight hours.

Tie back shrubs. It’s never a good idea to have shrubs (even deciduous ones) block your windows. Overhanging shrubs can lead to rot and water damage, plus they can block sunlight from entering your home. Pruning shrubs is best done in the fall or early spring; if you have a shrub blocking your windows now, it’s best to tie it back for now and deal with it in the spring.

Wash the windows. Ugly winter weather can leave windows mud-splattered and dirty, which also will obstruct the winter sun. Your windows can be washed even in freezing weather by adding 1/4-cup of rubbing alcohol to your favorite homemade window cleaner. Be sure to spray the solution directly onto your rag instead of on the glass.

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How to Clean and Organize Cluttered Kitchen Cabinets
Winter Cleaning Tips to Brighten Your Home
How to Speed-Clean Your Home