There are a variety of benefits that come with skylights in homes, and one of them is their versatility. Skylights can work in a variety of different rooms or areas of your home – how do you choose the right skylight style for any room you’re considering?
At Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors, we proudly offer the best skylight installation and related skylight services for clients around Utah, including helping identify ideal skylight styles for homes. Here are some of the chief elements you should be thinking about when choosing the right skylight style for any room in your home, ensuring you get maximum value from this addition.
Identifying Room Needs
When it comes to skylights for any room you’re considering in your home, function tends to guide form. This means you need to identify what the room needs in order to determine which skylight style will best serve those needs.
For example, if you’re considering a skylight for a bathroom, natural lighting and ventilation are likely top priorities. In this case, a venting skylight would be the ideal choice as it can provide both light and airflow. On the other hand, if you’re looking to add natural light to a dark hallway or closet, a fixed skylight may suffice.
These basic decisions will set the baseline for your skylight selection, but there are also other factors to consider.
Various Styles to Consider
Here are some various skylight styles for homes that are worth considering, depending on your room choice and specific needs:
- Fixed: These skylights are stationary and do not open. They are ideal for adding natural light to a room, but do not provide any ventilation. They are often used in areas where ventilation is not necessary, such as hallways or closets.
- Ventilating: These skylights have a hinge mechanism that allows them to open and provide both natural light and ventilation. They are great for rooms that require additional airflow, such as bathrooms or kitchens.
- Tubular: These skylights are smaller in size and can fit into tight spaces. They use reflective tubing to bring light from the roof to the ceiling below. They are perfect for small rooms like closets, hallways, or bathrooms.
- Flat: Another popular type is the flat skylight, which is typically installed on a flat roof. They are great for providing natural light in spaces that do not have access to traditional windows, like attics or office spaces.
- Domed: A domed skylight, also known as a bubble or porthole skylight, is a rounded structure that protrudes from the roof. They are often used in larger spaces like warehouses, factories, or retail stores to bring in more light and create an open, airy atmosphere.
Considering Design Harmony
For any room you’re considering adding a skylight to, it’s important to consider the design harmony. Skylights can add a unique and beautiful architectural element to a space, but they must also fit in with the overall aesthetic of the room. Here are some tips for achieving design harmony with skylights:
- General room size considerations: Larger skylights can work well in larger spaces like living rooms, while smaller skylights may be more appropriate for smaller rooms like bathrooms.
- The direction of the room: Consider where the skylight is facing and how much natural light it will bring into the space. North-facing skylights tend to provide a cooler light, while south-facing ones bring in warmer light.
- Ceiling complementing: Depending on the style of your skylight, it can either complement or contrast with the ceiling. For example, a traditional rectangular skylight may blend in seamlessly with a flat white ceiling, while a round dome skylight can add an interesting architectural element to a coffered ceiling.
- Balance and placement: Skylights work best when they are balanced within the room. Consider where other light sources, such as windows and lamps, are placed so that natural light is evenly distributed throughout the space.
Other Practical Factors
Finally, there are a couple of other important practical factors to think about when choosing skylight style and placement for any room:
Privacy
For bathrooms and other private spaces, consider using frosted or textured glass for skylights to maintain privacy while still allowing natural light to enter the room.
Ventilation
Some skylights can be opened to allow for ventilation and fresh air in a room. This is especially beneficial in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where moisture and odors may build up.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing skylights, look for those with energy-efficient features such as Low-E coatings or double-paned glass. These will help regulate temperature and reduce heating and cooling costs in your home.
As you can see, there are a few important factors to consider when choosing a skylight for any room in your home. At Rocky Mountain Windows & Doors, we’re here to help clients around Utah choose ideal skylight styles for homes – contact us today for these or any of our other window and door services!