Would you like to see the view through your roof light? 🔍

Probably not. It can be better to avoid it.

The key reason is not to do with unsightly neighbouring buildings, but to do with light. Direct light can have hard edges. It can be dull and flat. Or it can create glare and be difficult for our eyes to process.

Diffused toplight or clerestory lighting is, quite literally, much easier on the eye. By concealing or semi-concealing a light source, you can soften the light for a more natural feel, like dappled sunshine beneath a tree.

Combined with a vertical wall or piece of joinery that acts as a ‘light canvas’, toplight can create beautiful, soft, glowing surfaces in crucial areas of your home.

In this example, we have an exciting mix of cooler toplight from the north and warm semi-clerestory light from the south. The southern light, even more generous than we first expected, bounces off an oak floor to add further warmth.

What else would you like to know about how natural light can work in your home?