If you close your curtains during the day to stop neighbours peering in, you could be making your home darker than it needs to be. This common habit, known as 'light locking', happens when curtains or blinds stay shut throughout the day in the name of privacy, blocking out valuable natural daylight in the process.
If you regularly keep your window coverings closed during daylight hours, you may be a 'light locker' without even realising it. The good news is that there are smarter ways to boost privacy without sacrificing light.
The term 'light locking' was coined by the home interiors experts at Hillarys. '"Light locking" is a simple way of describing a habit many people probably don't realise they've developed. They want to let daylight into their homes, but privacy concerns often mean curtains and blinds stay closed instead,' explains Victoria Robinson, trend and product expert at Hillarys.
Whether you're trying to keep your neighbours out or gain some respite from prying eyes, closing your curtains is often a natural instinct. The downside, however, is that it limits the amount of daylight coming into your home, potentially impacting your sleep patterns and levels of alertness.
'Natural light plays an important role in helping to regulate our body clock. Exposure to daylight, particularly in the morning and earlier parts of the day, helps reinforce our natural sleep-wake cycle, supporting alertness during the day and making it easier to wind down at night,' explains Tom Coleman, sleep expert at Hillarys.
'If people are routinely keeping rooms dark because they feel overlooked, they could be missing out on some of the wellbeing benefits that natural daylight can bring.'
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Light locking taps into a common dilemma many homeowners face: the battle between wanting more daylight at home and wanting greater privacy from neighbours. Is there a way to get around this and make your home feel more private without sacrificing your access to daylight? We asked Victoria for her solutions...
How to avoid blocking natural light
1) Install shutters
'One of the things I love most about shutters is how much control they give you. By simply adjusting the louvres, you can enjoy plenty of natural daylight while keeping your home feeling private, so you never have to choose between the two,' says Victoria.
2) Use top-down blinds
'Top-down blinds are a brilliant option if you’re overlooked. Letting light in from the top of the window keeps the room feeling bright and open, while still giving you the privacy you need where it matters most,' she says.
3) Layer blinds and curtains
'Layering blinds with curtains gives you so much flexibility throughout the day. You can adapt the look and the level of privacy as the light changes, making the room feel comfortable from morning through to evening,' says Victoria.
4) Opt for sheer fabrics
'Sheer fabrics are a great way to soften the view into your home without making the space feel closed off. They gently filter daylight, creating a lighter, more relaxed atmosphere while still offering a sense of privacy,' she explains.
5) Rearrange your furniture
'Sometimes improving privacy doesn’t mean changing your window dressing at all. Simply rethinking your furniture layout can make a room feel much more sheltered and comfortable, especially if you’re overlooked by neighbours or a busy street,' Victoria says.
