Hot Home Trends: Skylights

If you’re looking to add drama to a dull living space, you may want to consider a skylight.

Skylights can add warmth and natural light—not to mention added ventilation—to your living space, without a hefty price tag. And with more and more consumers looking for eco-friendly options, homeowners can be proud of the green benefits their skylight can offer.

Skylights can actually lower your electric bill because you will be relying less on artificial light sources in the summer, and in winter, sun entering through a skylight can reduce your heating bills.

EnergyStar.gov says that installing Energy Star-qualified skylights can shrink your home's energy bill and carbon footprint by 7-15 percent.

Additionally, it is more cost-effective to install skylights overhead than to add windows to a wall. And in rooms where wall space is tight—like bathrooms or kitchens—a skylight is your best bet for maximizing the room’s best assets.

Aesthetically speaking, skylights can make your space seem bigger, which is a large concern for homeowners who feel they may have outgrown their starter homes, but are unable to sell or move.

And, if you opt for venting skylights, you will receive a low-cost way to remove humidity, fumes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from your home through their natural chimney effect.

Photo: Peter Kaminski, flickr