Before you start

• Design & decorate: Let the light in
• Before you start
• Walls, Floors and Staircases
• Windows and Doors
• Hi-tech Glass
• Mirrors and Surfaces
• Useful contacts

MOOD BOOSTER Nothing enhances a home, or your mood, quite like natural light. When the sun is shining, most of us are keen to welcome as much of it as possible indoors. And a light-filled house is not only more attractive and uplifting to live in, but more eco friendly, as it requires far less energy-consuming artificial light. Plus, of course, a bright and airy space goes down well with prospective buyers, too.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE ‘Glass is the magic material when it comes to transforming spaces,’ says Piers Smerin of Eldridge Smerin Architects. Whether the glass is used internally, externally or simply as a decorating feature, modern construction techniques mean there is nearly always a way to illuminate those dingy rooms and dark corners.

VISUAL ILLUSION Even if an expanse of glass is beyond your budget, there are plenty of clever ways to open up your home with mirrors, internal windows and reflective surfaces. We’ve asked the experts for all the architectural advice and style tips you need to transform your home.

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