Getting more light into Victorian terrace

[JulieAnderton]

We viewed a Victorian end-of-terrace yesterday. Inside it has all the space we need and it is decorated to a really high standard.

Yet we came out feeling that something was "not quite right" and we think it was because it seemed rather dark, even on a bright sunny August day at 1pm.

The house faces East/West and I think part of the problem is that there are no windows at all on the south-facing part of the house (it is end-of-terrace and the wall that faces south isn't attached to another building, although next door is only a couple of feet away).

Any ideas as to how we could bring more light in?

Planning permission for windows on that wall? Mirrors, large pictures with glass for reflection.

My east/west house gets loads of sun in the afternoon and evening though. It is too bright to be honest.

You could add obscured glass windows on the wall facing the other property?

Would be v expensive though.

We live in a Victorian terrace. We have a large open plan kitchen/ dining room at the back of the property with French doors spanning the full width. Brings lots of light in.

Upstairs we have roof lights (like glass domes on roof) above the staircase and above the top floor bathroom. Probably only an option if you get a loft conversion.

How was the house decorated? It could be the decor making it seem darker. Paint it a light colour with light flooring and it will look brighter. Heavy dark curtains can also steal light from the sides if the windows.

Thank you. The upstairs landing already has a rooflight, so clearly other people before us have felt that light is an issue.

Decided not to pursue the house. Although it ticks all our boxes, we can't shake the "not quite right" feeling so the hunt continues...