Natural light does more than brighten a home. It affects your mood, your health, and even your energy costs. In custom home design, you have options beyond standard windows. You can shape light to create a comfortable and functional space that fits your lifestyle. Sunlight can make spaces feel more open, inviting, and alive. Conversely, poorly considered light can leave rooms feeling shadowy, cramped, and uncomfortable.
Many homeowners feel stuck with dark hallways, shadowy corners, or rooms that need lights on during the day. They think their floor plan or lot position limits what is possible. In reality, engineered daylighting solutions can bring sunlight into places you never thought could have it. When done right, it reduces the need for artificial lighting, improves energy efficiency, and elevates your home’s overall experience.
At AV Architects + Builders, led by Francisca and Tony Alonso, we promise to design homes that feel open, bright, and connected to the outdoors. Our focus is on solutions that work for your space and lifestyle, not one-size-fits-all fixes. We study sun patterns, interior layouts, and usage patterns to determine where daylighting features will be most effective.
We’ve helped clients achieve the perfect balance between brightness and privacy. By combining features like skylights and clerestories with sun tunnels, we’ve turned dim rooms into airy, welcoming spaces. Every choice is intentional, so light feels natural rather than forced. After reading this, you’ll understand the options available, how they perform in different situations, and how to choose what works best for your home.
Skylights are roof-mounted windows that bring daylight directly from above. They are ideal for spaces without exterior walls, such as interior bathrooms, hallways, or central kitchens. Modern skylights come in various styles: fixed, vented, flat, domed, or tubular. A vented skylight can allow natural airflow, reducing humidity in bathrooms or kitchens. Some skylights include blinds or diffusers to control brightness and prevent glare.
Choosing the right skylight depends on your roof pitch, the amount of sun exposure, and your heating or cooling goals. Skylights placed on southern-facing roofs can bring warmth during winter but may require shading in summer. Conversely, northern-facing skylights provide soft, consistent daylight throughout the year. Learn more about the pros and cons of skylights and how they can transform your interior.
For a direct comparison of skylights and other overhead options, see Skylight vs. Sun Tunnel.
Clerestory windows are installed high on walls, usually near the roofline. They are excellent for bringing in daylight while maintaining privacy and usable wall space. Clerestories can also aid passive solar heating when oriented strategically, allowing low-angle winter sunlight to warm living areas while reducing heat gain in summer.
High-set clerestories are particularly effective in living rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens where wall space is limited but natural light is desired. Paired with lower-level windows, they can create layered daylight that fills a room evenly. Learn more about clerestories and skylights and their benefits in modern home design.
Sun tunnels, or tubular daylighting devices, channel sunlight from the roof into rooms without direct access to exterior walls. They are perfect for interior hallways, closets, bathrooms, and other small or enclosed spaces. The reflective tube amplifies and directs daylight, spreading it evenly across the room.
Sun tunnels are particularly valuable in dense urban areas or homes with complex floor plans, where adding large windows is impractical. See how sun tunnels compare to skylights and how they can provide light in the heart of a home.
Beyond skylights, clerestories, and sun tunnels, you can also explore:
Stained glass adds filtered light with color and texture, creating visual interest and mood. It works well in entryways, bathrooms, or hallways where privacy is important. Rather than maximizing brightness, it shapes the quality of light to create ambiance.
For more ideas, see design strategies for bringing more natural light indoors.
The Vista House, Great Falls, Virginia, AV Architects + Builders, Photography by Maxwell Mackenzie
Modern skylights and sun tunnels are built to handle rain and extreme weather. Proper installation and high-quality materials prevent leaks, while some skylights feature rain sensors that automatically close during storms. Even on overcast days, daylighting features provide soft, diffuse light that keeps interiors bright without glare or excessive heat. Laminated or insulated glass options can reduce sound from rainfall while maintaining brightness.
If you are building a new home, window planning and architecture parti guides can help you visualize sun paths and light distribution. In renovations, a daylighting assessment can uncover opportunities you may not have considered.
Start by identifying the spaces you use most and how natural light could improve them. The AV Architects + Builders team, led by Francisca and Tony Alonso, can recommend tailored solutions for your home. We combine quiet home design principles with sustainable materials to make homes bright, efficient, and comfortable.
To explore options for your project, contact us here or visit our Learning Center.