You might expect most design features and finishes that make your home feel special to come with a hefty price tag. But one of the most powerful elements in any great home design doesn’t cost a cent: daylight.
Think of that golden shaft of morning sun spilling across your kitchen bench, or the patch of warmth on your wooden floorboards – the perfect spot for your cat to stretch out and nap.
The amount of light that makes it into your home could be directly linked to your wellbeing. Research shows that homes with plenty of natural light are linked to better mental health, with people living in well-lit spaces feeling happier and more content.
If you’re in the early stages of selecting your floor plan, this guide could save you years of living in the dark – literally.
Start with the orientation of your off-the-plan build
You’ve probably heard it before: in Australia, north-facing living areas are ideal. They welcome the winter sun and avoid the harshest heat in summer. But what’s often missed is that how the home is laid out across the block matters just as much.
Here are a few ways to make orientation work in your favour:
- Choose a floor plan with living areas positioned to the north. This captures the sun throughout the day, making your favourite spaces feel naturally warm and bright.
- Look for off-the-plan designs that open up to the backyard on the sunny side of the block. It makes outdoor areas more usable and helps pull light into indoor living zones.
- Consider a layout with windows or sliding doors on multiple sides of a room. This allows light to shift and bounce through the space as the day changes. Corner blocks are great for this.
Before you fall in love with a layout, imagine where the sun will hit during the day. Don’t be afraid to sketch out the sun’s path, or even visit your block mid-morning and again in the late afternoon.
Windows that let the light in
When it comes to windows, size and placement matter just as much as quantity.
Floor-to-ceiling windows let light flood deeper into your living areas, making rooms feel open and warm. They also help connect indoor spaces with the outdoors – especially when paired with sheer curtains or glass doors.
High-set windows (like clerestory or highlight windows) are ideal in spots where privacy matters or wall space is limited. Placed near the ceiling, they pull in soft, ambient light and help brighten up darker corners without the glare.
One upgrade that we recommend is windows that stretch to the floor with no bottom reveal (see image below). Not only do they look stunning, but they also invite more natural light into the room, making the room feel brighter and more spacious.
Courtyards – a showstopping way to invite light
One design feature that’s underused in off-the-plan homes? The courtyard.
Courtyards are not just impressive outdoor dining or entertainment spaces. They’re like funnels, pulling sunlight into the very heart of the home. Especially effective on L-shaped or U-shaped designs, a courtyard allows you to bask in the warm light it brings to your living space while you enjoy the gorgeous view of your outdoor area.
Thinking of going with a design that includes a courtyard? Ask your builder how it interacts with the rest of the plan across different orientations. If the courtyard faces south, it might not do much for sunlight.
Avoid these sneaky light blockers
Some design details can quietly rob your home of natural light – and they’re not always obvious on paper.
- Setbacks and eaves: While generous eaves help with shading in summer, they can block valuable winter sunlight if they’re too deep or poorly angled. Large setbacks can also limit how much light reaches your windows – especially with fences or nearby walls in the mix.
- Tall neighbouring homes: A two-storey build just north of your block can cast long shadows across your yard and darken your living spaces.
- Internal walls and hallways: Too many internal walls and narrow hallways can break up natural light flow, leaving some areas feeling a little dingy even in well-oriented homes. Look for floor plans with open layouts or partial dividers to help light travel further.
This is where a second set of eyes can really help. Someone who brings these plans to life in the real world. Maybe even someone from the Enso team?
Don’t just chase brightness – think about how light makes you feel
Natural light isn’t just a visual upgrade. It affects your body clock and your mood. A sun-drenched breakfast nook in winter makes those early mornings feel nicer. A softly lit hallway at dusk helps you unwind.
Try asking yourself this: Where do I want to feel energised? And where do I want to feel calm?
Certain rooms suit darkness more than others. Once you’ve asked yourself the above questions, go back to the floor plan and see if the lighting complements those moods.
An Enso Homes floor plan that’s full of natural light
One of Enso Homes’ most popular off-the-plan builds – the Usain 23 – features a courtyard tucked neatly into its U-shape floor plan, pulling light into the house from both sides.
The hallway and rumpus room open gently into the main space, avoiding the tunnel effect that’s so common in project homes. The result? A space that feels alive with light all day long – calm in the morning, golden in the afternoon.
And if you want even more light in your home, we can always make alterations to our off-the-plan designs. Michael, our Custom Home Specialist, works directly with our clients to modify or develop designs to suit their needs and maximise the flow of natural light.
Ready to see your future home in a new light?
If you’re looking at floor plans and starting to squint at the fine print, have a chat with Michael, our Custom Homes Specialist at Enso. We can help you find an off-the-plan build or design a custom home that will bring light and comfort into every corner.
