Most Boston apartments tend to be small and with limited natural light sources. This is partly a function of the prevailing architecture of older houses and townhouses. These have been converted into multi-family apartment rentals. It is also a result of the high prices apartments in Boston can command, which is mostly determined by the size of the apartment. As a consequence, most apartment renters in the Greater Boston area need to make a sacrifice or two in order to select an apartment that meets their budget and needs. For instance, an apartment in Back Bay, the North End, or Beacon Hill, is going to be centrally located. It is also likely going to be an older home that was divided into several different apartment units. This means that at some point a window needed to be split between two different units, or cut in size, or even shuttered entirely. It also means that walls which were not there before needed to be put up to create new separations and living spaces.
These changes over the years have the effect of not only reducing the natural light coming into an apartment, but effectively blocking the flow of light from one room to the other. In this post, we will suggest different ways to enhance the lighting in your Boston apartment (without getting in trouble with your landlord).
Mirrors
Mirrors are perhaps the most versatile way to enhance the appearance of an apartment. For starters, mirrors create an optical illusion of depth, by reflecting the room they are placed in as if they were a window into another room. And as with any other “window” they also give off light by reflecting it from any other light sources in that space. Oversized mirrors are one of the favorite décor accessories of interior designers. They give an apartment the appearance of being larger and more spacious. You don’t need necessarily need to hang them on the wall, you can lean a large mirror onto the floor. You can also place a smaller one on top of a credenza or dresser….