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![11 Striking Rooms That Prove the Transformative Power of Skylights (1) 11 Striking Rooms That Prove the Transformative Power of Skylights (1)](https://i0.wp.com/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/types-of-skylights-1883-anikpearson-saltgulchranch-656-copy-1614285375.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.752xh;0,0.203xh&resize=640:*)
There are so many reasons to invest in skylights, from the architectural intrigue they present to all that natural light they allow to pour into your space from above. And the good news is, there are tons of different options for varying budgets, lifestyle needs, and aesthetic preferences. Some of them are comparable to adding a window to your roof—like ventilating skylights, which open and closed and fixed skylights, which provide the same lighting benefits but don't open and close like a window,—while others, like tilt window skylights, are great for sloped rooflines. There are also ultra-modern tech-optimized ones like this one. So get to know all the different types of skylights ahead as well as the best ways to use them and how to decorate around them. Then weigh the options and determine which ones make sense practically and style-wise in your own space. Here's to brighter, chicer interiors from top to bottom.
1
Pitched Skylights
Gardening spaces, mudrooms, and really any kind of space that straddles the line between indoors and out is a perfect candidate for skylights. It helps ease the transition. A pyramid skylight, pictured here, is much more bold and eye-catching in design than one without grids or a flat-roof option. They can be customized based on your pitch and slope needs and are usually mounted on a curb on the roof when being installed.
2
Operable Windows
Here's proof that skylights are great in more than just windowless rooms. This bathroom by Romanek Design Studio gives the shower area plenty of natural light. It also operates like an awning window, so you can help increase ventilation when needed.
3
Modern Skylights
Floor-to-ceiling windows plus windows and steel and glass doors make this modern game room by Romanek Design Studio truly illuminating. The modern and minimalist approach to the interiors also keeps the focus on the beautiful landscaping beyond.
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4
Sloped Window
Though this isn't technically a skylight, the floor-to-ceiling window mirrors the rooflines and extends up past the top of the wall to maximize sunlight. So, if you love the idea of a skylight but also worry that it may not be the best fit for your space, this one in a breakfast nook by Tamsin Johnson Interiors is a great example to follow for an alternative.
5
Fixed Skylight
A skylight at the meeting point for a vaulted ceiling draws attention to the symmetry of the space while also accentuating height and bringing down the scale (a tricky balance, indeed). In this family room by Toledo Geller, the chandelier helps connect everything.
6
Sloped Skylight
Raise your hand if you wish you were having as much fun as this bedroom! Designer Drew McGukin isn't afraid of bold color and print mixing. The geometric motifs throughout emphasize the angular skylight and make everything feel intentional and synchronized.
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7
Hallway Skylight
This hallway vignette by Tamsin Johnson Interiors captures the beautiful glow a skylight can allow for. The industrial bones of the home along with the ethereal sunlight pouring in make this space feel elevated and gallery-esque.
8
Double Skylight
If you need task lighting, bright overhead lights will work, of course, but imagine prepping ingredients under crystal-clear sunshine. Jessica Davis also added some track lighting, but the skylight really opens up and brightens the space.
9
Frosted Glass
Frosted glass skylights won't flood your space with as much natural light as the traditional panes, but they do allow for a nice glow while maintaining privacy. Plus, if they extend across most of the ceiling, they'll let in more light. In this kitchen designed by Anik Pearson, for example, all of the busy workspaces are built into a nook off of the great room, so extra light overhead connects it to the outdoors and makes it feel less cramped.
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10
Curb-Mounted Skylight
This mountain home bedroom designed by Kylee Shintaffer doubles as a workspace with a dedicated zone by the window. For a private mood-and-productivity-boosting room, install a skylight right over your desk. Even at night, it’ll be inspiring: Look up to see stars in the sky. When shopping for a similar one, opt for a curb-mounted skylight that will prevent leaks.
11
Ventilation Skylight
If your bathroom doesn't have any windows in it, it can feel cramped and have poor air circulation (not ideal in a wet environment). However, strategic window placement is also key in a bathroom for privacy reasons, which is why a skylight is a perfect solution. Not to mention, lighting shining in from above a bathtub can make "me time" look and feel as sacred as it is, as exemplified here by Studio Griffiths.
Hadley Mendelsohn
Contributor
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.