Tips to Increasing Natural Light in Your Garage

As a homeowner, you take pride in your garage. You know it doesn’t have to be a musty storage unit. With some quick fixes, you can make your garage somewhere you actually want to spend time.



Whether for tinkering, band practice or hosting parties, find out how to increase the natural light in your garage and get the most out of your space.

Put New Windows in Your Garage

Windows are the number one way to add natural light to any room of your house. So they’re a no-brainer if you’re trying to get more use out of your garage. Brighten your garage with picture windows, or open things up with awning or casement windows. (The airflow will be a welcome change when you’re doing smoky workshop projects). If you already have windows in your garage, consider replacing them with bigger ones. There are so many styles to choose from to bring in sunlight and pull your home together.

Repaint Your Garage

Color is one place to start when making your home brighter and airier. Rich tones like black, slate and charcoal make a cool backdrop for your car, but they add to the impression that the garage is a dark, hidden place. Hack your way to a sunnier garage by slicking on a fresh coat of paint. Choose a light color like white, eggshell, or dove grey and make a fun DIY day out of it. And don’t stop at the walls - show the ceiling some love, too. 

Repaint Your Garage Floor

Don’t put the paint away just yet. You can even paint the floor of your garage. This is a known way to make your garage lighter, cooler and less maintenance - and it will look spotless to boot. For something a little lower commitment, you can install vinyl flooring in roll-out or peel-and-stick form. Choose a light, contrasting shade or go all-out and continue the color from your walls. This will make the room not only feel brighter, but bigger.

Install a Skylight

If you spend a lot of time in your garage as a workshop or studio, you deserve to make it as nice as the rest of your house. Open up your workspace with an elegant skylight. This stunning feature is a sure way to bring in natural light. You can even install remote-control blinds to control the amount of light you get. And if you’re fixing up the place as part of a garage conversion, this is a great way to make it more livable for a renter or returning adult child.

Replace Your Garage Door

Most people, if they had to think about it, don’t like their garage door. You cringe from how loud it is, and its looks don’t exactly inspire. Your garage door is an untapped opportunity for adding natural light to your garage. Replace it with a door with windows. They’re available in a variety of styles from classic to romantic, and even in frosted finishes for privacy. If you’ve made updates to the rest of your house, you’ll have no trouble finding garage door windows to go with your façade. 

Hang a Mirror

Mirrors increase the light in the rest of your house, so why not your garage? Hang a mirror on the wall for added style and function. It will amplify whatever light sources you’re already getting in your garage - just be sure to secure it for safety. This is also a great addition if your garage doubles as a home gym (or as storage for that stationary bike). 

Get a Glass Garage Door

As the largest entryway on your house, your garage door can be make-or-break. It’s you’re You’ve probably seen them before on the most modern of homes: overhead doors where every panel is glass. If you want to bring in light and make a statement, this style may be for you. Your garage will look like a showroom - but you won’t be short on sunlight.

Add Mood Lighting

One way to add light to your garage is by installing strip lights. Okay, so this one isn’t exactly natural, but it’s a quick home project that can make a big payoff day or night. You can achieve a subtle effect with LED light strips. A popular solution is to place them on the floor and under shelves and cabinetry. Many are now even programmable with multiple color settings. Like a back-lit pool at night, they create a gorgeous ambiance. It’s a far cry from the starkly lit garages of days past.

Enjoy Your Garage, Day and Night

If you can't tell if it's day or night when you're inside your garage then you have a problem. For what it's worth, natural light in your garage can give you the joy of working inside your garage. However, you won't reap the benefits of natural sunlight if your garage looks like a bat cave. At Danley's, we've built over 100,000 detached custom garages of all sizes. We truly understand what homeowners are looking for in their garage and we take the initiative to get everything done. Speak to a specialist and get a free quote online today.