Let’s start at the very beginning, which when it comes to home orientation, means thinking about the sun. After all, your property orientation is the direction the façade is facing, whether that be north, south, east or west. Don’t forget to take into consideration the hemisphere – northern or southern – you are located in. Beyond impacting the amount of natural light that enters your property, the orientation of your home also has an influence on other factors such as energy and temperature.
Light-filled homes are certainly aesthetically pleasing, but they also give your quality of life a boost, improve your visual health, sense of well-being, energy levels and happiness while creating peaceful, comfortable interiors.
It is said that most people spend about 80% of their lives inside. So why not do so in a lovely property?
Benefits of the orientation of your dream home
Depending on the destination you’re in – beach, mountains, city – the advantages and disadvantages of your orientation may vary. But as a general rule, there are clear benefits to each orientation. Do you know what they are?
North orientation
When the façade of your property faces north, you will benefit from cool temperatures and uniform natural light. This makes it the perfect orientation for workspaces like offices and studios.
South orientation
South-facing apartments boast the benefits of sunlight all year round. This translates into energy savings, vitality and comfort as well as improved quality of life during each of the four seasons of the year. In the winter months, you can benefit from warmer temperatures while in the summer you can enjoy a fresh and pleasant atmosphere, creating the perfect space for the wellness of you and your family.
East orientation
East-facing properties make the perfect home for early risers as they receive the most hours of sunlight in the morning. This is ideal for warm climates, like that of the Costa Blanca, as you won’t get many hours of direct sunlight during the hottest time of day. For properties with this orientation, we recommend investing in some quality curtains or blinds to stop the sunlight coming in in the early hours.
West orientation
Contrary to the latter, west-facing properties are ideal for places with a colder climate. As you get more sunlight in the afternoon and later in the day, the sun will help keep your home warm naturally.
Three tips to bring more light into your property
Whichever direction your property faces, sun lovers will always want more. Here at Grupo Esmeralda we’d therefore like to share three tips that you can implement in your home to get to the sun-bathed look you crave.
Mirrors reflect the sunlight
Beyond giving the optical illusion of more space, mirrors bounce light off them, creating new reflections. What’s more, when placed opposite the light source, they create the sensation of a door or window opening out to the world, a lovely touch to your property’s interior design. This is especially important in beachside apartments, which tend to be smaller in size than your main property.
Transparent curtains are a great idea
There are, of course, moments in the day in which you want more privacy and less natural light. Practical and aesthetically pleasing curtains are the perfect solution. The trick? Make your property seem bigger by choosing a semi-transparent material to prevent creating the appearance of a closed, opaque door.
Think about colour carefully
Like the appearance of warm light? Then your tone is yellow or cream, which will create a pleasant, welcoming atmosphere. For a more striking light effect, choose white tones: the more white in the colour, the more light it will reflect. Our top tip is to combine whites with decorative elements that bring the space to life, like plants.
Remember that here at Grupo Esmeralda we are always on hand to help you with any questions that you might have about your home orientation. If you’re thinking about purchasing an apartment in Calpe, we’d be delighted to help you find one with the views that you’ve been dreaming about for years.
