Additional lighting in the interior of a country house

What is it?

First, let’s look at the notation:

A second light is a space in which the ceiling between floors is completely or partially absent.

Simply put, the lower floor is illuminated by window openings on two (or more) floors. Thanks to this system, there is more daylight in the house, the room with the second light looks more spacious and free.

The first double-height interiors appeared in the times of Ancient Rome, although then additional windows were installed not on the second floor, but directly on the ceiling. Today, you can also find design options where the second window is located in the attic roof.

The architectural technique experienced its second birth in the 13th-14th centuries – imperial and classical styles gravitated toward high ceilings, large spaces, the second tier of windows in palaces looked extremely appropriate.

The photo shows a modern mansion with two rows of windows

Pros and cons

Not all the advantages and disadvantages of the design technique are obvious, let’s consider them in more detail.

Advantages of a second light:

• High ceilings. Thanks to the ceiling height multiplied by 2, the main room of the house visually seems much more spacious than it actually is.
• Saving on electricity. Maintaining the house costs a pretty penny per month, and thanks to natural light, the electricity in the main room can be left off until dusk.
• Aesthetics. In terms of effectiveness, a two-level layout surpasses even the classic panoramic windows, beloved by many designers and architects.

Disadvantages of two-level window systems:

• Reduction in area. Part of the useful square footage of the second floor will simply disappear: but if the house is initially large, this is not a big deal.
• Additional heating costs. Heating a large room with ceilings under 6 meters is not easy – you will have to invest in additional elements such as underfloor heating. In addition, the more windows, the greater the chance of cold air getting inside. To avoid heat loss, high-quality insulation will come in handy.
• Difficulty in maintaining cleanliness. Most likely, you will not be able to wash the windows, chandeliers, and curtains yourself, and this means additional costs for professional cleaning.

And finally, the design of a double-height room requires a special approach, preferably a professional one. Finishing materials, furniture, and decor must match the home, otherwise the elements will look scanty and spoil the impression of a spacious room with a second light.

What to consider when planning?

When ordering a project for a country house with a second light or creating it yourself, the first thing you need to decide is whether there will be a second floor in the house at all? Usually, it is a partially open tier with a low fence, from which, like from a balcony, you can admire what is happening below. Walls and doors are installed behind the “balcony”, bedrooms and offices are located.

The area of the first floor of a two-story building is divided between a living room (living room), kitchen, dining room, and bathroom.

Considering the height from floor to ceiling in the two-story part of the house, you should avoid overly small spaces here – otherwise the room will look like a well. It is advisable to make the room look like a cube. Move the floor of the second floor as much as possible, or completely refuse the second light if the house is small from the inside.

Advice! In compact houses without a second floor, the role of the second light can be performed by windows under the mansard roof. At the same time, there will be enough space on the free part of the ceiling to arrange a small mezzanine.

Additional recommendations:

• Windows located in two tiers on the main facade of the building always look advantageous.
• Columns and beams cannot be avoided, so initially decide how to fit them into the interior.
• At the initial stage, decide where the stairs, fireplace will be located, how the ventilation system will be provided.

Recommendations for arrangement

Furniture

Start with the rule of proportionality: large areas require large items and vice versa. That is, in a living room of ~60 square meters, you can put a huge corner or U-shaped sofa, and for a hall of ~20-30 m2, it is better to replace it with a small ottoman with separate chairs.

The same applies to the dining table – even if 3-4 people live in the house, a spacious dining room needs a table for 8-10 people.

Important! Don’t be afraid to “unstick” furniture from the walls – in private homes it is not only possible, but necessary.

Staircase

Since the second light is most often used in two-story buildings, a staircase is simply necessary here. The partial absence of overlap will allow you to install it almost anywhere, the main thing is not to put the structure right next to the window.

Firstly, it will block the sunlight and a beautiful view. Secondly, people with a fear of heights will feel uncomfortable going up and down.

The photo shows a stylish spiral staircase in the back of the house

Light

The high level of daylight does not give the right to forget about artificial lighting. The height of the ceilings makes the use of large lamps not just an option, but a necessity: small lamps simply cannot provide the required light flux.

The main chandelier also acts as a decorative element, so designers recommend choosing models with an unusual, interesting design. Place the light above the central point – the dining or coffee table.

Fireplace

In ordinary houses, this cozy element is often placed on the main wall, but since in the case of the second light it is occupied by glazing, the fireplace must be moved. Possible options:

• one of the side adjoining walls;
• the center of the room (the pipe is brought directly to the roof);
• perpendicular to the main facade (in the form of a partition as in the photo below or in the first section).

What curtains to choose?

Big windows equal big problems… with curtains. There are 3 ways to solve them.

Curtains only for the lower tier

If in your house curtains protect not so much from the sun as from curious neighbors and serve more decorative purposes, curtain only the lower row of windows with them, leaving the upper one completely open.

The photo shows light curtains in the living room

Full-height curtains

Curtains on two tiers at once will help visually unite the windows and make the ceilings even higher. They look impressive, but have two serious drawbacks:

• They make the room inside less light.
• They are made exclusively to order, they are expensive.

Separate curtains for two floors

This idea is suitable if there is a volume between the first and second lights – a threshold or other element. In this case, curtains are made for the upper floor exclusively for decorative purposes, since it will be very problematic to move them apart and close them every day.

How does it look in the interior of different rooms?

The fact that the second light is appropriate in houses made of any materials (stone and wood), as well as in interiors of different styles (from classical to modern) is clear. But how does this solution look in different rooms?

Living room

Most often, it is the hall that is located in a room with double windows. Firstly, this room is usually located in the very center of the house. Secondly, it makes sense to make the main living room the largest in the house.

The photo shows a living room with a mansard roof

A standard set for furnishing a living room: upholstered furniture (sofa, armchairs), coffee table, TV (can be replaced with a projector), fireplace. If there is a kitchen nearby, in the absence of a dining room, you can move a large dining table into the hall.

Kitchen

Separate kitchens with a second light are rare – usually this solution is used in open spaces where there is no clear division between the kitchen-dining room-living room. However, it is in the work area that additional windows will definitely come in handy: bright light during cooking is never superfluous.

Bedroom

The most controversial option for a double-height room is a bedroom. At a minimum, rest rooms are rarely made on the first floor. At most, additional light sources only interfere with quality sleep: you will have to figure out how to close and open the windows under the ceiling, spend money on curtains or blinds.

The photo shows a bedroom in the attic

The second light has become a symbol of prosperity and well-being not only because its implementation requires considerable costs: houses without ceilings really look like castles. When considering this idea, remember that you cannot implement it without the help of builders and architects. A professional approach is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also of your safety.