How Skylights Transformed Our Home: Brighter, More Spacious Living

Everything you want to know about skylights.

Installing VELUX skylights has been, without question, the best decision we’ve made for our home so far. The change has been dramatic and immediate.

If you followed my installation stories on Instagram, you’ve already seen my excitement and the big transformation. For everyone else, I’ll explain and show the results here. I also saved the entire skylight install as a highlight on Instagram if you want a step-by-step look.

Adding ten skylights flooded our home with natural light and completely changed the atmosphere. I recommend skylights to anyone planning a renovation. After using the VELUX app to visualize placement, my mother decided to add skylights to her new home as well.

Want to see behind-the-scenes installation photos and before-and-after images? Keep reading.

Win Skylights for Your Home!

I’m excited to share that VELUX is running a sweepstakes open now through 11:59 pm on August 10, 2021. You can enter to win two VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights with solar-powered shades—the same model we installed in our kitchen, dining room, and primary bedroom—plus installation. The sweepstakes is open to U.S. homeowners aged 21 and over.

It takes about 30 seconds to enter, so be sure to try your luck—you might win!

Need photos to see how much skylights can change a space?

These are still progress shots while we finish decorating, but they show the dramatic difference skylights make.

Why Choose VELUX Skylights?

Our roofer recommended VELUX, and many friends who installed skylights recommended them as well. After our experience, I understand why: they consistently perform well and offer thoughtful features.

Here are the main benefits we found with VELUX skylights.

1. Abundant natural light

Natural light transforms interior spaces, and skylights introduce light from above, often bringing more illumination than windows alone. That overhead light can brighten areas that otherwise receive little daylight.

2. Improved ventilation

Choosing VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights with solar-powered shades gives you ventilation because these models open and close. They’re designed to keep out rain and block damaging UV rays. A built-in rain sensor closes the skylight at the first sign of rain for worry-free ventilation.

3. Architectural impact

Skylights can change the feel of a room. During our dining room install, we realized we could vault the ceiling across the entire room, making the space feel larger and more open. Our installer, found via VELUX’s certified installer locator, was also a general contractor, which made it easy to combine structural changes with skylight installation.

In our primary bedroom, we couldn’t fully vault the ceiling, so we chose an 8-foot opening with skylight bays spaced between—opening up the ceiling visually without compromising structure.

4. Energy savings and tax incentives

Solar-powered skylights and shades reduce reliance on electric lighting and can lower cooling costs. There was also a federal tax credit available for solar-powered skylights and shades, which can reduce overall cost—check current tax guidance for eligibility and deadlines.

5. Mood and connection to the outdoors

Skylights are a mood booster for many people, including me. They create a constant connection to the outdoors—sky, trees, and even the stars—which is especially meaningful when you live surrounded by nature. That sense of openness and daylight positively affects daily life.

How Much Do VELUX Skylights Cost?

Price is the most common question I received when sharing our installation. Costs depend on location, skylight type (fixed or venting), roof and ceiling complexity, and installation specifics. VELUX provides an estimated cost breakdown to help understand price ranges for different installation scenarios. Our costs aligned closely with those estimates.

Remember that potential tax incentives for qualifying solar-powered skylights can further reduce net cost—verify current tax-credit availability and deadlines when planning.

Where Did We Install Skylights?

We installed five skylights on our front porch, two in the primary bedroom, two in the dining room, and one in the kitchen. If budget weren’t a consideration, I’d add skylights to every room.

I aim for this to be a useful guide for anyone considering skylights. If you have questions not covered here, let me know and I’ll respond as soon as I can. Below are some common questions I’ve been asked.

How long does installation take?

For our ten skylights, installation took several days. Typically, installing one to three skylights in a room can be completed in a single day, depending on roof and ceiling conditions. Your installer will provide a clear timeline based on your home.

Skylights vs. Sun Tunnels

Sun tunnels and skylights serve different needs. I later installed five Sun Tunnels and wrote a detailed comparison with photos and my experience. Sun tunnels can be a great option where a traditional skylight isn’t practical.

Want to control the light?

If you don’t want daylight streaming in at all hours, VELUX offers shades that are easy to install and operate. We use solar-powered shades on every skylight, including the porch units. Light-filtering shades reduce glare and heat, while room-darkening shades block light completely when needed—perfect for bedrooms. The shades are remote-controlled for convenience.

Fixed vs. venting skylights

Fixed skylights are stationary and do not open. Venting skylights open for airflow. Our porch skylights are fixed since they’re exposed to the elements, while interior skylights are venting Fresh Air models that open for ventilation—useful when painting, cooking, or just wanting fresh air.

Curb-mounted vs. deck-mounted

Deck-mounted skylights sit directly on the roof deck and have a low profile, which worked well for our roof. Curb-mounted skylights are installed on a built-up curb (a framed box) and are sometimes preferred on lower-pitch roofs so the skylight can shed water effectively. Ask your installer which type best suits your roof and aesthetic.

Why add skylights to the porch?

Many people asked why we added skylights to the porch. Our goal was to increase natural light in the living room, but due to our roof’s layout, installing skylights directly above the living room wasn’t feasible. Our installer suggested adding skylights to the porch to channel more light through the large living room windows. This solution brightened the living room as intended and also transformed the porch into an open, airy space we now use constantly.

We installed light-filtering shades on the porch skylights so we can block midday heat and glare while still enjoying daylight most of the day.