Shop windows for clothing shops

Without a doubt, the best way of getting natural light to flow into a room is to install a window or two which face the outside. In Australia, where the sun is so strong, the problem is frequently one of controlling the amount of light you want to flow in. However, this is not the case with a certain category of room — internal ones which are surrounded by walls. In such cases, you may think that the only thing you can do is to rely on electric light fittings to provide you with the necessary light to see around.

Of course, internal rooms are not very often designed into modern homes. They can come about when you extend or remodel a property, however, because the original layout changes. Perhaps you convert an understairs area into a walk-in cupboard or toilet? Maybe you have a corridor which connects two living rooms but which does not face an external wall? Whatever the reason for the layout of your home, don't give up on being able to flood it with natural light.

• Internal Glazing

Remember that windows are not just good at allowing light to come in from outside. They can be used internally, too. Internal windows 'borrow' the light that you have in one room and allow it to flow through to the next. All sorts of internal glazing can be used to make separate spaces come together. A simple pane of glass above a doorway is effective since most light that flows into a home is close to the ceiling. Alternatively, you could opt for floor-to-ceiling glazed partitions, just like you'd find in a modern office these days.

• Skylights

If you don't have an external wall where you can fit a window, then use the light from above wherever possible. Skylights are a cost-effective way to bring light in from above, and they can make a drab room even more airy and light than those with side-facing windows in the right setting. These are the ideal thing to fit if you have a single-storey extension added to your home, which means the nearest external wall is moved further away.

• Light Pipes

These products transfer light from your roof and convey it to anywhere you need. They're ideal, for example, for getting natural light into a converted basement which has no external outlook whatsoever. Light pipes tend to be made from highly polished metal and are effective even when you need to 'push' sunlight around corners to get it from A to B.