Victoria Brocklesby of Origin shares expert tips on how to use glazing to create brighter homes.
Natural light is one of the most powerful design tools available to self-builders and renovators. It can transform a space by enhancing its aesthetic, improving functionality, and adding value.
Bifolding and sliding doors such as those by Origin are designed to achieve just that. With ultra-slim sightlines and expansive glazed panels, they can flood interiors with daylight, blur the boundary between indoors and out, and deliver clean, contemporary finishes without compromising on thermal performance. Whether you’re planning a kitchen extension, reworking your layout, creating a home office, or designing an entirely new space, making smart glazing choices early in the design process will have a significant impact on the end result.
Maximising natural light isn’t just about adding more glass; it’s about selecting the right solutions for each space. Follow this guide to ensure you make mindful design decisions that will enhance light, improve daily living and create spaces you will want to spend time in.
UNDERSTANDING THE SPACE
A well informed glazing decision starts by understanding how a space will be used. The function of the room and the time of day it’s most used should guide every choice.
Take a rear kitchen extension, for example. Often the social heart of the home, these spaces present a great opportunity to use generous panes of glass to open the space up visually and invite the outdoors in. For this, a bifold door such as the OB-36+ is an excellent choice, offering individual panel sizes up to 1.2m wide and 3m tall to create impressive glazed expanses and connect seamlessly with the garden. Unlike sliding doors, bifolds can be fully folded back to remove all barriers between inside and out – ideal for sociable, open-plan living.
Other rooms may call for a different approach. For instance, the priority for a home office is likely to be natural light in the morning and afternoon, while evening brightness will be less important. In these cases, orientation matters just as much as the layout and size of the windows. South-facing walls offer steady daylight throughout the day, while an east-facing aspect captures the morning sun, but falls into shade by afternoon. Considering both the purpose of the room and the pattern of daily use allows self-builders to design a home to be lived in.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS
Self-builders and renovators can now choose from a wide range of glazing options that deliver on performance while complementing modern architectural styles. Slimline sliding doors and bifolds remain popular for their ability to flood rooms with natural light while providing seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Sliding doors are ideal for this purpose. For example, the OS 29+ has a sightline of just 29mm, offering homeowners a contemporary look while letting in maximum light. With flexible panel configurations up to 2.2m wide and 2.6m tall, doors like this are perfect for creating bright, expansive living areas. Also look for doors that feature concealed tracks and have an option for flush stacking.
You can also find doors with additional customisable options, such as the signature knurled handles available across Origin’s product range. These not only support cohesive design decisions but also create eye-catching spaces throughout the home.
For homeowners, choosing the right doors and glazing isn’t just a practical decision; it can completely change the look and feel of a space. The right products can make a home feel brighter, more spacious, and more connected, creating places people genuinely love spending time in.
Victoria Brocklesby is COO of Origin