Sun Tunnel® skylights are a great way to bring natural light into your home, but did you know they can be equipped with decorative diffusers to change the color of the light or add a decorative element to your ceiling?
Before diving into your decorative diffuser questions, here’s what you need to know about VELUX Sun Tunnel skylights — in case you’re not familiar with them.
What does a Sun Tunnel skylight consist of?
A small solution with a big impact, Sun Tunnel skylights bring in balanced, natural light to spaces where traditional windows and skylights are not an option. They are comprised of three main parts:
- The tube: Made from highly reflective, prefabricated aluminum, the tube is held together with clips and taped seams.
- Roof-mounted lens: The lens, available in polycarbonate domes or flat glass, captures light and sends it through the highly reflective aluminum tube, creating pure, natural light with no color shift.
- Ceiling fixture: Also known as a diffuser, this cover attaches to the tube to diffuse and soften the sunlight. The photo below shows Sun Tunnel skylights before the ceiling fixture or diffuser has been installed.
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How do decorative diffusers work for Sun Tunnel skylights?
Decorative diffusers are thin film discs that fit inside the ceiling diffuser. Some provide a design element, while others change the appearance of the natural light coming from the Sun Tunnel skylight.
Here are some of the decorative diffusers that provide a design element:
Which Sun Tunnel skylight decorative diffuser is best for me?
The right Sun Tunnel skylight decorative diffuser depends on what you’re trying to achieve in your space. All VELUX Sun Tunnel skylights come standard with a frosted diffuser, but you can easily swap it out with a decorative option.
To add a touch of whimsy to a children’s bathroom, add a Bubbles decorative diffuser. Have a hallway that could use an extra glow? A Triple Wave Decorative Diffuser will add a soft, wavelike pattern.
What is light color temperature?
Light color temperature refers to the warmth or coolness of light. Warm light is yellow to red in tone, while the intensity of cool light reflects various shades of blue. When comparing light color on the temperature spectrum, think of candlelight as a warm, orange temperature and daylight as a cool, light blue temperature. Household fluorescent lighting has a white appearance and falls exactly in the middle of the light color spectrum.
The right light temperature for your space all depends on the aesthetic of the room. For example, all-white bathrooms and kitchens are complemented best by cool-tone light, while rooms with darker furniture are complemented best by warm-tone light.
What is the VELUX Neutral Light decorative diffuser?
VELUX also offers a decorative diffuser called the Neutral Light decorative diffuser that changes the appearance of the natural light coming from the Sun Tunnel skylight. Think of this diffuser as a lens filter. It changes the Sun Tunnel skylight’s light from cool and bluish to warm with a golden tone.
The Neutral Light decorative diffuser is our most well-loved option, and it’s easy to see why after taking a look at these interior designers’ small space transformations.
What does a Sun Tunnel skylight with a Neutral Light decorative diffuser look like?
The Neutral Light decorative diffuser does not make the physical Sun Tunnel skylight look any different, but it does make the light appear warmer. See how blogger Diana Elizabeth gave her windowless hall bath a calming glow.
Tasha Agruso of Kaleidoscope Living brightened her formerly dark upstairs hallway with two Sun Tunnel skylights — adding a Neutral Light decorative diffuser to the Sun Tunnel skylight at the end of the hall in the photo below. In this picture, you can truly spot the difference in the appearance of the natural light coming from each Sun Tunnel skylight.
How do you remove a Sun Tunnel skylight diffuser?
Similar to the installation process, removing a Sun Tunnel skylight diffuser is quick and easy. Reach up with both hands and give the ceiling diffuser a little jiggle. Turn the diffuser counterclockwise, so the interior tab slots align. The diffuser should be loose enough to remove from the ceiling.
How do you install a decorative diffuser for your Sun Tunnel skylight?
Decorative diffusers are simple to install. First, follow the Sun Tunnel skylight ceiling fixture (diffuser) removal steps above. Insert the decorative diffuser inside the fixture. Realign the ceiling fixture tab slots with the Sun Tunnel skylight, and rotate clockwise until the diffuser stops. Check to make sure the diffuser is securely in place — and that’s it!
How do you clean a Sun Tunnel skylight diffuser?
It’s no secret that dust and pesky bugs have an affinity for light — but cleaning a Sun Tunnel skylight diffuser could not be simpler. To remove trapped debris or dead bugs, follow the same steps as for removing your diffuser and then vacuum up what accumulated in the fixture.
