One of the surest and most economical ways to add spaciousness, brightness, and style to a room is by popping a skylight into the ceiling. A skylight can scatter sunbeams throughout a dreary kitchen, brighten a dark bathroom, capture a view from an attic room, or provide a starry-skied bedtime panorama.

A skylight can save you money, too. In addition to reducing the need to use electric lights, it can deliver warmth in the winter and cooling in the summer, minimizing the need for fuel-based heating and air conditioning. On winter days, the sun’s radiant energy can shine through a south- or west-facing skylight to warm interior surfaces. And in the summer, a ventilating skylight can promote air circulation by releasing the warm air that naturally rises.

Skylights may be plastic or glass, fixed or operable, and made in any number of sizes and styles. Knowing the right materials, the proper size, and the appropriate features to meet your needs is important. And figuring out where in a room to locate a skylight is all-important.

This section of HomeTips will help you make informed choices, and you’ll find step-by-step help with installation, repair, and maintenance of your skylights.