How close is the next door?

And can you show us the screened in porch?
Do you use it?

Yes we use the porch

Does this help?

Would it be easier to add skylights to your porch and pull in more light from there? (assuming the screened in porch has a roof)

@la la girl - possibly, I’ll ask my contractor.

I see windows on the left you need lighting and lots of it natural light is only good in the daytime. Get som tables add lamps maybe a floor lamp and honestly you need more furniture for sure , some art on the walls. .

We just moved in and searching for all of those items.

Slow down, live in the house at least a year before you decide to take on a major project of adding windows. And I’m not sure that would achieve what you want. For every decision you make there are consequences, some you may not fully realize at this point. take your time to get to know your new home. In the meantime concentrate on your furniture and art (even taking your time with that). Consider that a mirror might help optimize the natural light you already have.
The sky light idea on the screened porch is worth considering. If one story house and if more natural light is all you want consider a solatube skylight in the living room.

Is the wall with the TV the exterior wall?

Yes the wall with the TV is exterior

Try a color on the ceiling - such as Farrow & Ball ‘Borrowed Light’.

This color is similar:

Maybe some battery operated sconces

.

I would finish decorating before I made expensive structural changes, as mentioned above.

Did you ever look at yourself in the monitor at the Target self-checkout? It's not pretty. That's the lighting in your room right now. A little bit from the patio, mostly from overhead.

Add lamps, rugs, art, etc then see how you feel about the space.

@freedomplace, that is interesting paint

I love your floors. They are are beautiful. Congratulations on your new place. It is going to be lovely to decorate. I love Borrowed Light by Farrow and Ball, such a good suggestion. I also agree you may not need to add windows. I would wait to see how it all unfolds adding layers of light. Table lamps, floor lamps, and even light fixtures. Maybe even light inside the trey ceiling. Mirrors can also be used to reflect light from lamps.

Tray ceiling lights like this

Cortona Master Suite · More Info

And here is a living room without windows. Notice how they use recessed lights

Maybe you can add some

Living In Color · More Info

White really brightens this space

Modern Rustic Living Room · More Info

You have a beautiful home! It's always hard to see past the empty room. Once you finish designing the space, your focus will be elsewhere.

la_la girl has a good suggestion of adding skylights to the roof of the porch.

Also The Farrow & Ball 'Borrowed Light' on the ceiling is another good idea.

Since the wall you are contemplating for windows faces your close neighbor, it probably won't help at all. You probably want to nix that idea, unless that wall is South facing and the neighbor's house is not a 4 story. Clearstory windows might work.

V V V V Velux Skylights - open and shaded

Clearstory windows:

@Denise - yes clear story windows, I was thinking of something like that. I didn’t know their proper name. Thanks for the suggestions.

Clerestory : )

You mean I've been spelling 'clerestory' wrong forever! Thanks for the correction. Never said spelling was my strong attribute...ha.

@Beverly, I like your ideas!! And my husband would love a bigger TV. 😀
I just need light to help my mood. Possibly solar tubes.

Just keep in mind the sun will be in a different position at different times of the year around your home. Your room may become much brighter.

Additionally, if you seek to add a narrow window at the top of the wall, if your home has an overhang on the exterior, no additional light will be added. The fact that your neighbor's home is so close will not work in your favor either.

You have a covered porch outside your LR windows. I have the same situation. I added downlights and kept the furniture light for several years. I learned to live with it

That porch contributes to reducing the amount of light in the room significantly. It's like a giant awning over your windows.

You could provide alternative light solutions with cove lighting since you have a tray ceiling

IMO add more actual lighting all LED costs very little to run all day even and put the money for the window into something else like more furniture , a rug etc