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Bright lighting is generally believed to make people more alert, and well-daylit spaces are generally perceived by occupants to be “better" than dim gloomy ones (Mardaljevic et al., 2012). Daylighting has been associated with improved mood, enhanced morale, less fatigue, and reduced eyestrain (Robbins, 1986).
- Reduce heating costs with natural daylight. Sunlight through your windows will naturally increase the room temperature. It is an easy win. Strategically placed VELUX roof windows can save money on your utility bill.
- Turn off the lights – use the sun instead. With VELUX roof windows, you can utilise natural light to brighten up your workspace, as well as save costs on your electricity bill.
- Let in a little sunlight through the windows and brighten your space. Sunlight makes smaller spaces appear bigger and brighter. Daylight brightens up the dark spaces of your home.
- A more attractive home. Everyone is drawn towards light, including potential buyers. There is a common misconception that new windows are expensive. What many homeowners forget is that your home will become much more attractive when roof windows are added.
- Natural light actually provides measurable health benefits
- Health benefits of natural light
- How to get more natural light
- Reaping the benefits when adding light isn’t possible
- Be your own advocate
It’s a photographer’s best friend, a selling point for homes, and a major perk for office employees: natural light.
As a general rule, most of us would prefer to live out our lives under the warmth of the sun rather than under the buzz and glare of fluorescent bulbs. In fact, a recent survey, as reported by The Harvard Business Review, confirms just how much natural light means to the average person.
According to Future Workplace’s survey, over 1,600 employees ranked “access to natural light and views of the outdoors” as their number one desire for a workplace environment.
This came over and above other perks like fitness centers and on-site childcare.
If you’re among the many who crave more sun, it’s interesting to note that pure sunlight isn’t just a nice little plus to casting a homey glow in your cubicle or making your food photos Insta-worthy.
Here are our top reasons to become an indoor sun-seeker, and tips to make it happen.
1. Boosts vitamin D
When exposed to sunlight, the skin absorbs vitamin D, a critical nutrient that prevents bone loss and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and various cancers. The so-called “sunshine vitamin” also doesn’t discriminate based on whether you get your sunlight indoors or out. Meaning: increasing your natural light where you spend the most time, be it home or the workplace, is equally important.
2. Wards off seasonal depression
For many people, autumn is a giddy time of crunchy leaves and all things pumpkin spice. Getting as much natural light as possible can help keep these mood changes at bay. For about 6 percent of the population, fall kicks off a time of serious depression known as seasonal affective disorder (aka major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns). Another 14 percent experience the less debilitating (but still significant) “winter blues.”
3. Improves sleep
Since mental health and sleep often go hand in hand, it’s not surprising that natural light affects both. A small 2014 study of office workers revealed that the more natural light exposure they received, the better sleep they experienced.
Mirrors, mirrors, on the wall
Help light bounce around a room with a mirror …or two …or more. Sunlight from the window can reflect against a mirror, casting more brightness between four walls. How large of a mirror should you choose? The sky — or, technically, your ceiling — is the limit. Just be sure you get the most of the reflection and aim to place mirrors or metallic objects in the path of the sun’s rays. Some interior design pros also emphasize adding to the mirror effect by decorating with items with a metallic sheen, like brass candlesticks or silver sconces.
Ditch the drapes
Curtains may be lovely to look at, but their elegance pales compared to the health benefits of going au natural. Removing heavy curtains is an easy step to allowing more sun in your space. Plus, letting the sun be your alarm can help get your circadian rhythm back on track and reboot your sleep-wake cycle. But if you’re concerned about how the sun may be affecting your skin while you snooze, opt for keeping blinds raised throughout the day before pulling them shut at night.
Color wisely
Reflective colors aren’t just for road cyclists. You can bring their eye-catching effects into your home with your selection of wall colors. While white is the most reflective color, you don’t have to make your home look like a sanatorium to lighten things up. Colors close to white, such as light-colored pastels, reflect plenty of rays. An eggshell wash or other reflective paint finish compounds their brightness. Also, don’t forget the largest source of darkness in a room may be the floor. Get a light colored rug to help brighten up the room.
Sometimes adding more natural light to your environment simply isn’t possible.
Perhaps your rental contract bars you from tampering with window treatments, or you have no control over your cubicle space.
Getting more natural light won’t solve all your problems but it might improve your situation just enough to make a difference.
If a lack of natural light at work is becoming a mental health burden, don’t be afraid to bring it up to your employer. Perhaps there’s a simple solution to help you soak up your daily vitamin D, like moving your desk closer to a window.
You’ll never know if you don’t ask.
Sarah Garone, NDTR, is a nutritionist, freelance health writer, and food blogger. She lives with her husband and three children in Mesa, Arizona. Find her sharing down-to-earth health and nutrition info and (mostly) healthy recipes at A Love Letter to Food.
- Sarah Garone
- Vanessa Richmond
- Paint your walls and ceiling in a pale colour. Michael Rolland, Managing Director at The Paint Shed advises, ‘Light colours reflect more light than dark colours.
- Use eggshell paint on walls. Michael Rolland continues, ‘Different paint finishes reflect light in different ways. For example, gloss will reflect more light than matt.
- Use mirrors and reflective surfaces. Tasked with making properties more saleable before they’re put on the market, Suzy Maas, a home stager and interior designer, finds that strategically placed mirrors are a key weapon in her arsenal. ‘
- Let light move freely. Furniture that is raised off the floor on legs will let light move around a space instead of blocking it, helping it feel more open and spacious.
The Benefits of Daylighting. Our team are passionate about maximising the amount of natural light in any given space, and have created this short guide outlining the numerous benefits of natural light, from improved productivity and enhanced wellbeing to creating better learning environments. There are numerous reasons why natural light should ...
According to North Carolina State University, “Computer screens, smart phones and fluorescent light can cause eye strain that can lead to permanent eye damage. Natural light has been shown to lower the risk of nearsightedness in children and young adults by helping the eye produce dopamine, which aids in healthy eye development.”.
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