News // March 16, 2023
Written by Spyropoulos Alicia
The Benefits of Natural Light in the Home
Light has always been an essential element of daily life as a tool that is, at its core, necessary for us to see. Natural light, however, compared to artificial light, can have a variety of other profound positive impacts on your mind and body from fighting seasonal depression to increasing productivity.
To make the most of these benefits, there are a few steps you can take within the home to enhance your exposure to natural light including the addition of indoor blinds. Find out more about the benefits of natural light in your lovely living space, as well as how to enhance its reach in your home.
The benefits of natural light
A good amount of natural light exposure can have the following positive effects on your well-being.
1. Improved Mood
Sunlight exposure has been shown to help lift your mood, especially during seasons such as autumn and winter where you are generally spending less time outdoors. A PubMed Central article states that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) impacts about 6% of the population, meaning the lack of light leads to major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. Around 14% of people, while symptoms are not as debilitating, still experience lower mood during the darker months.
By increasing your exposure to light within the home, this can help to combat SAD and lift your overall mood.
2. Improved Health
Natural light helps to improve your overall health. Additional vitamin D helps to maintain healthy bones and reduce heart disease, as well as reducing risk of weight gain. The psychosomatic connection between mind and body means better health will also lift your mood and vice versa.
3. Increased Productivity
While the improved health and mood that natural light offers will have you feeling more productive, light is also stimulating for creativity. A 2018 study found that those in daylit office environments experienced 84% less symptoms of eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision which are symptoms linked with stress and detract from productivity.
4. Better Sleep
Exposure to light from outdoors has a strong impact on your circadian rhythm, the mechanism in your body which helps you to feel awake during the day and sleepy at night. Getting more natural light can help to make sure you are alert when you need to be, and tired enough to get a good quality sleep at the end of the day.
How To Maximise It
Here are some ways you can add natural light to your living space.
1. Make Use of Windows
As a primary source of light in the home, it’s important to make sure you are allowing as much light as possible in through your windows without anything obstructing them. Move any bed heads or furniture that might be blocking the light from entering.
2. Add Indoor Blinds
Indoor blinds are a great way to control the amount of light entering your home whenever you desire. Along with increased light control, roller blinds also allow you to block damaging UV rays to enjoy healthy sunlight and reduce glare. Day blinds offer one-way vision, meaning you can enjoy complete privacy while maintaining natural light and a view of outside.
3. Skylights
If you have the right roof for it, installing skylights can be a great way to provide extra sunlight and generally brighten up the home.
4. Mirrors
Mirrors are excellent at reflecting light, and are very useful in spaces where natural light is limited. If you have some spare wall space in a room that is lacking in light, the addition of a mirror can make a big difference and help to open up the space.
5. Light Colours
Light-coloured walls, flooring or furniture are also great for reflecting light and brightening up a space. Flooring tiles materials such as hardwood, laminate, or tiles as well as wall colours such as white, cream or pastel shades are recommended.
Quality Indoor Blinds With Security Plus
Security Plus blinds are customisable and made-to-measure, guaranteed to be a perfect fit for your windows. If you’re looking to add light control that reduces UV and glare while adding privacy, contact us to arrange a free measure and quote today.
