9 Benefits of Having Natural Lighting in the Home

9 Benefits of Having Natural Lighting in the Home 

Nothing quite beats the feeling and ambience of pulling back the curtain, letting the warmth and radiance of the sunlight into your home. Much like a cup of coffee, sunlight can be a great way to wake up your body, boost serotonin, and put you in the mood to conquer the day. Natural light is not only great for us, but great for our homes too. We are here to help shed some light on some of the amazing benefits of natural lighting in the home!  

9 Benefits of Natural Lighting 

1.) Natural Light Can Help You Save Energy and Money 

This one might seem obvious, but it’s a top benefit worth mentioning. Strategically placed windows can let an abundance of natural light into your home – whether it’s in your bedroom area or your living room – lessening the amount of electricity needed to provide light for your home. 

2.) Natural Light Can Help Protect the Environment 

Relying on natural lighting to illuminate your home doesn’t just have potential cost savings but can be beneficial for the environment too. Producing electricity in your home requires the burning of fossil fuels. Reducing dependency on electricity to provide light for your home can be a great step toward increased sustainability.  

3.) Natural Light Can Help You Be More Productive 

Getting in the mood to work from home, completing household chores, or helping the kids with schoolwork can be difficult some days. However, an easy and simple way to boost your mood and energy level is to let more daylight into your home. Especially, in areas of your home dedicated to working. According to The New York Times, natural light is shown to have psychological benefits such as greater productivity and better moods than typical light bulbs. 

4.) Natural Light Can Reduce Eye Strain and Benefit Vision 

We all know that smart phones screens and computer screens can cause eye strain and potentially have negative effects on our vision. But did you know that fluorescent lighting can also be potentially damaging to our eyesight? The New York Times reported that a rapid increase in nearsightedness appears to be due to more time spent under artificial lights. Allowing for more bright outdoor light in our homes can be great for both adult and children’s eyesight in the long run.
 

5.) Natural Light Can Improve Your Sleep 

Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? Well, there could be a natural solution to help your body get well-deserved rest. Sunlight can have a huge impact on your circadian rhythm. According to the CDC, your circadian clock is most sensitive to light from about 2 hours before usual bedtime and through the night, until about 1 hour after usual wake-up in the morning. Exposure to light during these times will affect when your body naturally gets sleepy and is ready to fall asleep. Bright morning light will shift the time for sleep earlier, so you will tend to get sleepy and fall asleep earlier in the evening and will wake up earlier in the morning. 

6.) Natural Light Can Potentially Protect Against Seasonal Depression  

Getting yourself out of the winter blues. Seasonal depression can happen when summer starts dwindling away and our days start getting shorter. But why does this happen? According to US News, a lack of sunlight means our brains produce less serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects our mood. If you’re working from home or relaxing for the day, letting as much natural light into your space can potentially help boost your body’s serotonin levels.  
 

7.) Natural Light Can Help Reduce Anxiety and Stress  

Life can get stressful. Maybe it’s your work, or perhaps it’s chores at home that keep adding up. No matter the cause, there are some simple ways to help ease your mind from daily stresses. One of those ways is to spend more time embracing sunlight. We all know Vitamin D is great for our bodies, but it has mental benefits too. If you’re finding yourself stressed at home, try finding ways to spend more time near natural lighting, such as reading or meditating in a sunlit room.  

8.) Natural Light is Better for some Indoor Plants  

Similar to plants growing outdoors, certain indoor plants grow best under the sun! It’s important to first do your research to understand how much natural light your house plant needs, as it can vary. For example, aloe vera is a type of plant that requires a lot of direct sunlight. The best way to help these types of plants survive and thrive in your home is to place them in well-lit areas such as in windowsills or near large windows that get lots of light during the day.  
 

9.) Natural Light Can Improve the Aesthetic of a Space 

Aside from health benefits, natural lighting can also help highlight the aesthetic of spaces inside your home. For example, more natural lighting can make spaces appear larger and illuminate features such as artwork, chandeliers, art, or architectural elements. 

How to Get More Natural Light into Your Home 

How to let the light do the talking! Putting in new windows isn’t the only option for bringing more natural light into your home. Here are some simple thought-starters you may consider.   
 

1. Include More Mirrors in the Home To Reflect Light 

Many people don’t realize this, but mirrors are actually perfect for brightening dark rooms. The best practice is to hang your mirror directly across from the windows to reflect as much natural light as possible around your space. If you can’t do this because of the way your windows are positioned in the room, don’t worry. No matter where you place your mirrors in a room, they can help open up any space.

2. Avoid Using Thick Heavy Drapes and Curtains 

Consider swapping out window treatments. Window treatments are a must for any room, but if your goal is to brighten up an already dark space, then you’ll want to avoid heavy blinds and shades that are intended to filter or block out natural light. Instead, opt for window treatments that are light and sheer and can be easily lowered for privacy at night. Roman shades are a great option for this purpose. If you have small children or pets, consider having cordless blinds installed  to keep them safe and prevent choking. 

3. Choose Brighter Interior Wall and Ceiling Paint Colors

Painting your ceiling white can not only make a room feel taller and larger, but it can also make it feel brighter and more open. The key is to make sure that you’re using the correct shade of white. If you really want to brighten a dark room, make sure you use the clearest, truest, brightest white you can find and avoid cream, ivory and off-white colors. Light colored paint can help accentuate the light. White is typically the best color to reflect natural light, but if you don’t want all white, you can use other subtle shades. Tinkering with your interior paint is also a good way to manipulate areas where you may want less light reflecting around, like near your TV. If you use a glossier paint, you’ll get more reflection, though that is much more up to personal preference.

4. Choose Tile or Glass in Kitchens and Bathrooms

Installing glass tiles to your kitchen backsplash or bathroom wall can brighten up the room and reflect light like a mirror would, while still keeping your space stylish. Even with simple subway tiles, you can light up your kitchen without lighting up your budget.

5. Add in Reflective/Glossy Room Accessories

To increase natural light in your home, opt for room accessories with reflective or glossy finishes. Choose furniture pieces or decor accents made of materials like glass, polished metal, or lacquered wood to bounce and amplify sunlight, creating a brighter and more airy ambiance throughout your space.

6. Keep Windows Clean

To maximize natural light in your home, ensure your windows are kept clean and free from dirt and grime. Regularly wash both the interior and exterior surfaces of your windows using a gentle cleaning solution to allow more sunlight to penetrate into your living space, brightening up every corner.

7. Avoid Putting Large Furniture Near Windows

To optimize natural light in your home, avoid placing large furniture pieces directly in front of windows. By keeping windows clear of obstruction, sunlight can freely flow into your space, brightening it up and creating a more spacious and inviting atmosphere.

Given the many benefits of natural light, it is no wonder that it is increasingly popular to take advantage of it in your home. The addition of natural light will help make lasting improvements to yourself and the environment. At Shea Homes, we build quality homes designed for quality living. Find your home with us today.