Five Ways to Increase Natural Light in Your Home
Five Ways to Increase Natural Light in Your Home
Today we are surrounded by modern luxuries and comforts. We have insulated homes with soft furnishings and technological entertainment. All these modern developments have taken us away from some of the important basics that we need to live well. One of these simple life essentials we risk not getting enough of is natural light. In this post, we’re going to look at how you can increase natural light in your home and why it is so important.
What Are The Benefits of Natural Light?
Our bodies rely on natural light to understand the time of day. The electric lights that we are commonly exposed to indoors are not bright enough. According to research, we spend about 90% of our lives indoors. However, we are still biologically programmed to benefit from natural light.
There are many benefits to natural light, the first of which is Vitamin D production. Vitamin D helps our bodies by keeping bones, muscles and teeth healthy.
Exposure to natural light also makes us feel more alert and productive. By experiencing daytime light, our bodies are naturally more alert. Research has shown that workplaces that have more natural light can increase productivity. Increased natural light in the workplace can help improve focus and wellness, which could reduce people taking time off due to sickness.
The main benefit we can get from natural light exposure is improved sleep. Our bodies are biologically programmed to run to a 24 hr programme. Daylight helps our bodies to understand that we need to be awake and that when it gets dark, it is time to sleep. This living programme is known as the circadian rhythm. If we live within an optimum circadian rhythm, we can be more alert during the day and sleep more soundly at night.
How Can You Increase Natural Light in Your Home
Ideally, we’d all like to spend a lot more of our time outdoors, but this is not the way we live now. As we are becoming a light-deprived society, it’s important to try and get as much natural light into homes and workplaces as possible. Here are our top five tips to increase natural light within your home or workplace
Decorate with Light Colours and Reflective Surfaces
There is a wide range of light reflective paint colours available. Select soft off-white colours, as brilliant white can be too harsh. Satin paint finishes are better at reflecting light than matt. Select furniture with reflective surfaces, such as glossy kitchen cupboards or glass tables.
Clear Greenery From Blocking Windows
If you have trees or plants growing close to windows (or over them!), consider cutting these back. Any obstructions outside the window will reduce the levels of natural light. If you don’t want to cut trees down, think about having them cut back so more light can get through.
Clean Windows
You may not realise that layers of dirt have built up inside and outside your windows. Try and clean your windows every month inside and out to maximise the natural light available.
Install Bifold doors
If you are considering new windows and doors, then why not go a step further and have bifold doors installed? Bifold doors can transform a room by effectively turning a whole wall into a window. This will allow natural light to flood the room and also give you great views of your outside space.
Skypod Roof Lanterns
Skypod Roof Lanterns should be considered if you are extending a property or if you already have an existing flat roof. Ideal for kitchens and dining rooms but suitable for any room in the house, Skypods enable daylight to flood a room even on the dullest of days. Look for features such as self-cleaning and temperature-controlled glass.