Let There Be Light!
The Many Benefits of Natural Light
By Susan Davis, Owner of Personal Space Construction
Did you know many of us spend more than 90% of our lives indoors? As winter approaches and the days get shorter, Personal Space Construction is frequently asked about the different ways to bring additional sunlight in to make our clients’ homes lighter and brighter.
In addition to acting as a natural disinfectant by reducing harmful bacteria, sunlight is essential to our well-being, and the health benefits are many, including boosting vitamin D, warding off seasonal depression, and improving productivity.
The “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D – an important nutrient that prevents bone loss, reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain, and various cancers – can only be absorbed through our skin with the help of sunlight. Thankfully, it doesn’t discriminate based on whether you get your sunlight indoors or outdoors. Those with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a very real mood disorder, can be very strongly affected by the lack of sufficient periods of natural light. And regulation of our circadian rhythms of wake and sleep intervals can also be altered by our exposure to natural sunlight.
Fortunately, there are quite a few options for ways in which natural light can be let in to our homes. If budgeting allows, you could install additional windows or replace solid exterior doors with windowed ones. Adding ceiling skylights or solar tubes is a budget-friendly way to increase your interior sun exposure. Even the selection of your interior finishes and paint colors, along with well-placed mirrors, can bring more healthful sunlight in to a space. With so many choices, it is often beneficial to have a professional help you decide which solutions are best for your home.
As an experienced architect and licensed general contractor, we are well qualified to help you evaluate the best solutions for bringing more light in to your house to create a healthier, happier, more comfortable, and more sustainable home. From an interior design standpoint, the lighter and brighter the room, the more comfortable and inviting it is. So if you are wanting to increase your home’s value while increasing you and your family’s health benefits, contact us for sustainable home design ideas that focus on maximizing natural light.
Personal Space Construction
865.271.7998
www.personalspaceconstruction.com