If you didn’t already know, sunlight is renowned for improving health and boosting mood. If the health benefits alone aren’t enough to convince you, knowing your pocket could also reap the rewards might be, since extra sunlight in the home could actually contribute towards reducing your energy and heating bills…
Boost Your Immune System
Exposure to natural light can help to boost your immune system and keep you healthy. Since sunlight is the number one source of vitamin D, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough exposure – which can start at home if your rooms are well lit with natural light. Most of us won’t struggle to get sufficient Vitamin D in the summer months because naturally we spend more time outdoors, but it’s important to ensure you’re getting enough all year round.
Protect Your Vision/Eyesight
Natural lighting is beneficial to eyesight development – it causes the body to produce dopamine which helps to regulate growth occurring within the eye in early life – this contributes to the prevention of near-sightedness in young adults and children.
The negative effects of artificial light should also be considered, as spending long periods of time in artificially lit environments can accelerate the rate of eyesight deterioration. Therefore, having more sunlight in your home promotes healthy eye development and can reduce eye strain, protecting your vision as well as that of your children.
Improve Your Mood
Sunlight can actually improve your mood and make you feel happier. When we’re exposed to sunlight, our brain produces serotonin which is associated with boosting mood as well as helping us to feel calm and focused. As we all know, sunny days have a way of making you feel far brighter, more alert and can help you to look forward to the day. So since we usually start our days at home, it makes sense to ensure we’re setting our mood for the day in a room that is filled with sunlight.
Cut the Cost of Your Energy Bills
As well as the notable health benefits, it’s also worth mentioning that enhancing the amount of sunlight you’re getting in your home can lead to a welcome reduction in your utility bills. The potential savings are two-fold: firstly, if a room is sufficiently lit by the sun you won’t need to turn any lights on in the day. Secondly, a room with sunlight pouring in will naturally heat up throughout the day, meaning you won’t need to turn on the central heating as often.
Increasing the opportunity to have more sunlight in your home sounds like a pretty good idea then, right?
Despite the many benefits, it can be hard to know how to best achieve a naturally light and bright space to enjoy in your home.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Increase Light with Windows or Doors
Adding any sort of windows or glass panelled doors will bring much-needed light to a room. But of course, we have to give special mention to our very own Swing and Slide Doors. The Swing and Slide patio door system has large glass panes which allow light to flood into a room from top to bottom. Our doors, unlike traditional sliding patio doors, allow you to extend your living space by fully opening the system, giving you an uninterrupted view of your garden or patio. The practical traffic door also ensures that you always have quick and easy access to your garden – so you can pop out to top up your vitamin D in the fresh air too.
2. Opt for a Conservatory
Conservatories are a popular option for UK homeowners as they can be used in a variety of ways and provide probably the maximum amount of additional natural light that you could hope to achieve in a room. Conservatories are often built onto the side or back of the house where the sun rises or sets to make the most of the natural light available throughout the day.
3. Install a Sky Light or Pod Roof Light
Traditional sky lights are a classic way to add natural light if extra windows or doors aren’t an option, or if you just really want to maximise the light coming into your room. Another method to consider, (especially if you have a flat roof or are considering a flat-roof extension) is installing a pod roof light – a great way to get natural light inside the house for dark rooms or those that aren’t suitable for added windows or a patio door. Pod Roof Lights installed by Profix also have self-cleaning glass to ensure light can shine through without disruption from pesky watermarks. Contact us to learn more.
4. Add Mirrors Near to or Opposite Light Sources
Once you’ve installed your new Swing and Slide Doors, a great way to maximise the light they bring in is to add mirrors to your walls. Positioning mirrors around the room where they’re most able to reflect the natural light will illuminate your space even further – a low-cost, simple and easy way to make a room feel much bigger and brighter.
5. Choose a Light Paint Colour / Light-Reflecting Finish for Your Walls
Now if you want to seriously maximise the impact of bringing extra natural light into a room, our final tip is to make sure you opt for a lighter paint colour as this can also help to reflect light around your room. Staying away from dull, dark colours and matt finishes will ensure your space feels clean, bright and airy.
In the midst of a home renovation project and feel inspired to learn more about our innovative Swing and Slide patio door system? View our product details and get in touch to arrange a survey appointment.
Whether you are adding an extension or building a new home, the option to link the outside-in with large