October 18, 2022

What Is Natural Light?

Natural light is any light that is generated through natural forces, the most common source being the sun. Fire and moonlight can also provide natural light, but these are generally not going to be useful during the daytime. While natural sunlight is usually fairly abundant during the day, most modern households and workplaces have unfortunately become reliant on the use of artificial lighting (e.g. lamps and lightbulbs). Overuse of artificial light during daylight hours can lead to a decrease in exposure to natural light.

The Benefits Of Natural Light

For many years there has been an emphasis on avoiding overexposure to sunlight, there is now a growing body of evidence showing that sufficient exposure to natural light is essential to good health. Underexposure to natural sunlight can present a whole range of health risks. Natural light has been shown to benefit psychological and physical health. It is also highly prized in the world of interior design and architecture because of its ability to drastically improve aesthetics by making the room feel bigger and brighter. And of course, the heat and light offered by natural sunlight make it a free environmentally friendly alternative to electric heating and lighting. If you’re considering adding more natural lighting to your home, here are some of the key benefits:

1. Brighten The Surrounding Area

Ask any interior designer and they will agree that absolutely nothing can brighten a room quite like natural sunlight. While most of us would agree that we want our homes to feel bright and welcoming during the day, no amount of artificial lighting can recreate the feeling of walking into a room that is exposed to the sun. Lighting a room using natural lighting (through the use of windows or skylights) is a surefire way to brighten up a large area.

2. Free Heating

With energy bills skyrocketing, there’s never been a better time to start harnessing natural resources to light and heat our homes. Using the sun’s warmth to heat a room during the day can remove the need to use inefficient costly options like gas and electric heaters. What’s more, there’s no denying that basking in the sun’s heat simply feels better than warming yourself using artificial heat sources.

3. Lower The Cost Of Your Electrical And Gas Bills

Leveraging natural light, particularly through the use of a skylight with a retractable shade is a savvy way to reduce your lighting and heating bills. One well-placed skylight can remove the need for artificial ceiling lights while simultaneously providing free heat during the winter months. During the summer, you can simply use the shade to prevent heat from entering the room.

4. Creates The Perception Of A Bigger Room

The more light that is reflected in your room, the larger it will appear. This means a sun-filled room with lots of natural light will naturally appear larger and less cramped than a room of the exact same size that lacks natural sunlight. In order to maximise this effect, minimise contrast in the room by using light-coloured paints and furnishings.

5. Psychological And Productivity Improvements

The effect of exposure to natural light on human health and productivity has been widely studied and the results clearly show that it is essential to human health and wellbeing. Adequate exposure to natural light during the day has been shown to improve sleep quality and decrease the risk of mental illness while improving physical health and immunity simultaneously. Research has also shown that workplaces with sufficient natural light have higher productivity levels with increases between 5% to 40%.

How To Increase Your Home’s Natural Lighting

So, increasing the natural lighting in your home is a no-brainer, but what are the best ways to achieve this? Some ideas include:

  • Install more windows
  • Replace wooden doors with glass
  • Add more mirrors to reflect light
  • Replace heavy curtains with lighter materials
  • Wash your windows to remove dust and grime
  • Install a skylight or roof window

If you’re looking to increase the natural light in your home, a skylight is one of the most effective options. Contact Natural Lighting Products today for an obligation-free skylight installation quote.