Bringing Natural Light into your Home Part I: Benefits

It’s summer. A time when the sunshine is plentiful. When the days grow longer, and the golden evening hours illuminate the rolling hills of Holmes County in the most beautiful way. 

All year long I anticipate the brightness and warmth of summer. Ever since I was a child, those two things have brought me joy. The sun seems to naturally draw out the best from the world. From the vegetables growing in rich gardens to the time spent outdoors with good friends. 

Summer isn’t the only month we can appreciate the wonders of sunshine. As a designer, I look for any opportunity to bring natural light inside the home year-round, and over the next three months, we will be diving deeper into this topic.

There is so much to appreciate about natural light, and there are many changes, from large to small, that you can make to bring sunlight into the home. This month we will focus on the benefits of natural light.

The Benefits of Natural Light

Natural light in the home produces a much truer sense of illumination than you get from installed lighting. This means that it is easier to work and navigate throughout the home. Items are easier to find and organize, and colors are brighter and more vibrant. 

As you go about your day, a good mood and attitude can make a big difference. Natural light helps here, too. It increases focus and boosts endorphins, your body’s natural happy chemicals. No light bulb, no matter how sophisticated, can mimic these psychological effects. Natural light can even help align your circadian rhythm, leading to better sleep.

As if that was not enough, natural light also has direct health benefits. Did you know that sunlight reduces the production of harmful bacteria and organisms that can grow in any house because it is a natural disinfectant? It Increases vitamin B and D and boosts your immune system by helping improve white and red blood cell count. It generates energy and strengthens organs, stimulates appetite, and improves digestion. It is also terrific for a healthy complexion.

As a side note, natural light helps you grow and maintain beautiful plants in your home…plants have many additional benefits…. but that is a topic for another day.

Finally, natural light is a form of common-sense stewardship. This is a term we’ve started to use around Keim that simply means that it helps the environment and it makes good financial sense. When you use natural light, you use less electric lighting, which can have a positive impact on both your wallet and the environment. If you choose to replace windows, newer windows are proven to insulate the home better, which means you spend less on heating and cooling costs.

As you can see, there are physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and financial benefits to bringing natural light into the home. In the coming months, we will explore design considerations and specific ideas for adding natural light to your home year-round. 

If you are already inspired, talk to our Window & Door experts to explore what options are best for you to experience the feelings of summer and the positive effects of natural light in your home.

From my home to yours,

Karen Keim