Natural sunlight is an essential part of maintaining health, not just in the body, but in the home too. Natural sunlight in the home isn’t just about energy and lighting bill reduction. A dark and dismal room has an oppressive atmosphere. It is often damp too, although some humidity is needed to prevent dry skin, a room that is too damp leads to mould, which can cause breathing difficulties and allergic reactions. Roof windows might be the only way to add natural sunlight to a room.
Improved Mood
The amount of sunlight we receive impacts our moods. Sunlight increases production of happy hormone serotonin. Apart from the physical impact of walking into a room that is light and airy compared to a space that is dark and dismal, you feel lighter and brighter in the space flooded with sunlight before serotonin is even released. This improved mood can even increase productivity, which has a circular effect, leading to a better mood.
Relaxation
It is hard to relax in a space that is dark and dismal. Even painting the walls in light and airy colours with light furnishings doesn’t make the space any less oppressive. Sunlight is needed to help put the body at ease. With a room flooded with natural sunlight, you’ll stop wondering about what is lurking in the shadows and find yourself relaxing.
Body Clock
Sunlight is required for sleep. Natural sunlight exposure in the mornings helps the body wake up in a way coffee and a sunlamp or artificial light don’t. Sunlight coming into a room prior to waking not only helps warm a room but it slowly and pleasantly lifts a person from deep sleep before the alarm goes off. Exposure to sunlight throughout the day even helps a person fall asleep at night. Being pleasantly woken instead of a jarring alarm and being able to fall asleep at night reduces stress. Reduced stress improves moods and cognitive abilities as does higher quality sleep.
The Room Itself
A dark and dismal room impacts mood, but it also leads to damp. When a room is damp, mould starts to grow. Apart from looking unsightly and smelling pretty terrible, it can lead to breathing difficulties. It also ruins softs furnishings and rare LPs. A dark and dismal room isn’t particularly inviting and can make people feel on edge.
Exposure to natural sunlight is vital to health. Sunlight helps you feel better in more ways than one. It even boosts your immune system and helps balance hormones. Vitamin D, otherwise known as the sunshine vitamin, is essential for healthy bones.
Natural sunlight in a room does more than improve moods, but improved moods are a good place to start experiencing the benefits of sunlight. Each room in a house needs adequate daylight for the health and mental health of a home’s residents. So much time is spent inside that it is vital to have windows. Light and airy spaces are inviting and warm.