From sleep to productivity, mental to physical health, having natural light at home has substantial benefits.
Natural light can help your health and wellness in five distinct ways:
Boost your Vitamin D - Sunlight is a natural source of Vitamin D, which helps to absorb calcium and promote bone growth.
Increase Your Focus - Studies have shown that exposure to natural light in the morning and evening can improve mood, energy, and productivity. Cooler light, from a typical sunny day, can especially improve concentration; the effect is the same whether you are absorbing sunlight indoors or out.
Reduce Seasonal Depression and Anxiety - Being exposed to the right kind of light in the morning during dark winter months can reduce activity in the brain's fear center, improving "communication between the regions of the brain that are central to our handling of emotions such as stress and anxiety," according to Dr. Brenda McMahon from Copenhagen University Hospital.
Help with Sleep - Our body's natural biological clock is tied to the earth's 24-hour daily rhythm. Studies have now shown that our exposure to natural light in the morning helps us sleep better at night.
Protects Your Vision - When it comes to vision, natural lights helps too. Dopamine, an inhibitor of eye growth, is released when we're exposed to light--lack of light results in a lack of dopamine, which can cause the eye to become more elongated and therefore result in nearsightedness.
How to Bring In More Natural Light Into Your Home
Natural light is proven to uplift your mood and contribute positively to your health and productivity. So how can you increase the natural light in your home? Here are a few tips:
Add Mirrors - Mirrors help reflect light, allowing it to filter in, bounce off the walls, and brighten different parts of your home.
Choose the Right Color - White helps reflect light the most, but your home doesn't have to take on one color to be bright. Try light pastel colors, like soft yellows and oranges, to help add color and bring in more light.
Be Conscious about Your Drapes - Drapes are a nice aesthetic feature, but they can reduce the amount of light let into a room. Be sure to find a nice balance between privacy and brightness and experiment with what works for you.
If this all sounds overwhelming, 2ee Staging & Design is here to help with your home decor, color consulting, and staging needs! 2ee is a resource for you and always puts your health and home goals first.
