3 Min Read
Nothing compares to the feel of sunlight on your skin. Its sweet warmth, honey-colored energy emanating from a star over 92 million miles away and settling onto your upturned face – or into your newly-remodeled home. Exposure to natural light releases serotonin, boosting your mood and giving you more energy. Getting enough natural light is becoming harder in an increasingly screen-centric world, but we have the know-how to drench your space in plenty of it, should you wish (and you should!).
Why is Natural Light Important in Design?
Indoor spaces with lots of natural light just feel different — and by different, we mean better (biased? maybe.. but we think it's accurate).
Think about it: there's a vast difference between walking into a light-soaked room with high ceilings and many windows versus stepping foot in a light-less basement, automatically giving off some "dreary" vibes.
The dark makes us question our safety. We imagine hidden dangers lurking behind every corner. In contrast, light represents security and calm. It's like a warm fire we can huddle around to protect ourselves against the night.
So, "Why is light important in interior design?"
Because of the way it makes you feel – which is one of the things we are most passionate about at Compelling Homes. Creating spaces that make you feel something – comfortable, safe, relaxed, at home. The more light in a space, the safer, happier, and more comfortable you feel. Since those are the qualities most homeowners want to imbue in their homes, prioritizing natural light in interior design is an absolute must.
How Important is Daylighting in Designing Residential Spaces?
Natural light is essential to designing a residential space. Design is all about marrying function, form, and beauty to manipulate the mood of a home. Sunlight has such a significant influence on the mood of a space that not considering it can be hugely detrimental to the design.
In essence, your use of natural light can make or break your home. Natural light also has many benefits in addition to improving not only your home's mood and overall vibe but yours.
Here are a few reasons you should prioritize light in your 2023 remodel:
Boost Your Health (Mental & Physical)
Exposure to sunlight increases vitamin D levels, reducing inflation, improving bone health, lowering cancer cell growth, and helps to control infections. It also helps with your mental health by boosting your serotonin, a chemical that contributes to your overall mood, sleep, and digestion, among other significant effects. Sunlight also regulates your circadian rhythm leading to better, more restful sleep.
Lack of sunlight can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is more common during the winter months when sunlight is scarce in Northern areas.
Happy Plants & Pets
Sunlight is good for your plants and pets too! Have you ever seen a cat or dog lay in a sunbeam? They love the warmth — it's the perfect place to nap. More sunlight is also a key ingredient to having a plant-filled home, so if you want a jungle oasis, you should consider light in your remodel.
Lower Your Heating & Lighting Bills
If sunlight warms the entire Earth, it can heat your home. You don't even have to invest in bulky solar panels to benefit. Passive homes collect sunlight through South-facing windows (the best house orientation for natural light maximization) and store the energy in heat-absorbing materials such as concrete, stone, and tile. Distribution mechanisms then move the heat throughout the house for even warming and cooling.
The best part is that sunlight is free! Once you invest in your remodel, you don't have to spend a dime for the extra heat, which lowers your energy bills. Plus, the more natural light you have in your home, the less artificial light you'll need to use, further increasing your savings and reducing energy usage.
Better Connection to Nature
Do you love catching a stunning sunrise or breathtaking sunset? You can bring these spectacular daily events into your home with ample windows. Let the sunset cast orange and yellow rays into your space with West windows, and watch how the light changes with each passing moment. Set up your morning meditation area with East-facing windows, so you can see the first rays of light shine into your home and on your face each day. Doing so allows you to experience all the variations natural light offers while strengthening your connection to the great outdoors.
Make Your Home Look Larger
Light plays optical illusions on us all the time. Utilize these to your advantage by using natural light to make your home look bigger than it actually is. When you brighten up a room with light, every corner is visible, and your sense of depth increases, making small spaces appear more extensive — and who doesn't want a larger (looking) home?
Remodeling Your Home with Natural Light
Whether you're remodeling your main floor or your entire home, paying attention to the small details like light makes all the difference. Compelling Homes lives for the details. Creating homes that feel good and function well is our passion, which is why we consider light in all of our designs.
Because at Compelling Homes, we don't do "good enough," we keep going until it's compelling!
