Natural light can help beautify your home by making it seem cleaner, larger, and more open. Banishing dim corners and dark entryways can work wonders for your home’s aesthetic, and even help boost property value.
But did you know that the benefits of natural light in your home go well beyond aesthetics? Studies have shown that natural light can boost your mood, save you money, increase productivity, and more. Let’s take a look at the top five benefits of natural light — and how glass door inserts can help you let in the light with style.
1. Boosts Mood & Banishes Blues
If you’ve ever turned a bad mood around simply from soaking in some sunlight, then you’re already acquainted with the mood-boosting benefits.
And the science backs it up: sunlight is thought to boost the body’s production of serotonin, the feel-good hormone that helps stave off depression. This drop is thought to contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a season-based depressive disorder that hits in the fall and winter months.
2. Saves Money & Energy
In addition to its mood-boosting properties, natural light in your home has a much more pragmatic effect: it can help conserve energy and save you money. Placing windows strategically throughout your home means less reliance on flicking lights on and off during the day, as you rely on it to illuminate your home during daylight hours.
In fact, one study showed that the use of natural light produced lighting savings of 32% when done correctly. In addition, you can gain satisfaction from the fact that you’re lighting your house with the most sustainable and eco-friendly source available: natural light.
3. Improves Sleep (and Overall Health)
According to the CDC, 1 in 3 Americans doesn’t get enough sleep — an issue which unfortunately increases the risk of health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and mental health issues. Along with other lifestyle changes, natural light can be a powerful antidote for sleep issues.
The sleep-saving benefits of natural light can be traced to its impact on balancing melatonin, the hormone which regulates our sleep cycles. Natural light is far preferable to blue light and fluorescent light in regulating melatonin, and is recommended by Harvard Health as a way to fight insomnia.
4. Improve Productivity, Focus & Mental Function
A recent research poll revealed that nearly half of all surveyed office workers report feeling tired and down in the dumps due to the lack of natural light in their office spaces. This makes total sense, since natural light is known to boost productivity and enhance mental function.
If you’re feeling like you just can’t focus at home during the day — and feel like you’re straining your eyes staring at screens and using unnatural light — then you might just benefit from incorporating natural light into your home’s design plan.
5. Reduce Mold and Mildew
It’s thought that more than half of American homes harbor some form of mold. And unfortunately, these common home inhabitants are not only smelly and unsightly, but also causes skin and eye irritation, nasal congestion, and even wheezing and coughing.
It’s no secret that mold and mildew prefer dark, dim places to thrive. One way to help banish the blight of mold in your home? Flood those dimly-lit corners with copious quantities of natural light.
How to Get More Natural Light in your Home
If you’re looking to reap all the benefits of natural light — while improving the overall look of your home — then consider solutions that incorporate seamlessly with the rest of your home. Door glass insert work with any home’s aesthetic to create a light-filled entryway that will brighten your home, boost your home’s value, and even benefit your health and well-being. At Zabitat, we’re offering $30 off when you spend $150 or more on glass door inserts. Want to learn more? Feel free to contact us today.
