There is a great deal of research that demonstrates the benefits of having natural light in our homes. When we are exposed to more daylight, we report improved moods, lower stress levels and even better self-control according to various studies.
However, not all properties are designed with natural light sources in mind. This can especially be true in cities and other built-up areas where space is at a premium and you may not have as many windows as you’d like.
Even if this is the case, there are clever architectural solutions you can implement to make your home lighter, brighter and ultimately healthier. Here are three of our favourites.
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Light wells
These are ideal if you want to introduce more light into the lower floor of your home, or a basement. They are typically located in the centre of a building and act as an open shaft that allows light to reach the lower levels of a property.
Modern light wells in the UK are usually fully glazed and you can turn the space they take up on the lower level into a feature of its own with clever planting or even artwork like sculptures.
An alternative is to leave the top of the light well open and use it as a sunken courtyard, but they don’t have to be this large. A smaller light well can be just as effective if space is limited at your home.
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Glazed flooring
This option is definitely a strong design choice! But having glass you can walk on as part or all of the flooring on an upper-level landing can allow a lot more light into your home and look incredibly stylish.
You don’t need to use completely clear toughened laminated glass to allow more light in. Instead, you could opt for toughened frosted glass panels that might make people feel less nervous walking on your floor (or ceiling depending on which way you look at it!).
If an entire glass landing feels like too much, consider inserting glass panels at intervals along the length of the space and leaving the surrounding flooring intact. This will certainly make your home unique and help with letting more daylight in.
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Glass walls or doors
Sometimes you will get plenty of light in one room in your home, but not in the next due to your property’s orientation. In this situation, swapping a solid door or wall for a glass alternative can make all the difference.
This allows light to pass from a south-facing room into one that faces north, for instance. As with the glazed flooring option, you don’t need to replace a whole wall with glass panels (although you certainly could).
Instead you could add sections of glass panels to introduce more light while keeping the two rooms as distinct spaces.
Of course, there are other ways in which you can allow more light into your home, such as by installing rooflights or even using a thinner material for your curtains, but we love the idea of incorporating natural light into the design of a home.
Elements such as glazed floors are striking design choices as well as benefiting your mental and physical health by exposing you to more sunlight while you’re at home. They won’t be for everyone, but if you’re bold enough to go down this route in your home we think you’ll reap the benefits.