Want to feel happier? New research says natural light in your home is key
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The bigger the windows, the better. Image source: Pexels.
We all want our homes to be warm, inviting, and most importantly – happy places. After all, it’s the one place we can always retreat to at the end of a long day to relax and unwind in peace.
So it should come as no surprise that various studies have been conducted over the years in an attempt to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes a house a home – and more importantly, what boosts our mood while we’re there.
One such study was recently published in the journal Building and Environment, which found that there is indeed a key factor in your space that can affect your mood: lighting. Here's what the study found about how you can use light to your advantage at home.
Studying the impact of light on mood
To study the relationship between natural light and emotional well-being, researchers created 25 different simulations of homes, each filled with different amounts of natural light. Some houses had more windows than others; some had larger windows; while others had windows facing different directions relative to the sun – providing varying levels of lighting for each space.
Then, 750 participants explored the simulation homes and rated how each one made them feel on a scale from 1 (the worst) to 10 (the best).
The findings—and how you can apply them in your own home
Not surprisingly perhaps, natural light was deemed most favourable when it came to making people happy—and according to researchers, this rings particularly true for women and people under 30 years old. The happiest results were seen when homes had windows covering at least 40% of their wall space. So if you’re looking for ways to increase sunlight exposure inside your own four walls - making some strategic window additions could make all the difference! Maybe you have big windows, but always have the curtains drawn or the blinds down? It’s time to let some of that sunshine in.
Believe it or not, even something as simple as choosing lighter coloured paint hues (that reflect more light) instead of darker tones (that absorb sunlight), could also help boost happiness levels inside your home! Who knew? Maybe it’s time we whip out the paint! I know I have a dark green wall in my home that I’ve wanted to paint white for years - I think this might be my sign!
From an architectural perspective, the study co-author Pablo Navarrete-Hernandez explains, ‘Our findings indicate that by maximising window sizes, increasing distance between dwellings to reduce shade [caused by other buildings], and choosing colours like white or pale pastels rather than deep jewel tones which tend to absorb the light, people can see an increase in happiness!’
So there you have it, folks! Do you have any windows that don’t let any light through because you always have your curtains drawn or blinds down? Or maybe you have some dark paint in your house that it’s time to go over with some lighter colours? Regardless of what it is, let us know what changes you’re going to make to lift your mood at home!
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