Let The LIGHT In
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, possibly forever – and in many cases, the way we work. Even though many have now returned to offices, many more people have seen the introduction of a more flexible, hybrid way of working, where employees work partly in the office and partly at home. This new way of working has brought into focus how crucial it is to bring natural sunlight into living spaces – and industry-leading PVCu window and door manufacturer Liniar explains why.
THE BENEFITS OF LIGHT
The importance of light and its impact on our lives has been the subject of research for scientists, medical professionals and universities for more than a decade. Their results show adding light can have a marked impact on everyday life, including increased productivity, boosted mood levels, better sleep and improved vision.
These findings, combined with the increased amount of time families have spent at home over the past two years, means having more natural light at home has become incredibly important. For many homeowners, this has translated into an increased demand for glazed home improvements – including bi-folding, patio and French doors, lantern roofs and conservatories.
FAMILY WELLBEING
These products not only increase the value of your property but the more natural light you bring in the more benefits your family are likely to see. Sunlight naturally boosts your body’s production of essential vitamins B and D, as well as boosting your overall immune system and improving your digestion process.
This isn’t where the benefits end. In fact, sunlight has been proven to aid those recovering from illnesses – like COVID and surgery. In peer-reviewed medical research, it’s reported that there are higher recovery rates for patients whose rooms have windows versus those with no natural light.
For children, access to sunlight is more important than ever. Sunlight naturally boasts antiseptic properties, resulting in homes with conservatories, lantern roofs and plenty of windows having lower levels of bacteria – and in turn healthier families.
SHINING A LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Whether working in an office or at home, productivity is always important. Long periods of exposure to artificial light can affect mental health and,
in some cases, trigger the same symptoms as Seasonal Affective Disorder such as depression, reduced productivity, tiredness and pessimism.
A study conducted by Cornell University found that workers who had ample access to natural light while they worked reported:
- Decreased drowsiness
- Decreased effects from eye strain including blurred vision
- Increase in their ‘daylight happiness’
Adding a conservatory, lantern roof, more windows or doors with wide expanses of glass would help to provide all these benefits for those who work from home, as well as increased productivity and overall wellbeing.
GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST
Light and sleep may seem like polar opposites, but natural light has a profound impact on your circadian rhythm (or the body’s natural wake sleep cycle). Too much time spent under artificial lights can impact your body’s natural rhythm and decrease its production of melatonin – the chemical that helps you fall asleep and sleep soundly.
A study from the University of Sao Paolo reports that families who have plenty of natural light in their lives not only slept better, with more normalised sleep and wake patterns, but also fell asleep much easier than those without access to natural light.
FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE
Since the start of the pandemic and the resulting increase in the time people have spent in their homes, the demand for conservatories and garden rooms that are turned into home gyms, home offices, crafty spaces or ‘man/she caves’ has skyrocketed. These new spaces often include glass doors of all types, lantern roofs or large expanses of windows – providing plenty of natural light.
These niche spaces can not only increase levels of happiness within families but also provide a much needed work/life balance. Adding spaces with plenty of windows or access to sunlight allows our minds and bodies to be happier and healthier.
Dreaming of lightening up your living space with more natural light?
View the range of Queen’s Award-winning bi-fold doors, patio doors, French doors, lantern roofs and conservatories at www.liniar.co.uk and find your nearest stockist at www.liniar.co.uk/stockists to start making those dreams a reality.