We know natural light is beneficial for both our physical and mental well-being and should be encouraged in our living spaces.

As such, contemporary home designs often feature large glass installations which flood our living spaces with light. But this doesn’t mean we have to pay the price of losing privacy and overheating rooms. Here, the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) looks at how blinds and shutters can help ensure your home, and the people inside, benefit from good light comfortably.

Natural light and darkness are believed to have the biggest impact on our circadian rhythms; that’s the internal clock which determines how awake we are based on the light around us. Most artificial light doesn’t have the same impact as natural light which comes from outside.

So how can we use less artificial light and reap the rewards of natural light without sacrificing on privacy, glare control and the other benefits blinds and shutters provide, such as reducing heat gain and heat loss?

Well, there are some blinds on the market which allow homeowners to enjoy all of these benefits. Day and night blinds, for example, are a stylish and innovative solution for retaining natural light while enjoying privacy. This is achieved thanks to two layers of translucent and opaque horizontal striped fabric. The two layers move independently of one another so the stripes create an open-and-closed effect which provides an almost limitless amount of light control.

What’s more, biophilia – the concept of connecting building occupants with the outside – can be aided thanks to different types of screen fabrics and voiles which provide contact with
the outside while reducing light and providing privacy in daytime.

Some blind types, like Venetians and verticals, can be tilted during the day to provide shade, glare control and privacy, while maintaining some natural light and a view to the outside.

Of course, sometimes we don’t want any light. When the sun sets and the street lights come on, a block out blind can help prevent light pollution seeping into your bedroom helping you get a good night’s sleep.

Automation can help make sure your shading is in the right place at the right time, ideal for when you’re away from home and want to maintain privacy and security. It’s inherently safe too, which is ideal if you have children in the house.

External shading, such as awnings, can also help you control the light which enters your home.

The BBSA’s Blinds Make Better campaign is working to highlight how shading products can have a positive effect on our buildings and the people inside them. Scan the QR code to read more.

To find a BBSA member in your area, enter your post code at www.bbsa.org.uk.