Daylighting: Why It's Important

Welcome to the first blog post!

Today we will be briefly talking about the importance of daylighting in interior spaces.

Daylighting is the illumination of spaces with natural light. Natural light is a very important aspect of making an interior space functional and comfortable for its users. As humans, we are innately drawn to natural light as it regulates our circadian rhythm.

Our circadian rhythm, or "body clock", is a 24-hour cycle our body undergoes that is dependent light-dark cycles dictated by our environment. This rhythm dictates when we wake up, eat, sleep, and other bodily needs.

Architectural Lighting Magazine referenced a study conducted by scientists at the Lighting Research Center discussing the effects of daylighting on occupants. Users were found to be much more productive and comfortable in space where natural light was present within a space than those lacking natural light.

Therefore, allowing natural light to flood interior spaces through the use of windows, skylights, light color palettes, and mirrors has a large impact. Homeowners can apply some of these techniques in their spaces without any major renovations. For example, light wall colors and white ceilings dramatically increase the appearance of light within the space. The same effect will occur when your large furniture, decor, or finishes are highly reflective or lighter in color. Also, hanging a mirror on the opposite wall of a window location with bounce the natural light around the room.

Natural light is something that is difficult to replace with artificial light. Though this is a brief introduction to this topic, there are many resources available to learn more about the benefits of daylighting. Click here to view more case studies and research on the effects of daylighting in various interior spaces.