Open the blinds and let there be light! We have all felt how the glow of warm sunlight can quickly take a room from gloomy to energizing. And in Wyoming, where winter weather can extend from October through May, working with custom home builders to maximize the use of natural light in your home design can have tremendous long-term benefits. Read more about them in this blog!

Health, Energy & Aesthetic Advantages

Energy Savings

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of lots of natural light within the home is the cost savings associated with lower utility bills. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, lighting accounts for about six percent of electricity consumption in American homes. The more natural light that illuminates your home, the fewer lights you have to turn on, saving you money. Similarly, natural light can also provide significant warmth to lower utility costs, primarily by using south-facing windows to capture winter sun. In the summer, covering windows reduces heat gain and decreases reliance on air conditioning units.

Health Benefits

One of the most appealing reasons to consider designing your home with custom home builders to maximize natural light involves the related health benefits:

• Improved mood and cognitive function. Studies show that bright daylight triggers the release of serotonin in the brain, a “feel good” hormone that boosts mood and improves mental focus throughout the day.
• More energy. Sunlight signals the brain to increase levels of cortisol, the hormone that regulates alertness, and suppress melatonin, the sleep hormone, for optimal daytime energy.
• Less eye strain. Researchers at Cornell University’s Department of Design and Environmental Analysis found that people with access to natural light in the office reported an 84% drop in eye strain, blurred vision and headaches.
• Better sleep. Another study found that those with more light exposure sleep longer and have better sleep quality, more physical activity and better quality of life compared to those exposed to less light.
• Better bone health. Sunlight is essential to the body’s production of Vitamin D, which helps it to absorb calcium and phosphate to build up and strengthen bones, and ward off osteoporosis in older adults.
• Natural antiseptic. The UV rays in natural sunlight kill potentially harmful bacteria and improve air quality indoors, even after the light passes through panes of window glass.
• Weight management. A study by Northwestern Medicine reported that people exposed to bright morning light had a significantly lower body mass index than those who had most exposure later in the day.

Improved Aesthetics

Natural light bridges indoor and outdoor spaces, making a home feel brighter, larger and more appealing. Sunlight can highlight the best aspects of an interior, such as colors, textures and architectural details, in a way that artificial lighting can’t. And the beauty of natural materials such as metal, stone and wood are only enhanced by natural light.

In addition to improving aesthetics, natural light brings an interesting sense of life and movement to a home as it shifts throughout the day.

Designing to Maximize Natural Light

Natural light can be prioritized in a home through open layouts, thoughtful window placement and reflective materials. If you want to enjoy the benefits of natural light in your life, consider the following before custom home builders begin construction of your new home.

• Strategic orientation. Careful positioning of a home is the best way to utilize the sun for natural lighting. Start by placing the longest side of the house facing south, with the rooms that are most used during the daytime oriented along this wall. Note that jogs and offsets in a south-facing wall line will increase shading on the south side and thus decrease natural light. If you enjoy rising early, place the primary bedroom on the south side so you can savor the morning sun. Those who prefer a darker bedroom should have theirs located along a northern wall.
• Windows. The easiest way to welcome natural light into a home is through windows. Large, south-facing windows admit the most sunlight, making them ideal for boosting natural light inside your home. North-facing windows deliver soft, consistent light, and are ideal for rooms where full sunlight may be too intense, such as offices and bathrooms. 

Live Smarter in a Well-Designed Gateway Home

By designing with natural light in mind, you embrace a smarter way to live! Gateway has spent the past 25 years designing Wyoming homes that do just that: optimize orientation, layout and window placement to allow natural light to brighten and warm a home from dawn until dusk. To discuss your next project in Cheyenne, Casper or Laramie, contact our sales team at (307) 655-6995 or reach out online. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn to find out our latest news and available homes!