Light can have a profound effect on our wellbeing, but it’s something that many of us are lacking in small London homes. As a lot of us work and live indoors, we simply aren’t able to spend a significant amount of time outdoors soaking up that vitamin D. In addition to this, poor internal light conditions mean we don’t get the benefits associated with good lighting. As a result, your wellbeing can suffer and you may not even realise why.
With innovative lighting solutions, however, you can ensure that you’re exposed to sufficient light throughout the year. As a result, you’ll notice numerous physical, emotional and physiological benefits as a result of your modified environment.
Light has a significant impact on mood and circadian rhythms. If you have trouble sleeping or constantly feel fatigued and tired, it could be due to overexposure to certain lights and a lack of exposure to others.
Furthermore, when people live, work or relax in poor lighting conditions, they can experience physical symptoms, such as headaches, visual disturbances, eye strain, and even certain skin conditions. With such negative consequences arising from poor lighting conditions or limited lighting, it’s important to take steps to improve the lighting in your environment.
Certain types of light can have negative effects, particularly if you’re exposed to them for long periods of time. If you use a fluorescent lamp while working, for example, having it situated too close to you could result in UV exposure to your skin. By using alternative lighting solutions, switching to LED bulbs or minimising your use of fluorescent lamps, you could easily negate these effects.
When you use electronic equipment, such as a television or laptop, the screen can give off an unsightly glare. Similarly, if lights or lamps are positioned in the wrong place, you may notice an irritating glare coming from them. If this isn’t rectified, it’s likely to lead to headaches and eye strain. Rearranging your appliances and visual displays can have a significant impact on the amount of glare that’s produced, and it could reduce any unpleasant side effects as a result.
Natural light is associated with a wide range of physical and mental benefits. The body can only absorb vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight, for example, so a lack of natural lighting can lead to deficiencies and subsequent symptoms. Associated with bone and joint pain, hair loss, fatigue and depression, vitamin D deficiencies could be avoided if you’re able to increase your exposure to natural light every day.
Natural light is also a natural mood booster, so spending time in the sun could help you to feel happier, healthier and overall, more relaxed. Of course, in the winter months, you may struggle to see any sunlight at all, as it tends to stay darker for longer in the mornings and night falls early in the evening.
However, your mind and body can benefit from natural light even if you’re spending most of your time indoors. If you’re sat close to a window or your room is basked in sunlight, for example, this could still have a positive effect on your health.
With savvy design and innovative lighting solutions, architects can help you to make the most of the natural light that reaches inside your home. Regardless of whether you have a sunny, south-facing garden, a covered terrace or a mid-level flat, there are plenty of ways to increase the amount of natural light.
We were asked to refurbish a terrace house in Highgate, bringing our characteristic life-enhancing architecture to this typically dark and enclosed Victorian home. We created a light-filled double height space that connects the ground floor to the reading area upstairs.
With our work as architects, Highgate is a familiar neighbourhood for us with properties having been built in the early 20th century. The basic street pattern today is still that of the Tudor settlement that grew up round a tollgate, and with this history of the area, most homes are ideal for our approach to enhance homes with the natural qualities of light.
If you’re buying a new home or renovating an existing space, it may be the perfect time to consider enhancing the natural lighting in your home. We have the expertise to find innovative ways to increase natural light in any property, no matter the size, so you no longer have to deal with the negative consequences of poor, limited lighting. With expert advice, you’ll have a stunning and functional home, and reap the benefits associated with natural sunlight and improved internal lighting.