A lack of natural light in homes across Britain is harming the physical and mental wellbeing of the nation and creating a generation who are unhappy at home.
According to new research, those with limited natural light at home generally rate their physical and mental wellbeing lower than those with ample natural light in their properties. In fact, those with low levels of natural light are three times more likely to believe their home is bad for their mental wellbeing and more than twice as likely to believe it is bad for their physical health.
Leading window and door manufacturer, Origin, found that basement flats, which notoriously lack natural light, are the worst for both physical and mental wellbeing.
By contrast, people who live in farmhouses and detached homes, which tend to be light and airy spaces, are the most likely to be happy with their home.
A lack of natural light can impact all aspects of life, including sleep patterns. The survey, which was conducted amongst British adults, revealed that people living in homes with low levels of natural light are 10 percent less likely to get a good night’s sleep. This trend is backed by a study conducted by Northwestern Medicine and the University of Illinois, which concluded that those exposed to natural light throughout the day sleep better and for longer.
The effects of a lack of natural light has been exacerbated by the pandemic which has led to many Brits spending more time in their homes than ever before. Those with dull and dark homes are twice as likely to dislike spending time at home. They are also less able to focus at home, which makes working from home an even bigger challenge.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that more than half (55 percent) of those currently living with poor natural light are planning a house move or renovation project within the next 12 months.
Commenting on the findings, Ben Brocklesby, Director at Origin, said: “Access to natural light is incredibly important for our mental and physical wellbeing, and it’s interesting to see how much of an impact light can have on our enjoyment of our homes.
“We have been forced to spend more time at home than ever before, so our houses have become the centre of our lives. At Origin, we believe that it’s vital for our homes serve as more than just a place to live. We should enjoy being in our homes, and they should promote physical and mental wellbeing for the whole family.
“To help more of us benefit from natural light, we have launched a competition to offer one homeowner a new set of glazed doors for their home. To enter, homeowners simply need to post on social media with the hashtag #WinTheGiftofLight telling us how their home will benefit from an upgraded set of doors and increased natural light. Please read the full terms and conditions before entering.”
To find out more about the Gift of Light competition and view the full terms and conditions, visit
https://origin-global.com/gift-of-light.
