Lighting is integral to both design and architecture it enhances the aesthetic appeal and heightens the ambiance. Not only does it the brightness of the room, but also alters the way paint looks on walls. Rooms with with great exposure to the outdoors will take on different colors throughout the course of the day depending on the weather and the sun's exposure, their shapes may even seem to change slightly. Light-filled homes are cheery and inviting. Natural sunlight is also a fundamental component of green design. Buildings with abundant daylight help keep us physically and emotionally healthy and reduce the need and use of electricity during the daytime cutting lighting energy consumption by 50 to 80 percent, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

Generous use of glass is a great way to get light into a home, but as one does so whether by implementing skylights or large windows, proper placement and orientation is key. Sunlight can cause excessive heat gain and glare, and improperly placed windows can cause excessive heat loss. Nowadays there are energy efficient glasses available and if you're in the market to remodel or replace your windows you may want to look into those. 

Sunlight also has many health benefits - it's recognized as a natural disinfectant as the heat from the sun is instrumental the prevention and development bacteria and mold from developing in the home. We all know that it has incredible health benefits as well. Did you know that sunlight suppresses your appetite? It does so by stimulating serotonin production and suppressing melatonin production into the pineal gland. It also improves blood circulation by dilating the blood vessels, thus bringing more nutrients and oxygen to your blood cells, red and white. It also keeps the heart healthy by lowering the heart rate and reduces blood pressure. Sunlight boosts the immune system by encouraging the production of white blood cells, which increase with sun exposure. These cells play a major role in defending the body against infections. And we've all heard of SAD - seasonal affective disorder - which affects so many during the winter months when exposure to the sun is minimal. Sunlight helps to balance your body’s hormones by boosting serotonin levels. So there's a scientific reason why bright sun-lit rooms make us happy and a reason why I love glass tops and skylights so!