A New Study Shows the Power of Natural Light
How does daylight affect happiness and well-being? Marvin decided to find out.
How does daylight affect happiness and well-being? Marvin decided to find out.
We all have an intuition that natural light and views of the outdoors have a positive effect on how people feel in their homes. But how much does daylight really affect happiness? Marvin commissioned a recent survey of more than 1,000 homeowners and industry professionals in the United States to find out—and it turns out to be a lot more than even the company expected.
We spoke with Christine Marvin—chief marketing and experience officer at the Minnesota-based, family-owned business—who shared some insights from her team’s research.
A home in rural Michigan embodies the findings from Marvin’s Shining a Light on Happiness and Well-Being study. "Hilltop Farm is a special project, and I love how the homeowners have integrated windows and doors from the Elevate and Essential collections into the home," says Christine Marvin, chief marketing and experience officer at Marvin. "Clearly the connection to the land—the stunning rural surroundings—inspired the homeowners to purchase the farm."
Courtesy of Ashley Avila and Hygge Architects
Your study, Shining a Light on Happiness and Well-Being, uncovered some surprising insights into how homes are viewed. What were some of the more unexpected things you learned?
One finding that I was really intrigued by was that 96 percent of homeowners say the home in which they live is an important contributor to their state of happiness—only one percentage point behind the overall health of their family. This shows just how much people value their homes, and that’s been especially true since the onset of the pandemic. So, when you think about the home and well-being, it’s clear that the two do more than intersect. They are inextricably connected to each other.
"Making the landscape a central piece of the home itself welcomes nature inside and strengthens the sense of well-being through views of nature," says Marvin. "I think about how the home is positioned on the site, too, and I can tell the homeowners were very intentional about the placement of windows and doors because they wanted to capture as much natural light as possible."
Courtesy of Ashley Avila and Hygge Architects
Another finding from the survey that I was struck by was that nearly 70 percent of homeowners and more than 80 percent of trade professionals agree that access to natural light is a top contributor to one’s feeling of well-being at home. More than ever, we’re attuned to how we feel in our spaces, and the rooms where there’s more natural light tend to have their own gravitational pull. We’re drawn to natural light. It’s biological. Knowing that tells us just how important it is to harness natural light for your home, as it supports circadian rhythms and a positive outlook.
And, finally, I found it fascinating that 9 in 10 people say outdoor views are an important factor in making a home feel happy. Immersing yourself in nature can be so calming. Why not bring as much of that connection to the outdoors in as possible? This is where we can maximize views and open up spaces so people can connect more easily to the outdoors, which supports happiness and well-being.
Marvin adds, "It can get pretty dark during the winter in Michigan, so maximizing access to daylight is important, and they’ve done that in Hilltop Farm. You can see, too, that the modern living space inside the home welcomes many uninterrupted views, giving the home so much positive energy."
Courtesy of Ashley Avila and Hygge Architects
See the full story on Dwell.com: A New Study Shows the Power of Natural Light
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