Let Your (Natural) Light Shine! Setting a Bright Mood in Your Home Office

Let’s face it – balancing work-from-home deadlines with family life isn’t always easy, to say the least. Some days, you’re in the zone and checking things off your list left and right. And then there are those other days… You feel sluggish before lunch and wonder where your energy has disappeared to. But have you considered that natural light matters in your home office, and in your energy levels, too?

Believe it or not, if your workspace feels more like a storage room than a creative hub, the answer could be as simple as adding more sunlight. As this post from UCLA says, decades of research show that natural light is known to improve mood and focus.

So not only is a sun-filled room easier on your eyes, but natural light improves:

• Mindset
• Energy levels
• Mood, including lowering the risk for depression
• How well you sleep at night

When you introduce natural light to your workspace, you’ll probably feel more alert when it’s time to work and wind down more easily after you sign off. And that lets you be a happier and more effective parent, too.

How Does Light Shape Your Workday?

Natural light isn’t only about making your office look nice, although that’s a happy perk. Did you know that sunlight helps regulate your sleep/wake cycle? Circadian rhythm is the process that helps you feel awake during the day and ready for bed at night.

Simply put, humans are wired for sunshine. 

So, for parents working remotely, a well-regulated circadian rhythm can be a game-changer. Here’s why:

• When your workspace is bright and cheerful, you’re more productive.
• And when work is done, you have more energy left for your family.
• When you’re nurturing your family, everyone is happier
• And that translates into more time and relaxation for you, with fewer “family fires” to put out

Practical Ways To Bring More Light Into Your Workspace

Brightening up your home office or workspace doesn’t need to mean a total remodel or even a huge budget. You can make some simple, inexpensive tweaks and see the light in a whole new way.

In a small space, even minor changes can have a significant impact. If space is a challenge, it helps to use every inch wisely, from how you arrange your furniture to using reflective surfaces. So the ideas below might be just what you need.

Here’s a few inexpensive natural light ideas to try:

• Move your desk: Place your desk or table so to be closer to a window. This lets you soak up as much daylight as possible. My desk sits a little offset from an east-facing bow window, which lets me get plenty of direct sunlight in the morning, and more diffused sunlight in the afternoon.
• Go with light colors: Painting the walls white, pale gray, or another soft shade amplifies whatever natural light you get. You could also go with light -colored arts and fabrics if painting isn’t an option.
• Add some lamps. Lamps can add targeted lighting, and you can change the effect based on the shade and bulb you use. Full-spectrum smart bulbs can even mimic sunlight and might be just what you need if you don’t have a window.
• Use mirrors or shiny surfaces: Hanging a mirror across from your biggest window reflects sunlight throughout the room and can make a space feel more open. This is a great idea if you only have one smallish window in your space, and it can also work with lamps.

And a major change to brighten your work-from-home life

If you’re up for a major update and own your own home, you could add a new window to your home office. Take the time to think through strategic window placement.

This can make a room feel brand new by channeling light right where you need it. Glass doors and skylights can work wonders, making your office brighter and lifting your mood day after day.

Need a middle-of-the-road plan that’s more than lamps but less than installing a whole new window. This video on creating fake windows with full-spectrum light panels might give you some ideas!

Conclusion: Use Natural Light To Glow Up Your Home Office

A productive home office is about more than having good Wi-Fi, an ergonomic chair,  or the latest tech. It’s also about creating a space where you truly feel ready to work and recharge, and that sets you up for a good balance with the rest of your life, too.

Once you understand why natural light matters in your home office design, you can thrive, not just get by. Your work will flow more smoothly, and the rest of your day will be brighter. SO take a few minutes to look around your space and see what small change you can make right now to invite a little more sunlight into your workday!