Can a sunroom, truly make you happier? Yes, it can and there is real science to back this up.
A sunroom, unlike the other rooms in your home, has floor-to-ceiling windows that allow light to flood the room. That natural light is vital to many of the processes in your body and it really can make you happier by lightening your mood, helping you get better sleep, and providing an environment for detoxifying indoor plants to grow.
Natural Light Lightens Your Mood
Numerous studies have been done on the effect of natural light on mood. A study based in Australia measured the levels of chemicals flowing out of the brain. This study found that people had higher serotonin levels on sunny days than they did on cloudy days. Higher levels of serotonin are associated with better mood and increased feelings of calm and satisfaction. To sum that up, your brain likes it when it is sunny outside and it rewards you with an improved state of mind.
Natural Light Deepens Your Sleep
Do you feel grumpy when you don’t get a good night’s sleep? It’s not just your mood that can be affected by poor sleep. Weight gain and heart problems can be side effects when your sleep schedule gets compromised. Natural light can help you get a better night’s sleep by keeping your internal clock (your circadian rhythm) synced with sunrise and sunset. It helps to regulate when you are awake and when you go to sleep. Getting adequate amounts of natural light during the day helps you keep a stable sleep-wake schedule.
Natural light also affects your melatonin levels. Keeping them on a regular schedule, lower during the day and increased at night, helps you to get drowsy and ready for a good night’s sleep. And we all know a good night’s sleep makes us happier.
Natural Light Helps Indoor Plants Grow
All you gardeners out there know that plants equal happiness. Indoor plants can detoxify the air and help boost your mood. More access to natural light inside of your home means better growth opportunities for numerous indoor plants. There are a variety of plants that do well in sunrooms including orchids, ferns, and violets.
Better sleep, better memory, stronger feelings of well-being, and a place to put a ton of houseplants? Yes, sunrooms really can make you happier.
