Light Filtering window Treatments Contribute to Happiness Markers
Light is one of the most important tools in our toolboxes for creating healthy and happy bodies and minds. Getting your daily dose of Vitamin D from direct sunlight outdoors is important, but being able to control the amount of light in your residential interior environment with precision can greatly contribute to your happiness and overall contentment at home. Especially during the springtime when we're all looking for freshness, many of us are scanning our spaces and identifying areas to re-envision and improve. Quicker than a can of paint, light filtering window treatments can totally change the look and feel of a space. The right ones will ignite our creativity or calm us into a state of restfulness, but the benefits don't stop at emotional well-being. Intentionally choosing window treatments that filter and adjust the light entering your space can provide helpful benefits on multiple levels.
About 30% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows even if they're updated. To add to that, we tend to forget to adjust window treatments though out the day to maintain maximum comfort and energy efficiency. By considering how much direct light your window- in-question gets during the day, you can begin the process of deciding exactly which treatment will best serve your needs. If minimizing energy loss is a main priority for you, you might have only considered a full blackout curtain treatment. Certainly, blackout curtains are very energy- efficient, but they're not the only option. And, energy efficiency is not the only consideration. While we're mentally designing your unique light-filtering window shades, let's decide on something that could ideally make your life simultaneously easier and more productive and content.
We all know that sunshine makes us happier. But, did you know that the mere act of seeing an outdoor setting measurably decreases your levels of cortisol, the stress chemical naturally released in the body when it experiences extreme tension? In a study done by the US National Library of Medicine, subjects experienced an increase in serotonin markers conversely with the decrease in cortisol. This process results in elevated happiness markers, including those of self-satisfaction and increased "flow" state, during which people lose track of a sense of external stimulation and focus deeply on one task. These are effects of the natural lighting in a home that often go unconsciously disregarded; nonetheless, we experience the consequences in our level of productivity and flow.
Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to your perfectly suited window treatment. You'll have your own list of boxes to check. But, we can help you sort through your options. Briefly, roller shades are inexpensive horizontal pull-down shades that you can find in many updated rentals. Or, you could opt for Roman shades that comprise one continuous piece of fabric that lays flat against the window when lowered. With this option, your choice of fabric will determine the amount of light that will be filtered out of the interior space when the shade is lowered.
If you need window treatments in areas with a lot of moisture, like the bathroom or the kitchen, it's a good idea to research faux wood blinds, as these are attractive and made out of PVC: therefore, they won't warp like other material likely would. Speaking of faux wood, that comes in a classic shutter design! Or, you can create a certain ambiance of authenticity by personally selecting the stain for your natural wood shades or shutters. Pleated shades are always an elegant choice, as are woven wood shades and cellular shades, the last of which is probably the most energy efficient on the market. You know you can selectively customize your window treatment's material and style, but there's a coup de gras of window functionality--the optimization of their usefulness by selecting programmable, motorized blinds and shades.
Whew! There are a lot of options. And, drapery, in all its intricacies is for another blog entirely.
