Designing bathrooms with natural lighting

Natural light in the bathroom, put simply, is light generated by the sun, rather than that generated artificially by electricity. In the field of architecture, natural light has been used for centuries to make bathrooms and other rooms in our home feel bigger and more connected to their external surroundings. Today, we spend so much of our time indoors (around 92% according to most research), ensuring we flood our homes with natural light has never been more important.

Vitamin D in the bathroom

Natural light is an essential source of vitamin D, which lowers the risk of heart disease, weight gain and even Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, vitamin D can’t be synthesised by sitting in a window because most commercial glass blocks the UVB rays that allow it. So designing our bathrooms with windows that open, with balconies, or even putting in an outdoor bathroom for those summer months is a great way to ensure we access that all-important direct sunlight.

Natural lighting and circadian rhythm

Our circadian rhythms are improved by natural light. Morning light advances our body clock, helping us to wake up and feel energised. Evening light, however, delays our body clock, preventing us from getting a good night’s sleep. When you walk into your bathroom in the morning, you want to feel refreshed and awake. At night, when you’re getting ready for bed, you want lighting in the bathroom that helps you feel relaxed and sleepy. Incorporating circadian lighting, light sensitive blinds and similar smart technology into our bathrooms’ interior design schematics is a great way of ensuring this health benefit.

The psychological impact of natural light in the bathroom

Natural lighting increases serotonin, otherwise known as the happy hormone. So, the more natural light we get, the more it boosts our mood. Imagine waking up in the morning and taking a shower in a beautiful statement shower flooded with natural sunlight. It will put you in the perfect mood for the day ahead. So, if you’re thinking of remodelling your home, think about orienting the bathroom east so you can access that wonderful morning light.

Natural light and productivity

Bathrooms with natural light improve our focus and productivity in the morning, helping us to perform better when we’re at work. Remove dark shower cubicles and open up the shower space with a simple glass partition and ultra-thin shower tray so that your morning ritual puts you in exactly the right frame of mind for the day ahead. Tall windows in the bathroom will also improve light penetration, as will skylights, clerestories (windows far above eye level) and solar tubes.

Improve the bathroom’s energy efficiency

Bathrooms that maximise natural lighting perform better environmentally. Daylight in the bathroom will help to heat up the space so that you don’t need to heat it artificially. And you’ll only need to turn the lights on at night when it’s dark. [You can then further boost the energy efficiency of your bathroom by incorporating air source heat pumps that heat both your water, through the boiler, and the space itself by connecting to radiators or under-floor heating.]

Natural light is good for your bathroom plants

If you want to put plants in your bathroom, then you’re going to need at least some natural light in there. Whilst some plants may be able to thrive without direct sunlight, all of them do demand at least a bit of it. Make sure not to orient your bathroom to the west, unless starving your plants of the essential sunlight that allows them to photosynthesise is your goal. (It’s not.) For green, healthy plant life that boosts your sense of well-being in the bathroom, make sure not to obscure your windows and, if possible, get a skylight in there.

Leanne Ford Interiors, shot by @alexandra_ribar for Restored by the Fords

How to maximise natural light in the bathroom

There are lots of ways to let daylight into your bathroom:

• Start by trimming back any trees and other foliage outside the bathroom window that might be blocking your sunlight.
• Keep your windows spotless, too. Bathroom windows can quickly get greasy with soap residue if left uncleaned and this will harm the quality of light you’re getting in there.
• Fill the space with mirrors or position your main bathroom mirror opposite a window so that it reflects the daylight throughout the entire space
• Put in white fixtures and fittings – they won’t just make it feel fresh, they’ll also help to reflect the natural light
• Use light paint on plastered surfaces, which also helps to reflect the daylight

Looking for something else to read? Check out our feature on artisanal lighting designer, Nicola Schellander

Main image: Ensuite Bathroom from Interval Architects. Photo Zhi Geng G.