--- title: Natural light improves overall health and happiness description: Natural light improves overall health and happiness image: https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Springfield_SCW3000_5724c-600x600-1-1.jpg --- # Natural light improves overall health and happiness **Written by: St. Cloud Window** **Date: February 5, 2026** Many factors influence our health and welfare. Some you can change and some you cannot. Our work environment is one that can be designed to positively impact mood, productivity, and overall health with the use of art, color, light, and layout. Barbara Horwitz-Bennett of *Architectural Products* shared suggestions from [Jessica Shaw](https://allwork.space/2021/10/10-ways-to-maximize-wellbeing-and-productivity-through-workplace-design/) on how to create workspaces with a positive impact. ## Color ![](https://stcloudwindow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Springfield_SCW3000_5724c-300x251-2.jpg?width=598&height=500&name=Springfield_SCW3000_5724c-300x251-2.jpg)Color has the potential to affect mood. Bold bright colors can stimulate creativity, while soft blues and greens create a sense of calm. Traditional stark white workplaces, associated with hospitals, can stunt productivity. Color selection should be and can be more purposeful to achieve preferred outcomes. ## Art Art impacts mood by stimulating the brain and creating new neural pathways and ways of thinking. Increased activity generates creativity and brain function. ## Light [Natural light and well-lit work environments](https://stcloudwindow.com/news/why-maximize-office-daylighting/) during workday hours have been shown to improve productivity and sleep quality, by supporting the body’s internal sleep-wake schedule and circadian rhythm. ## Noise Noise has been proven to negatively affect almost 70% of workers’ concentration, creativity, and work quality. Consider [acoustic windows](https://stcloudwindow.com/news/how-strategic-design-and-acoustic-windows-create-quiet-living-spaces/), furniture, flooring, drapery, and other design elements that absorb sound. ## Proxemics Proxemics is the study of human use of space and its effects on behavior, communication, and social interaction. It is important to design work environments that allow for varying degrees of physical separation and closeness to promote both individual and collaborative work. The work environment directly impacts the workplace and personal wellness. When [planning commercial workspaces](https://stcloudwindow.com/news/why-builders-should-choose-high-performing-windows/) St. Cloud Window experts are here to assist with large window openings for maximum natural light, ultra-acoustic windows and doors for optimum noise blocking, and custom colors and finishes to meet almost any design need.  [Contact us today](https://stcloudwindow.com/contact-us/) to find out what window is right for your commercial business needs. ## The Latest Window Industry News Blogs, insights, and more. [![Ever wonder why STC ratings for doors are important? ](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Hope-Church-11c-1.jpg) ### Ever wonder why STC ratings for doors are important?  Simply stated noise impacts our health. Street noise, people, electronics - everywhere we go there is noise and it can... ](https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/ever-wonder-why-stc-ratings-for-doors-are-important) [![Join St. Cloud Window at the AIA Minnesota 2018 Conference](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AIA-mn-show-thumbnail-1.jpg) ### Join St. Cloud Window at the AIA Minnesota 2018 Conference St. Cloud Window is exhibiting in booth #530 at the A’18 MN – The Minnesota Conference on Architecture, Nov 13-16, at... ](https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/join-st-cloud-window-at-the-aia-minnesota-2018-conference) [![Paul Primavera joins the St. Cloud Window Sales Team](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Paul-Primevera-thumbnail-scaled-1.jpg) ### Paul Primavera joins the St. Cloud Window Sales Team ](https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/paul-primavera-joins-the-st-cloud-window-sales-team) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#localbusiness", "@type" : "LocalBusiness", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Sauk Rapids", "addressRegion" : "MN", "postalCode" : "56379", "streetAddress" : "390 Industrial Blvd." }, "geo" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "45.5895708", "longitude" : "-94.1402804" }, "image" : "https://45966872.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hubfs/45966872/250703_SCW_EmailHeader.png", "logo" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#logo", "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://45966872.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/45966872/StCloud_Window_June2025/Images/SCLogo.png" }, "name" : "St. Cloud Window, LLC", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/st.-cloud-window", "https://www.instagram.com/stcloudwindow", "https://www.pinterest.com/scwindow", "https://www.facebook.com/stcloudwindow" ], "telephone" : "800-383-9311", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "St. Cloud Window, LLC", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#localbusiness" }, "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/natural-light-improves-overall-health-and-happiness/#webpage", "@type" : "WebPage", "about" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#localbusiness" }, "description" : "Natural light improves overall health and happiness", "image" : "https://45966872.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hubfs/45966872/Imported_Blog_Media/Springfield_SCW3000_5724c-600x600-1-1.jpg", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#website" }, "name" : "Natural light improves overall health and happiness", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/natural-light-improves-overall-health-and-happiness" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "St. Cloud Window", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/author/stcloudwindow" }, "dateModified" : "2026-02-05T16:23:05.427Z", "datePublished" : "2026-02-05T16:03:50.000Z", "headline" : "Natural light improves overall health and happiness", "image" : [ "https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Springfield_SCW3000_5724c-600x600-1-1.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/natural-light-improves-overall-health-and-happiness", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/StCloud_Window_June2025/Images/SCLogo.png" } } } ```