Let the Light In: Designing with Daylight to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the year winds down and daylight hours fade, many people experience more than just the “winter blues.” Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a clinically recognized condition linked to reduced exposure to natural light. Daylight strongly influences mood, circadian rhythms, and overall health, meaning that thoughtful choices around glazing, fenestration placement, and daylight strategy are key to supporting occupant well-being.
We spoke with Cornerstone Building Brands, Kolbe Windows & Doors, Marvin, Pella Corporation, ProVia, and VELUX Skylights to explore how architects, remodelers, and builders can harness natural light through smart design, innovative materials, and interior strategies that uplift and energize during the darker months.
Credit: Kolbe Windows & Doors
Placement with Purpose
The foundation of daylight-sensitive design is strategic fenestration placement and orientation. Properly positioned windows and doors not only enhance aesthetics but also directly influence occupant mood and comfort.
“In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing windows capture the most sunlight during the day, making them ideal for your most frequently used living spaces.”
– Kate Land, Vice President of Product and Innovation, Cornerstone Building Brands
Designers and remodelers can further refine this approach through bioclimatic design:
“This technique leverages the building orientation, site-specific context, and window strategy to create daylight-rich, psychologically uplifting spaces.”
– Pella Corporation
Whenever possible, place key openings in south-facing or east-facing walls to capture consistent daylight during low-sun winter months. Higher window placements can eliminate the need for window treatments while spreading light more evenly across a room.
Each site will present unique considerations, from surrounding tree cover to neighboring structures, so every daylighting plan should be adapted accordingly. In northern latitudes especially, maximizing exposure during the winter can make a meaningful difference in comfort and well-being. Prioritizing daylight access in high-use spaces like living areas, kitchens, and studios ensures occupants receive the full benefit of natural light throughout the day.
Credit: Cornerstone Building Brands
Maximize Light with Material & Form
Once orientation is optimized, the next consideration is how much light actually enters the space. Large glass expanses, slim frames, and high visible-light-transmission glazing all contribute to brighter interiors.
“Modern styles that offer minimal hardware and unobstructed sightlines attract those looking to maximize natural light from each opening.”
– Christine Marvin, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, Marvin
For design professionals, this means specifying low-profile frames with high-strength glass, using clerestory or corner windows to capture light from multiple directions, and selecting coatings that balance daylight with thermal comfort.
Today’s growing selection of glass coatings allows for great precision in design. Modern glazing technologies including tinted and Low-E glass help manage brightness, reduce glare, and maintain clear, natural illumination without sacrificing efficiency.
“Windows and doors on the same project may vary their number of coatings across the structure based on the specific sun exposure it receives and the desired experience for the corresponding interior space.”
– Marty Lindley, Architectural Representative, Kolbe Windows & Doors
The goal is to bring daylight deep into the space, supporting as much light exposure for occupants as possible.
Credit: VELUX Skylights
Comforting New Technologies
Advancements in glazing, coatings, and automation are transforming how designers create daylight-rich spaces that stay comfortable year-round. These innovations provide greater natural light, improved efficiency, and precise control, helping occupants stay connected to daylight even in the darkest months.
“Smart products with sensors and automation features can adjust their tint or open and close based on indoor temperature, sunlight intensity, and the time of day.”
– Kat Wiseman, Inbound Marketing Coordinator, VELUX Skylights
“Modern glazing and coating technologies allow homeowners to enjoy abundant daylight without sacrificing comfort or efficiency.”
– Julie Monroy, Product Manager of Windows and Patio Doors, ProVia
Key advancements include:
- Dynamic and smart glazing: Electrochromic or automated glass adjusts tint to control glare and solar gain without reducing visible light.
- Vacuum insulating glass (VIG): Provides triple-pane thermal performance with less weight and distortion, enabling larger, clearer expanses.
- Low-E and spectrally selective coatings: Filter UV and infrared rays while preserving brightness and reducing interior fading.
- Automated daylight and shading controls: Integrated sensors and smart systems adjust blinds or tints in real time for optimal light balance and occupant comfort.
- High-density fiberglass and narrow frames: Support expansive glass areas while maintaining strength, stability, and energy efficiency.
- Performance optimization: Balance visible light transmission (VLT) with the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) suited to your project’s climate, and integrate automation for effortless, year-round daylight management.
By combining advanced glazing performance with automated daylight control, professionals can create interiors that feel naturally bright, visually comfortable, and energy conscious.
Credit: Pella
Specifying for Wellness
Natural light isn’t a luxury; it’s a critical design element. By integrating smart orientation, high-performance glazing, and light-amplifying interiors, you can create spaces that nurture mood, energy, and circadian health through the darker months. When architects, builders, and remodelers collaborate with manufacturers and specify with purpose, every window and door becomes part of a wellness strategy.
Explore your options today: https://www.openuptoperformance.com/manufacturers
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