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How Important Is Sunlight? Location & Orientation Affect Comfort
2025.10.02
When choosing a property, many people tend to value on sunlight. A bright room not only makes daily life more pleasant and helps laundry dry quickly, but it can also boost your mood. Sunlight is an essential factor to consider when selecting an apartment. In this article, we’ll evaluate the pros and cons of sunlit properties, potential pitfalls, and how to find the best sunlight conditions based on your lifestyle.
South-Facing Isn’t Always Best: Sunlight and Comfort Throughout the Seasons
Properties with south-facing windows usually receive plenty of sunlight, as these rooms get the longest exposure during the day. A south-facing room can be bright enough to eliminate the need for daytime lighting. However, too much sunlight can sometimes become a source of stress.
If you prioritize sunlight when choosing a property and there are no tall buildings nearby to block the sun, direct sunlight can pour into the room. This can make the space uncomfortably hot, forcing you to close the curtains during the day or run the air conditioner longer, which may increase your electricity bills.
In winter, when daylight hours are shorter and temperatures drop, south-facing rooms are generally comfortable. But from mid-June to late October, the summer heat can make the room uncomfortably warm. While benefits like brightness and quick-drying laundry are attractive, it’s important to also consider the potential downsides of summer heat.
Too much sunlight can also make daily life inconvenient. For example, glare on a TV screen may limit where you can place your television. In rental apartments, where each room usually has only one TV outlet, you may need to keep curtains drawn during the day to watch TV comfortably.
Impact on Lifestyle and Work
Just as bright sunlight can make watching TV difficult, it can also affect computer work, as glare on screens can be problematic. Facing the sun while working may cause discomfort, and positioning your workspace requires careful consideration.
Bedrooms, especially, require attention. Since they are mainly used at night, south-facing bedrooms are generally fine and can make tasks like moving and drying bedding easier. However, for night-shift workers, south-facing bedroom may not be suitable, as even with curtains drawn, light can seep in and disturb sleep.
Securing Sunlight in Urban Areas
South-facing properties are popular in both rental and for sale properties. However, in cities with many high-rise buildings, the orientation alone doesn’t guarantee good sunlight. Even south-facing room may feel dim if there is a tall building nearby. Likewise, a room that isn’t exactly south-facing might still receive good sunlight depending on the sun’s position, the season, and the time of day.
Sunlight is an important factor when choosing a property, but over-prioritizing it may lead to inconvenience or lifestyle mismatches. To avoid regret, make a list of your top priorities and look for properties that meet as many of them as possible. Actual sunlight conditions can only be accurately assessed on-site, so, if possible, schedule a daytime visit on a sunny day and check the surrounding buildings to get a realistic sense of sunlight exposure.
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