Sheryl Crow had the right idea back in 2002 when she told the world she was going to “Soak Up the Sun”.
We took that statement to heart, and you can too – all from the comfort of your own home – with a gorgeous veranda courtesy of SunSpaces!
For many office workers, most days are spent sitting in front of a computer monitor for several hours at a time. Even those not perched at a desk for eight hours a day can often find their evenings parked in front of a TV screen.
On top of that, many of us are also guilty of spending downtime, bedtime and even meal-times peering into a phone screen, endlessly scrolling through Facebook feeds and Twitter timelines. After all, those cat videos and dog memes aren’t going to “like” themselves, right?
Nevertheless, all that screen glare isn’t good for the eyes. Luckily, there’s a simple workaround for this and regular breaks can be a wise move. Better still, switching off completely can have untold health perks, particularly when that time is spent outside.
Spending more time outdoors can have a whole host of health benefits, with the potential to heal mind, body and soul. These can range from improved vision to increased mental performance, all from simply stepping outside and escaping the confines of your living room or workplace.
Now we’re not saying you need to spend your days wandering the Earth with nothing but a pop-up tent for nightly shelter, but a healthy dose of natural sunlight and fresh air can truly work wonders.
Don’t believe us? Take a look at these surprising health boosts you can gain by stepping away from the screen and out the front door.
While it’s true that being exposed to heavy sun for prolonged periods of time can make you feel tired and drowsy, soaking up natural daylight can be great for energy levels, particularly in the wintertime when days are shorter.
According to NHS.uk, lack of sunlight causes your brain to produce melatonin which, in turn, can make you feel sleepy. Taking a break outside can not only help you feel energised in the day, but it can also give you a better night’s sleep later on when you do call it quits.
Exposure to sunlight can also have a notable impact on your mental wellbeing while being cooped up indoors can have notable adverse effects. This particularly evident in the winter months when daylight hours are notably reduced.
Many people in the UK experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) when the clocks go back, bringing summer to a cold, wintry halt. The shorter days and extended nights that accompany it can make for a depressing combination.
Mental health charity, Mind, has found that being outside can help benefit your mood greatly and experiencing nature can profoundly affect your overall outlook. This has even been known to include mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.
Our increased daily reliance on computers, phones and tablets has meant a notable increase in myopia (or nearsightedness). Throw in a national love for TV and computer games in our spare time and it’s no wonder the UK’s eye-sight is taking a dip.
The New York Times has previously reported a strong correlation between eye health and a person’s overall exposure to sunlight. These facts were the result of a sizeable study done by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, King’s College London and several other respected institutions.
According to the study, those who had gotten the most sun during their younger years were about 25% less likely to develop myopia by middle age. Exposure to sunlight up to the age of 30 proved to have a protective benefit, notably benefitting eyesight in later life.
Your eyes aren’t the only things that can lose focus – lack of daylight can also cause your brain to lose focus as well. Exposure to natural environments can be just the boost you need if your mind is wandering and your attention is waning.
According to AskTheScientists.com, breaking up the working day with time outdoors has been shown to enhance concentration and increase productivity. Meanwhile, creative problem solving and cognitive function has also been known to improve through outside activities, particularly when indulging in prolonged outdoor pursuits.
Perhaps the most telling and important finding of all is that being outside has been shown to contribute greatly to overall bodily health – particularly due to its association with Vitamin D.
According to medical experts, humans are said to get as much as 90% of their Vitamin D intake from natural sunlight. Vitamin D can be a vital component in helping to maintain healthy bones and teeth, as well as contributing to cardiovascular health, including healthy blood pressure.
Vitamin D has also been known to regulate insulin levels and can help aid and prevent diabetes, while it has also been found to strengthen the immune system. With such a profound list of great health benefits, is there any wonder they call Vitamin D “The Sunshine Vitamin”?
So, we’ve heard all about the health benefits of being outside and worldly goodness that can be gained from being out and about – now what?
Getting outside doesn’t mean you have to take up gardening or begin park running every morning. The outdoors can be a great place to simply relax and unwind and what better way to do that than in the comfort and privacy of your very own property?
SunSpaces offer a wide range of garden rooms, verandas and awnings for a variety of properties, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of being outside without having to leave your home.
Give us a call today on 029 2037 1575 or click below for more information. Alternatively, visit a showroom near you and get an in-depth look at outdoor living!
Before you purchase your new SunSpace, our 3D design team are on hand to bring your garden dreams to life. You can get an accurate feel for how SunSpaces you like would look if they were actually installed in your garden. This makes deciding which one is right for you much easier. All we need is a brief explanation of how you want your finished project to look and the measurements of your new SunSpace. It's that simple! Find out more about our 3D design service here.
Our various garden structures are made using exceptionally high-quality materials, such as rustproof aluminium, toughened glass, and extra-strong polycarbonate. This ensures that our garden rooms are as sturdy and resilient as possible. If you're looking for a durable yet elegant extension to your home, our Wintergardens are a great option - they are made using the highest quality materials and can be double or triple glazed to preserve heat within your home.
Many of our competitors only sell extensions, verandas and sunrooms of a pre-determined size, but here at SunSpaces, we design your SunSpace to suit your exact requirements. This gives us the ability to help you create a stunning outdoor living area, even if your available space is not a conventional size.
Once you purchase your SunSpace, you can choose whether or not to take advantage of our competent and experienced installation team. However, if you would prefer to install your new SunSpace independently, or source an independent contractor of your own this is also perfectly fine. We are able to assist as much or as little as you need.
The problem with online shopping is that you don't get to see what you're buying until after you'd paid for it. If you want to take a closer look at our garden rooms before you commit to a purchase, you are more than welcome to visit one of our showrooms.
A veranda is a structure built to the front, side or rear part of your house designed to provide you with shelter or used as a sun trap.
It is rare to find verandas that are identical. This is because they tend to be customized to suit the owners’ needs. However, there are 2 main types of verandas;
Traditional or Victorian Veranda - Made from wrought iron, these verandas tend to have a roof containing glass panels and columns with quarter arches at the top.
Contemporary Veranda - Ideal for the more modern property, these sleek verandas have a durable, sleek aluminium structure, with either glass or polycarbonate roof panels.
Verandas usually often serve a variety of purposes, depending on the reasons and places fitted. The main reasons, however, are to provide an outdoor shelter where you can enjoy your outdoor area regardless of the weather conditions prevailing. Secondly, verandas enhance the look of your home. We can help you decide upon the best design to suit your property to provide a SunSpace that accentuates the look of your home.
You might be wondering why you should install a veranda to your home. Well, there are a variety of benefits to reap from the installation of a veranda:
With the information on verandas, it is prudent to fit one in your home. You will not regret the choice. Need further information on why you should choose a veranda for your home? Click below to contact us or view our range of Verandas!
A veranda might not be the first type of home extension you’ll consider purchasing if you want to make use of your outdoor living space during the winter months, but that shouldn’t be the case. All of our verandas, including our Outlook and Outlook+, can be enjoyed during winter.
Outlook verandas are made with a very robust polycarbonate roof that can withstand up to 50cm of snow and comes in three beautiful finishes. There are also three guttering options to choose from, all of which are sure to stop water from pooling on top of your veranda.
Arranging all of your garden furniture so that it's underneath your Outlook Veranda will not only prevent it from getting damaged by the elements, but it will also allow you to make use of your outdoor living area for much longer, if not all year round.
Sunspaces stock a range of accessories that will help you enjoy your Outlook Veranda through the winter months, including:
By installing an Outlook Veranda, you lose none of your garden views and can make the most of your outdoor space. They are one of the simplest and effective ways to enhance open-air living, whatever the weather.
Does an Outlook Veranda sound like the SunSpace for you? Take a closer look at them by clicking the button below:
Here at SunSpaces, we make it easy to purchase and install a stylish new veranda. Our sales team will help you through the entire process; our products are supplied with easy-to-follow assembly guides and instructional DVDs. We even offer a full installation service if you'd rather leave the job to the professionals. The only hard part is deciding how you'll decorate your new veranda. Fortunately, we can provide some assistance on that front, too.
The colour of your garden veranda is a pretty crucial consideration, as it plays a huge part in determining the sort of impact that your new structure has on your property. If you're having trouble choosing the best colour for your veranda, perhaps we at SunSpaces can help...
Now that spring has officially arrived, we are hoping that you're looking forward to spending some quality time out in your garden with your loved ones. If the end of winter hasn't made you think about what changes you are going to make to your garden over the coming months, then maybe today's blog post will inspire you!
Our installation team recently completed a job for one of our customers in Hertfordshire.
As you can see, the black veranda complements their garden perfectly, and the customer even has a cute table and chairs out there, ready for morning tea outside in the sun!
Our verandas add a beautiful, modern finish to any garden, and coupled with the fact that they are sturdy and weatherproof, it is easy to see why our verandas are such a popular choice with our customers. Here at Sunspaces, we want to provide every customer with a product that fits perfectly into their outdoor living space, be it a veranda, a garden room, or a free standing veranda; this is why we offer so many different options. Whatever you want out of your veranda or garden room, we are confident we can provide it.
If you like what you see then email info@sunspaces.co.uk for more information about our products; alternatively, you can click here to request a free, no-obligation veranda design.
