Because March and her husband were undertaking a major remodel, they had the opportunity to change where rooms were located.

“I firmly believe that human beings need light to be happy and comfortable, but it's also a battle to understand how to use it properly,” said March. “Too much light can be just as much of a problem as not enough.”

To make sure she got it right, March thought about the angle of the sun at the time when each room is most heavily used. Here’s how she made the most of her home’s east-west orientation:

• The primary bedroom faces west, so they “don’t fight the light” in the morning but instead can open their curtains to “beautiful, filtered, indirect light.”
• Their breakfast room faces east so they’re basking in “delicious sunbeams” while they drink their coffee in the morning.
• Their living room also faces east so there’s no glare when they watch TV at the end of the day.

Because they live in a hot and sunny climate, March also took steps to manage heat gain. Dual-pane E-Series windows with low-emissivity glass help reflect light away, and mechanized drapes, and a mechanized awning on the west side of the home further help moderate temperature.

Takeaway: A happy home stars natural light, which has been shown to improve mood, boost energy, and promote sleep.*** As you develop a layout, ask yourself if the rooms are in the right places, and talk to your architect or designer about “daylighting” (i.e., planning windows to maximize natural light and energy efficiency).