With Nordic roots and a headquarters in one of the northernmost cities in the continental U.S., Marvin is uniquely positioned to understand the important role of natural light, air, and views when it comes to well-being. Aligning with the Nordic design tenet of hygge and inspired by friluftsliv, a concept that embraces getting fresh air for well-being, Marvin designers create products to help homeowners live better by harnessing the power of light, air, and views.

As a part of our continued research and exploration to help us design products to help our customers live happier, healthier lives, we are proud to introduce “Designing for Happiness at Home,” a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Marvin.

“Our homes have become our true refuge, the places where we spend the most time and an important piece of the way people are feeling. Understanding how the home impacts our moods and productivity is tied so closely to understanding the benefits of natural light, views to the outside world, and comforting spaces to gather with family.”
—Christine Marvin, vice president of design at Marvin.

As we continue to spend more time at home, the “Designing for Happiness at Home” survey highlights the importance of creating spaces to help us feel cozy, secure, productive, and better connected to those around us. Key findings include:

  • 96 percent of homeowners say the home in which they live is an important contributor to their state of happiness, only one percentage point behind the health of their family.
  • 58 percent of homeowners plan on completing a home renovation in the next three months to feel happier at home.
  • Nearly 70 percent of homeowners and more than 80 percent of trade professionals agree that access to natural light is a top contributor to one’s feeling of well-being in the home.
  • 73 percent of architects and designers say clients have asked to increase natural light in their homes.
  • Natural light is important for regulating schedules and feeling awake. In fact, 61 percent of homeowners struggle to wake up when it is still dark outside and 81 percent agree they feel more rested when they wake up with natural light gradually coming through their window.
  • When buying a home, 92 percent of homeowners agree the amount of outside noise is an important factor and nearly 70 percent cite poor soundproofing as a reason why they wouldn’t buy a particular home.
  • Alternatively, 95 percent of homeowners agree air circulation is an important factor they consider when buying a home.
  • Nearly 9 in 10 people say outdoor views are an important factor to making a home feel happy.

The “Window to Well-being” survey was conducted online in August 2020 on behalf of Marvin by The Harris Poll among more than 1,300 people in the U.S. consisting of homeowners, builders, architects, and designers. A flash poll was conducted online in April 2020 on behalf of Marvin by The Harris Poll among more than 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.

Happier, Healthier Living, Anywhere


Transform any space into a light-filled dream with our six new virtual meeting backgrounds perfect for any virtual get together, from a gathering of your closest friends to a workday presentation. Download your favorite backgrounds below.


Click on a thumbnail below to open the photo in a new window and right click to download.