Abstract The research objective is identifying the specifics of daylight in atrium spaces to create a comfortable architectural environment. The paper authors have set the tasks to study current regulatory standards for daylight in the atrium building rooms, consider modern scientific developments of side, top, and combined daylighting of premises, and systematize the components to be considered in the architectural design of daylighting in atrium spaces. The paper analyzes scientific literature sources and international standards on daylight in atrium spaces. The authors justify the impact of physical factors of the atrium space daylight on emotional and psychological perception and space-planning design of architectural objects. Comparable results have been obtained based on both the analysis of scientific literature sources and international standards and the international experience in the design of atrium buildings. The international experience of designing daylight in atrium spaces characterized by a moderate climate and insolation conditions similar to Russian ones has been analyzed. The development of new social, spatial, and functional relations under the high urbanization conditions creates the need for the emotional and physical comfort of the living space. The relevance of the study material is justified by enhancing the comfort of the designed or reconstructed buildings.