Do you know how important light is in your life? It is a critical element
of our everyday lives. Think about it; light tells us what time it is; it
tells us when it’s time to go to bed and helps to wake us up in the
morning. In the activities we do throughout the day, we might need light to
assist us in the workplace, or a dimmed lamp can set the mood for a
romantic dinner. Light has such a significant impact on our health
and wellbeing that you must get it right in your home.
Natural Light
Daylight is essential as it maintains your daily cycle of activity and
sleep - your circadian rhythm which allows you to perform at your best.
Sunlight is how your body makes
vitamin D, which is essential for your immune system and healthy bones. Vitamin D helps to control the hormones that control many of your bodily functions,
and even your genes respond to daylight, which allows you to fight disease.
Ideally, all homes would be full of natural light, as this is the best
lighting for everyone and everything. However, in many homes, this isn’t
possible, so it’s essential to enhance the light that you do have in your
home. You can do this by making sure all of your windows are clean. It
sounds simple, but it's easy to let your windows go untouched for months even years. You get used to
the dirt, dust, and grime building up gradually, and you won't even
notice how diluted the natural light has become. It's a good idea to make a
point to clean the inside of the windows at least once every two months. If
you live in an apartment building, then ask to
have your windows cleaned regularly
throughout the year. Also, make sure you open your curtains or blinds every
morning to let the natural light in and hang mirrors on walls opposite of windows
to help maximize and disperse the light you get throughout the room.
According to a report from 2006, there is a link between sunlight,
circadian rhythms, and your mood, and people who suffer from seasonal
affective disorder (SAD) experience depression during the autumn and winter
months because their serotonin levels drop due to lower amounts of sunlight.
Having less exposure to sunlight can also mess with your melatonin levels
and
circadian rhythm, and this can cause you to become sleep-deprived and grumpy. The windows in your home are your first connection to the outside world, and natural light will help you feel energized and ready to
take on the day.
When looking to buy a home, choose one with large windows and lots of
natural light. If that is not an option, look for ways to compensate for
small windows: place mirrors on walls opposite to windows so that they’d
reflect daylight and create a brighter home.
Bright Light Can Make You Feel Warmer
Studies have shown that bright light can make people feel as though they
are warmer, even when the temperature of the room hasn't changed. If you're
feeling cold and want to get warmer, then try turning on all the lights in
your home, but be aware that brighter lighting and feeling warmer, can also
heighten whatever emotion you’re feeling. So, for example, if you're
feeling happy, excited, sad, or anxious, then you will feel more of this in
more lighting. In the studies, the bright light
increased the intensity of the participants' emotional response as well as
making them feel physically warmer. However, if you are hot and need to put
your fan on, you can also get
fans with lights now too, which can add to the ambiance as well as making you cool.
Task Lighting
Whether you need it to apply your makeup, chop vegetables, or to read in
bed, task lighting allows you to see exactly what you’re doing, which helps
you avoid eye strain and headaches. To get the ideal task lighting in your
home, put a reading lamp on your bedside table and desk, and make sure that
your bathroom mirror and kitchen counters have good light too.
Provide robust and functional lighting for study rooms and at desks where kids do their homework. Table lamps are usually suitable
for such occasions, but overhead lights are necessary as well.
Although many people dislike living and working under harsh, fluorescent
ceiling lights, bright lighting is essential if you need to be alert and
focused and is necessary to stimulate your brain and
increase your serotonin levels, as these can help you to concentrate. If you’re working from home or
doing some personal admin, then make sure the lighting in your home is
bright enough to energize you and help you to focus. Try getting some
halogen, LED, or compact fluorescent bulbs in your home.
Ambient Lighting
For a friendly atmosphere and to reduce electricity consumption, use
candles whenever you can: in the dining room during dinners, in the bedroom
while getting ready for bed, in the living room while playing games,
drinking wine, or watching movies.
You can make your home an expression of your personality, taste, and style
by getting creative with your lighting. Apart from just choosing floor and
desk lamps in colors and designs that complement your home, think about
using additional sources of light such as candles, night lights, fairy
lights, or
DIY Mason jar lamps with tea lights, which will make your home feel cozy, mellow, and warm.
Dimmer Switches For Sleep
When it’s dark, your brain knows that it's time to sleep, and the pineal
gland secretes melatonin, which promotes sleep and regulates your body’s
cycle. Spending time in bright lighting in the evening can interfere with
your sleep-wake cycle, which can affect your overall health. You can help
your brain and body wind down in the evening by dimming the lights and
using
energy-efficient light bulbs.
