We often think of lights as just something to help us see in the dark. But actually, the lighting in your home can really affect your emotions and how you feel mentally. Good lighting can make you less worried, help you focus better, and even help you sleep better.
How Light and Feelings Are Connected
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Light has a direct effect on your body’s natural clock. This clock controls when you sleep and when you wake up. When you see natural light during the day, it helps keep this clock on track. But if you have bright, cool-toned lights at night, it can mess up your sleep and make you feel less good overall.
One study in the journal Sleep Health found that people who had softer, warmer lights in the evening felt less stressed and slept better than people who had bright, blue-toned lights.
How to Make Your Home Lighting Better for Your Mood
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Interior designers now know that lighting is important for making your home a healthy and happy place. You can do this too by making a few small changes to your lights.
- Let in Sunlight: Try to get as much natural light into your home during the day. Open your curtains or use thin ones. You could also put up mirrors to help spread the light around the room.
- Use Warm Lights at Night: Cool, white lights can make you feel too awake at night. In rooms like your bedroom and living room, use LED lights that have a warmer color (around 2700K to 3000K). This will help your body relax before sleep.
- Install Dimmers: Dimmer switches let you change how bright the lights are. This means you can easily make a room feel calm or bright for working.
- Use Different Kinds of Lights: Have a mix of lights in each room. You can have lights on the ceiling for general light, lamps for reading or tasks, and softer lights to make the room feel cozy. This way, you can change the lighting depending on what you’re doing.
- Try Smart Lights: Smart light bulbs let you change the brightness and color of the light, sometimes even on a schedule. You can set them to be bright and cool in the morning and warm and soft in the evening, all from your phone or with your voice.
How to Use Light for Different Moods
- To Help You Focus: Use bright, cool lights in your office or study area. This can help you concentrate.
- To Help You Relax: Use soft, gentle lights like table lamps or string lights in your bedroom and living room.
- To Make You Feel Happier: Bright light that feels like natural sunlight can improve your mood, especially in rooms that don’t get much sun. Special “full-spectrum” light bulbs can also help.
- To Create Ambiance for Socializing: Use adjustable lighting, like dimmable ceiling lights or candle-style lamps, when hosting friends or family. Low, warm light creates a welcoming, intimate atmosphere that encourages conversation and relaxation.
- To Create a Productive Environment: In spaces where you’re doing creative or deep-thinking work, combine bright task lighting with well-lit walls or overhead light to keep the room energizing and focused without feeling harsh.
So, lighting is not just about being able to see. It’s a big part of how your home feels. By making a few thoughtful changes to your lighting, you can feel better, sleep more soundly, and make your home a more comfortable place to live.