New Lights, New You

April 10th, 2012 Home

Our sensitivity toward the lighting of spaces is evolutionarily ingrained in us. It can markedly affect our mood (make us feel happier, more romantic, etc.), our productivity and our ability to sleep/wake up effectively. With a few alterations in your home’s lighting you can find yourself on the path toward a better, brighter you!

Though dimmer switches may seem a bit “fancy” for some, they are key for managing the lighting of your home. Dimmer switches give you precision control over the atmosphere of your home. For example, to provide a romantic atmosphere you can turn the lights down so you can see your partner but give the room a “soft” feel at the same time. You can also gradually lower the lights as you get closer to bedtime and gradually raise the lights as you begin to wake up. Dimmer switches are relatively inexpensive and can integrate with your current lighting setup easily.

As much as possible, try to position lamps so that the light emanates from a height above your waist. Because human beings evolved having the sun as their primary source of light, we naturally (and unconsciously) prefer to have light from above rather than from below. Your eyes are over stimulated and stressed with too much light coming from below.

Depending on the room in your home, you may want to consider using blush-colored bulbs instead of standard white ones. Humans respond to colors just like they do to light intensity on a visceral level and you can affect the mood you experience in a room by inducing certain color schemes. For example, your exercise room and/or game room may be better off with some yellow or orange lighting since these are colors that often induce excitement and stimulation. On the other hand, your bedroom could have some blue or lavender lighting since these are colors that often have a calming effect.

Any sources that provide additional light to your home, such as a fireplace or windows, should be harnessed by directing the light to darker areas of your home. You can find a number of items that direct light from these sources at your local hardware store.

The material of your lighting fixtures also makes a difference in the feel of a room. Wood makes a room seem cozier and more homey. Metallic fixtures add a glamorous, modern feel to a room. Try to match the material of your lighting fixtures to the feel of your furniture in each room. For example, you may want to choose a metallic fixture for a room with a red moon chair and white, multiple-piece couch but a wooden fixture for a room with a brown recliner and a 1970s-style love seat.

Many options exist to alter the lighting of your home and all should be considered (though not necessarily all implemented). If you play around with the lighting in your home you’ll find you can tailor the mood of yourself and your guests in just the right way to provide an optimal experience.