Seeing the Light: Brightening Up Your Home

Light can be the ultimate mood lifter--to some it's even better than chocolate or those other sweets you keep around when you need a pick me up. Studies have shown that when people are exposed to natural light, their productivity and attitudes are improved. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that light from the sun provides you with vitamin D, suppresses melatonin, keeps your circadian rhythm on track and helps regulate your sleep. It's been shown that a lack of sunlight can cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD), especially in regions where there are fewer hours of daylight. There is a correlation between iight and the development of a city's culture, just compare Seattle to Los Angeles.

In an electrically lit room, the intensity levels of the light and color stay stagnant. Natural light on the other hand changes color and intensity throughout the day. When people are working inside of an office that is electrically lit, they can't tell whether it's noon or midnight (unless of course they look at a clock or watch). On the other hand, people working under natural light or solar fixtures know how long they've been there due to the changes in the intensity of the light. Reports have shown that workers are about 6% more productive when they work in a daylight environment.

The color of the light can also make a difference. The brain responds better to blue light than it does to red light, according to architect and interior designer Johnna Doane. Light is able to transform space. For instance, in tropical countries people prefer cooler light because it offers a feeling of security and comfort.

Ways to lighten up your own home are by using skylights, cherestories, and careful placement of windows--in order to get a good amount of daylight. The benefits of cherestory windows is the fact that they are high up in a room and can offer indirect light that won't give off as much glare or unwanted heat. Solar tube lighting is also a great lighting option. Looking at it with the naked eye, you'd think it was just recessed light but it's actually a complex skylight-like apparatus . This apparatus has a reflective shaft that collects, redirects, transports and diffuses daylight, regardless of how bright it is. Solar tubes can reduce your electric bill when used instead of traditional electric lights during the day. Full spectrum light bulbs can also provide the light you need. They increase the quantity of bluelight which helps to set natural circadian rhythms. However, due to the fact that they're artificial, you won't get any vitamin D.

What's outside your window can affect the light inside your home. Reflective surfaces such as bodies of water next to windows can maximize light. You should also make sure that wanted sunlight isn't blocked by trees in the yard or too many window panes. The fewer the panes, the more light can get in. Be aware that the colors of your rooms can also influence how you perceive light. One thing you want to avoid is painting the walls in a south facing room with a strong warm palette. The intensity of the sunlight will reflect off of reds, yellows, and oranges and amplify these tones. Generally, you should save these tones for northern exposed rooms and paint southern colored rooms with cool colors--blue for instance.

If you have window treatments, you might want to think about installing solar mesh screens, as window treatments can alter the quality of light. Mesh screens will reduce the heat and glare. If mesh screens aren't an option, curtains made from translucent fabric do a great job of correcting the tone of light. What it all boils down to is--the right light can make your space look and feel better. It can also save you money in the long run. When you look at it that way, there's no need to search for a brighter side.