Lighting

From Page 7

Here are strategies to consider when devising a lighting plan for your own space.

Capitalize on (or fake) natural light

“Natural light is like a magic medicine – it improves mood, mental performance, and the ability to get along with people,” says Augustin. But “you need to be careful about glare,” she adds, which makes your eyes work harder and can lead to strain and fatigue. If your home doesn’t get much natural light, you can still achieve an ideal level of daytime brightness with full-spectrum lightbulbs, says Kati Peditto, a psychologist in Denver and director of the Human Experience Lab at architecture firm

Perkins and Will. These bulbs replicate natural sunlight, and can be found at hardware stores, grocery stores and online. “Full spectrum lighting includes visible and invisible forms of light [such as infrared and ultraviolet], and it has a daylight-mimicking effect that lowers stress and boosts alertness,” she says.

In general, Augustin recommends using cool lights high in the room (such as in overhead lighting) and warm lights lower (in table or floor lamps), for optimal functionality and mood. When you’re lightbulb shopping, look for labels indicating coolness (such as “white,” “cool white” or “daylight”) or warmth (“soft white,” or “warm white”).

Use different types of light in different rooms

“You can create zones in your home with light, using pools of light for different activities,” says Augustin, whose firm Design With Science uses principles from neuroscience to create spaces that foster positive mental states. Try task-based bright lighting in your kitchen – with under-cabinet lights, for example – to enhance safety while avoiding eyestrain, or a golden-hued bulb in an office desk lamp to spur creativity.

In the bathroom, “color quality matters because we judge how we look by looking in the mirror,” says Jennifer Veitch, an environmental psychologist in Ottawa and principal research officer at the National Research Council of Canada. The light needs to be bright enough (at least 60 watts, depending on the size of your bathroom and what the fixture can handle) so you can clearly see yourself but warm enough in tone so your skin doesn’t take on an odd hue.

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