Making the most of lighting can keep moods lifted

Sunset is arriving noticeably earlier, meaning less mood- lifting daylight for everyone. The weather is turning colder, so we’ll soon spend even more time cooped up inside the homes where we’ve huddled, and sometimes completely quarantined, for six months.

Many of us are working and studying at home by day, then trying to shift into relaxation mode in the very same rooms at night. And we’re doing all of this while battling the many stresses that 2020 keeps on delivering.

If ever there was an autumn when things could be a bit brighter, this is it.

So while better light bulbs or a repositioned lamp won’t solve everything, it’s a great year to reassess the way your home is lit — and possibly make some changes.

It’s hard to step away from work or school when you’re living in your workspace. One way to shift the mood and tell your body and brain that it’s time to relax is to change the lighting when day becomes night.

By day, use lightbulbs that mimic daylight ( about 5000 Kelvin). Virginiabased architect Warren Ralston says this is usually the lighting we see in offices, because its cool white hue offers plenty of energizing brightness.

Smart LED bulbs can be set to this brightness in the morning and kept there all day.

“Another great thing about 5000K daylight LED is how well it works for video conferencing,” says Atlanta- based interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn. “Anytime I’m working from home, I turn on the overhead LEDs and it eliminates yellowy shadows from the videos.”

When your workday is over, switch to lamps and fixtures fitted with traditional warm bulbs or set your smart bulbs to a lower intensity ( about 3000- 3500 Kelvin, or as low as 2500 for very warm light).