How To Use Interior Lighting For Better Winter Nights
Optimize Natural Light
One of the best ways to feel energetic throughout the day is to be surrounded by natural light. You can achieve this by installing large windows and by painting your walls a light colour that will keep the room airy while reflecting light. Reflective surfaces such as mirrors, smooth countertops, metal, tiles, or glossy paint will all help to make rooms feel brighter. But in winter, natural daylight is scarce, and most daylight occurs while many of us are at work. To compensate, use bright lights that have a crisp white or light blue shade, as these are designed to mimic natural daylight.
Add Light To Dark Corners
Even though you might not be sitting in these darkened corners, adding some light to them will help to brighten up the entire room and keep the gloom away. Adding light to dark corners helps to uniformly light up the space and make the room feel larger.
Incorporate Backlighting
Lights don’t only have to be in the ceiling or in the form of lamps. Backlighting and underlighting refers to adding strips of light underneath or behind something to give the appearance that it is glowing. Backlighting and underlighting are artistic ways to add more light to your room while also giving a subject depth and a sense of place. You can backlight a mirror, underlight the bar or kitchen cabinets, or you could even potentially underlight furniture, such as a bed frame. Backlighting and underlighting let you add some light to areas that otherwise may remain in the dark, and it helps make a room cozier by adding a subtle glow.
Use Bright Overhead Lights
Overhead lights are a form of ambient lighting designed to be the main light in the room. Using a bright light with a high wattage in your overhead lighting will create an even layer of bright lighting throughout the room to help cheer up the dark winter days. You can layer other lighting in a room as well, but starting with a bright base will help you keep the room uniformly well-lit.
Install A Dimmer Switch
Although you might want your home nice and bright sometimes to help keep everyone in the house active and uplifted, other times you want to set a much moodier, cozier vibe. If you’re settling in with a cup of hot chocolate and a movie, you will likely want less intense light, although not necessarily complete darkness. A dimmer switch lets you customize your lighting preferences depending on the situation.
Switch To LED Lighting
Winter time can be difficult for many people not only because of the cold and the long winter nights but also because of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression related to the changing of the seasons, particularly winter. During the winter, we get a lot less exposure to natural sunlight, a prime source of vitamin D, which is suspected to contribute to SAD. This, compounded with the long nights that make people feel as though they have less energy, can be fought using LED lighting. Because of the mild blue-light properties of LED lighting, this form of artificial light can help to stimulate vitamin D production and help you regulate your circadian rhythm, both of which can help to reduce SAD symptoms. To learn more, read Don't be SAD! Fight The Winter Blues With LED Lighting.
Upgrade Your Interior Lighting
If you’re tired of the long, dark winter nights in Calgary, upgrading your interior lighting can improve your space. Adding strategic and stylish lighting to your home will help to brighten it up and create a custom look perfect for winter lighting and all-year enjoyment. For professional interior lighting design, contact Fluorescent Man Lighting And Electrical. Our talented staff can design an interior lighting layout and our expert electricians can make this plan become a reality. To schedule a consultation and get a free quote, contact Fluorescent Man Lighting And Electrical at 1-403-863-8529 or fill out the online contact form.
FAQ
Q: How much does a consultation cost?
A: FM Lighting and Electrical offers a free consultation that includes:
- An assessment of your electrical needs
- Recommendations of the best products for your home or business
- An effective and efficient solution design
- A no-obligation quote
Q: How do I decide what lighting to get in my home?
A: If you’re looking for a change in your home but you’re unsure of how to start, schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our residential lighting experts. We start with a discussion of your design goals and the way you use a space and provide lighting that is perfect for the space and that matches your personal taste. Our lighting consultants are here to help you, so take advantage of their knowledge to work together for a newly lit home.
Q: How will my lighting designer work with me to get the results I desire?
A: Your lighting designer will select lighting options with your approval based on your needs, budget, and preferences. Before installing the lights and purchasing them, they will go over their lighting plan with you to make sure you will be 100% satisfied with the results.
