Learn how Lighting Influences the ambience at Home

The bright streaks of the radiant sunlight that streams into your home as you open the curtains and the windows is usually the preferred alarm for us inviting us to another exciting day ahead. Similarly back from a hectic day at work the ambient lighting that welcomes us back home helps us relax and settle down comfortably for a pleasant evening. So, the universally accepted truth is that “Lighting influences the ambience at home and the feeling of comfort”.

However, not many of us are aware of the fact that the lighting at home also affects the health of the resident, both physical and mental. Lighting has been found to influence the circadian rhythm of the body, the natural clock coordinated by our brain and that which controls our alertness, sleep, etc. While bright light keeps a person awake and alert, warm and dim lights help a person relax and destress. So, with the right lighting at home you can stay alert and active in the daytime and relax and enjoy a rejuvenating sleep at night, keeping you energized and mentally happy. Hence, paying attention to the lighting at home is very important, and here are some tips that will aid you in this –

Good ventilation is the key

The ideal way to make a room bright during the day would be Sunlight, the natural & rejuvenating light that is proven to kill germs, making the house brighter and cleaner. So, if your house has large windows keep them open during the daytime to make the abode naturally bright and beautiful.

Modern homes in emerging localities of Chennai like the apartments in Padur, OMR and its neighborhood are built with specific design considerations to ensure optimal ventilation and natural lighting. Layer the curtains of the windows so that a thin and bright one for the day will permit light inside the house and at night you can choose to pull over the thick and dark colour one which will keep the house warm and dark for a good night sleep.

Ambient lighting, a good alternative

In houses that lack strategically positioned windows for good ventilation, one can achieve this through ambient lighting using LED tubes for white light, overhead light fixtures like light strips fixed in false ceiling, and other measures like placing reflective mirrors in strategic places, painting the walls and ceiling in lighter natural shades of whites and ivory, choosing light and bright shades of upholstery for the furniture, spreading out bright rugs/carpets, etc. These measures make the space feel spacious and brighter.

Kitchen lighting solutions

The right lighting solution for the kitchen would be a mix of ambient lighting, task lighting, accent lighting, cabinet lighting and not to forget the decorative lighting. Lighting solution for the kitchen should be functional and also make the kitchen warm and inviting. For areas where cooking & related activities happen like the countertop, the sink, the kitchen island, you can install LED bulbs under the overhead cabinet and your countertop.

In-built lights inside the cabinets make it easy to locate items. Choose ambient and accent lighting fixtures that have a warm whitish hue and illuminate the kitchen area well. While choosing decorative hanging lights in the kitchen, beware of the height of the fixture to ensure that your tall friends don’t bump into it while you invite them over for a party.

Bedroom lighting solutions

Bedroom is a place where we not only relax and slumber but a place where we also grab a book and sack out after a hectic day, listen to our favourite music and destress. So the illumination of the place should aid these activities. You have numerous options for this, right from ceiling light, recessed light, to task lighting using lamps and hanging lights as chandeliers etc.

You can choose recessed lighting for the closet area in the bedroom, spot light for your dressing table and bedside lamp for the reading on bed. Usage of dimmers to adjust the levels of brightness is a great idea for a bedroom, this can easily change the ambience of the room as per the necessity.

Remember, the lighting should be functional and at the same time pleasing, welcoming and make you feel at home. Lighting influences the ambience at home, the physical and mental health of the residents, and spreads an aura of positivity when done the right way, the above mentioned tips will help you in this.

For all the new home owners these pointers will help you choose the ideal lighting solutions for your new home. When the house is built with thoughtful planning with an eye on optimal lighting, like the new-gen homes along the IT-corridor Padur, finding the right lighting solution is easy, check out these trendy homes ideal for the next-gen home buyers.