It’s that time of year once again, where we wave a sorrowful goodbye to the last strains of Summer. We tend to favour the warmer months, with the feelings and thoughts reminiscent of holidays and carefree hours spent outdoors. With Autumn underway with the tangible nip of Winter in the air, it’s time to get our interiors cosy and full of light.
When SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) was first identified, many of us will admit that the triggers and sensations we were reading about, were not wholly unfamiliar. It’s essentially a reaction to a change in our circadian rhythm, an internal body clock which sets our pattern of sleep and wakefulness. Back in the times where we rose with the sun and slept with the dawn, this kept us cosseted in the sleep of dreams until it was time to wake; however, in modern day living, our working patterns don’t change and all too soon, our alarm clocks begin their shrill sounds.
The treatment most recommended to combat the effects that SAD can have on the human brain, is light therapy. Artificial light is used to replace the lacking sunlight and helps us to feel more alert. When we’re getting our homes ready for the colder months, it’s therefore crucial to get the right lighting in place to create the perfect atmosphere for our needs.
We’re all aware that lighting plays a key role in our moods. It’s a bit like Goldilocks with her experience of the porridge, chairs and beds; it’s glaring obvious if light is too bright and we struggle to see in dark regardless of how many carrots we’ve chomped on.
The key to lighting success is one that is easily adopted and with a few simple steps, we’ll light the way to your fairy-tale ending.
Consider where you need lights
Lights are the ultimate in convenience. We sometimes forget this as we have lived with light at the flick of a switch all of our lives. But when we have an absence of light, it has a huge, detrimental impact on our our chosen activity.
If you go about your everyday life as you want to live it, you’ll soon see where light may be lacking in your home. Adding lamps or quick, light fixes are sure to add a comfort and convenience to your home without any fuss.
Evaluate various different materials for your lights and the benefits they bring
Recent decades saw households change their bed linen, cushions and curtains from Summer to Winter and this is a trend that I foresee coming back into being in the near future. Cosy, tactile fabrics are well suited to making us feel warm and cosy which is not something you seek on a hot, sunny day. Fleece, wool and velvet are ideal to create a soft and comforting look that envelopes you into its serene embrace as soon as you set foot into the room.
The materials used in lighting will greatly influence the lighting effects that they have. Some of our favourites for combating the dark evenings are:
- Cool metals – these add a chic, modern look, bouncing crisp light around the room
- Warm metals – these add a softer, more welcoming ambience to the room
- Glass – adding a soft, reflective sheen, these won’t steal the limelight of your interior design
Light your home with love…
Allow your soft side to show in the relaxing rooms in your home; have photos of loved ones on display. Have comfortable fabrics, cosy materials, favourite books and old, faithful mugs. Your home is not a show home, is is your sweet home. Wallow in the comfortable hue, surrounded by the things you love this Autumn…
