With the end of Daylight Saving Time upon us, first of all, you must watch this video: Daylight Saving Video- You Tube. And then when you’re done laughing, and changing (or shooting) all your clocks, you may want to focus on light to get you through the dark days of winter.
Take inventory of your lighting.
Start with your exterior lighting and determine if porch and walkway lights are working properly. Are exterior stairs well-lit? Can you see your house number in the dark?
Then move room by room through the house, checking every fixture and lamp to make sure the bulbs are working properly. Remove all globes and shades and clean them well. Wipe down lightbulbs. You won’t believe the difference it will make.
Add task lighting to commonly used areas. Do you find yourself squinting and struggling to read in your comfy chair? Add a floor or table lamp near where you like to read.
Even though you’re faced with bright light when you’re staring into your computer screen, you should still pay attention to the ambient lighting. The best lighting for a computer work area is indirect diffused light. You want to avoid something that will make your eyes dilate when you look at it. It should be gentle, “spread out” light. An overhead fixture or a wide lamp with several small bulbs works best.
Natural light is always the best light but with the onset of winter, this can be tough to find. If you feel like the darkness affects your mood and emotions, you may want to consider changing out some of your bulbs to full spectrum, which most closely mimics natural light. You can also invest in a light box, which is recommended for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
If full spectrum bulbs are too harsh, just try focusing on layering your light. Instead of relying on a single ceiling fixture, add lamps and lighting at varying levels around a room. Look for shadows and work on eliminating them by placing varying height lighting.
As we grapple with what time it is this week, spend a little time focused on your lighting. Your home can be a bright spot through the dark days of winter.
