7 Ways to Bring More Health-Promoting Light Into Your Home

Let there be light. Did you know that your exposure to this health-promoting quality can do anything from impacting your mood to providing vitamin D? 

Human beings weren’t designed to dwell in the dark. If you commute to work before dawn, arrive home after dark and sit in a cubicle all day, you could suffer adverse effects. Here are seven ways you can get more health-promoting light into your home and improve your well-being:

If you have overhead fluorescents and frequently get migraines, your lighting choices may be partially to blame. While scientists formerly found little connection between this bulb choice and migraines, they now suspect another factor may be at play. 

People with Irlen syndrome make up 12% to 14% of the general population. Some lights, including fluorescents and computer screens, can trigger headaches, nausea and debilitating fatigue — sound familiar, migraine patients? 

Fortunately, you can treat this condition by wearing special glasses that cut harmful wavelengths. You might find considerable relief from choosing natural lighting solutions as well. See if cutting the overheads and relying on filtered sunlight from the window improves your symptoms. 

Most living creatures, the human beast included, have circadian rhythms that change according to the environment's lightness or darkness. Natural light is the best way to reset the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, but you can’t always get enough exposure as the days grow shorter while workday demands do not. 

The answer may lie in human-centric lighting. While scientists still need to determine factors such as the light intensity and exposure length for multiple wavelengths, you can employ some basic principles of this technique. Stick to hotter white light with blue undertones during the day and begin warming it toward yellows and oranges as the day ebbs. 

When you think of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), your thoughts might turn to holiday decor. However, these wonders can also save you money while boosting your mood and health. They last much longer than traditional bulbs and emit a softer wavelength. 

You can see the therapeutic qualities of LED lights when you look at devices used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Many light therapy boxes employ this technology to remedy this type of depression, which often accompanies shorter days. 

If you have room in your budget or are building a new home, why not add skylights? This project might not prove as costly as you think. The average price of one window is $500 to $3,000, and the value you add to your home may pay for the upgrade when you sell. 

Security doors can increase the amount of natural light entering your home while improving your family’s safety. Look for one with solid metal supports and bars to make sure the lock doesn’t come loose, as it can on hollow-core models. 

If your curtains are heavy velvet, no wonder your home looks a bit funeral-like, especially as the sun sinks low. Consider replacing them for gauzy versions that let the natural light shine. 

Why bother with curtains at all? One-way window tinting allows the natural light to stream in while concealing your activities from peeping Toms. Plus, it blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which protects your furnishings from fading. 

Your exposure to natural light impacts your mood and well-being. Bring more health-promoting light into your home today with the seven tips above.