Creating Serene Spaces Through Lighting Design

We all find serenity in different ways, from enjoying dinner with friends to curling up on the sofa with a good book. But experts agree on at least one thing when it comes to rest and renewal: daylight and artificial lighting both have a powerful impact on our mood.

“Research shows lighting is inextricably linked with human health,” said Rebecca Hadley, manager of Cooper Lighting's SOURCE lighting education center. Certain light sources can affect our mood as well as performance and change our blood pressure and stress levels.”

The good news is that lighting can be a relatively easy, economical way to create the right atmosphere. Whether you’re designing your master bedroom or an office with an open floor plan, a few simple tips can help you craft the perfect space.

When creating serene spaces, the first charge is to define the space and primary use of that space.

“In an office setting, lighting should encourage alertness and productivity,” said Hadley. “It’s also beneficial to incorporate controls that allow for changes throughout the workday. Ideally, you’d have the ability to adjust the intensity of your lighting. Industry research also suggests indoor light should mimic the color of light we experience outside, which follows an arc from cool light in the morning, to white light at midday, to warm light in the evening.”

Though lighting at home is mainly tied to user preference, research shows there are steps everyone can take to create a calm, pleasing environment.

“At night, lower light levels and warmer color temperatures – those that fall in the 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin range – emulate the outside environment’s evening light and help us get ready for sleep by reducing our blood pressure and creating a restful feel,” said Hadley. “If you’re cooking or entertaining guests in the evening, you may find that higher light levels and color temperatures are beneficial. However, people generally tend to prefer warmer light at home.”

Controls make lighting for mood easier than ever.

“Studies show that wall color can affect heart rate and irritability levels, but you can adjust your light more readily than the paint on your walls,” said Hadley. “For example, you can use high-intensity light to complete a craft activity at the kitchen table; an hour later, you can serve dinner to your family at that same table beneath a warmer, lower-intensity light.”

Newer LEDs with integrated controls and the ability to dim to warmer color temperatures are becoming popular in the hospitality industry because of their ability to affect the customer experience. For example, many restaurants lower their light levels between lunch and dinner as a subtle way of encouraging their patrons to linger over meals. “Warmer light and lower light levels have been shown to slow heart rate and create a relaxing state,” Hadley said. “As a result, customers might be inspired to enjoy appetizers and cocktails rather than rushing through to the main course.” Conversely, some restaurants might put brighter light in an area where they want to turn tables quickly.

When it comes to designing for mood, advanced controls have the most room to develop. Controls will become more personalized in environments ranging from the home to offices, hospitality settings and health care facilities. Controls that were once accessed via a wall switch are already making the jump to app-based technology. And as LED technology improves at lightning speed, adaptability – and energy savings – will only continue to grow.